Audio Clip Tiny Navajo Community Initiated Billion Dollar Settlement



Laurel Morales Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye.

The federal government has agreed to pay almost $1 billion dollars to Native American tribes to settle a claim that the U.S. government failed to adequately fund the management of federal services. And it all started with one tiny Navajo community.



In 1975, the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act gave tribes the authority to run Bureau of Indian Affairs programs like law enforcement, schools and road maintenance. But Congress did not give tribes enough money to cover the costs of running the services.

The Ramah Chapter on the Navajo Nation filed the original lawsuit in 1990. President Russell Begaye said the settlement is about time.

“It’s so good to know that a small community out on the Navajo Nation took it upon themselves to challenge the system and to be able to win a huge settlement on behalf of not only their community not only for the Navajo Nation but for nations across this country,” Begaye said.

Nearly 700 tribal agencies joined the class action suit and now expect to receive compensation. The Navajo Nation anticipates $58 million from the settlement.