On Wednesday Barack Obama signed a law stating that the American Indians and black farmers will be paid $4.6 billion to address the claims of government mistreatment for over many decades. By Obama signing it was able to close a long and unfortunate chapter that has happened. While the president was talking he was focused on the principles of fairness and equality and opportunity. The signing of this law was able to settle a pair of long standing class action lawsuits along with four long standing disputed over Native American water rights. An elder named Elouise Cobell who is a member of the Blackfeet Tribe from Browning, Mont., and was the lead plaintiff in the Indian royalties case said that the ceremony was breath taking. She did not expect it to happen in her life time. Elouise was fighting nearly fifteen years. There was 300,000 Native Americans that say they were swindled for oil, gas, grazing, and timber rights. The plaintiffs will share the settlements. While Cobell was in Montana she learned that the Senate had approved the measures and she had to pull over and cry. But it was not over yet. Even with the President gave his signature it would still have to go through a gauntlet of court hearings. Many of the elders who thought they would not get to see the day they believe that the United States gave them justice.
I think that it is great that Obama is holding on to his word and doing what he said he was going to do. He said he wanted to end all disputes or injustice that the government has done in the past and I think that this is a wonderful start by giving back to the Indian tribes.
No comments:
Post a Comment