An announcement Tuesday that the Obama administration has settled a long-running lawsuit with Native Americans could affect directly only those North Olympic Peninsula tribes entitled to royalty payments from such natural resources as timber, said Ron Allen, Jamestown S’Klallam tribal chairman.
That doesn’t include the Jamestown S’Klallam, based in Blyn, but could include such West End tribes as the Makah and Quileute — both of which were researching the matter, but had no statement to make on Thursday
Residual effects
However, the $1.4 billion settlement in the class action lawsuit could have residual effects for all Peninsula tribes, Allen said.
“This is a significant move on the part of the Obama administration and Interior Secretary [Ken] Salazar to resolve a historically long conflict and an issue that has been plaguing the tribes for 15 years,” Allen said.
The class action lawsuit, filed by a member of the Blackfeet tribe in Montana, claims Native Americans across the county were swindled out of billions of dollars in royalties for oil, gas, grazing and other leases dating back more than a century.
Under an agreement announced Tuesday, the Interior Department would distribute $1,000 each to more than 300,000 tribal members to compensate them for historical accounting claims, and to resolve future claims.
The settlement must be cleared by Congress and a federal judge.
If approved, the settlement would be the largest Native American claim ever approved against the U.S. government — exceeding the combined total of all previous settlements.
Allen said that money applies only to members who are entitled to royalty payments from natural resources such as oil or mineral rights, which are at the heart of the lawsuit.
Makah, Quileute
Makah tribal members, who get revenue from timber lands, were involved in the class action lawsuit, tribal council member Micah McCarty said.
“It’s one of a number of issues prior to self-governance where we could have gotten a better a deal,” he said.
Keith Johnson, Makah tribal general manager, said the tribal members have not seen a copy of the settlement, and will have to review it before issuing a statement on the tribe’s reaction.
Quileute public relations coordinator Jackie Jacobs also said the tribe will review the decision and issue a statement at a later date.
Frances Charles, Lower Elwha Klallam tribal chairwoman, lauded the settlement, with a few caveats.
“It’s the first step of a long process, and there are a lot more steps to go,” she said. “We’re still waiting to see as it goes through the process.”
Trickle-down benefit
All Peninsula tribes will see a trickle-down benefit, Allen said.
“The BIA [Bureau of Indian Affairs] budget has been diminished for 15 years to fight this lawsuit,” Allen said. “With this resolved, it will free up money to be made available for other purposes for the tribes.”
Allen said those purposes range from scholarships to fisheries and conservation.
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Features editor Marcie Miller can be reached at 360-417-3550 or marcie.miller@peninsuladaily news.com.
