|
|
Indian group calls on Obama to settle discrimination lawsuit against USDANational Congress of American Indians, the nation's oldest and largest national organization of American Indian tribal governments, passed a resolution in mid-October calling on the Obama administration to settle a class action lawsuit filed in 1999 on behalf of thousands of Native Americans who were unlawfully denied credit by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In recent weeks, pressure has been building on the Obama Administration to resolve the Keepseagle lawsuit and reverse its decision to lift a moratorium on the foreclosure of Native American farmers and ranchers. NCAI's resolution, passed at NCAI's 66th Annual Convention in Palm Springs, Calif., calls for a "negotiated settlement of the Keepseagle vs. Vilsack case as quickly as possible, along the lines" of a settlement that the USDA previously entered into with black farmers who alleged similar types of systemic racial discrimination in the USDA's farm loan programs. To that end, the NCAI "urges the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture to commence meaningful negotiations towards a settlement of the Keepseagle litigation as soon as possible, including both monetary and prospective relief." According to a recent expert report, Native American farmers and ranchers suffered approximately $500 million to $1 billion dollars of economic losses due to the USDA's discrimination that resulted in the denial of $3 billion worth of credit. The NCAI resolution also urges the Obama administration to reinstate a moratorium on foreclosures of Native American farmers and ranchers until the Keepseagle action is resolved. Without such a moratorium on foreclosures, large numbers of Native American farmers and ranchers who are in the Keepseagle class and allege that the USDA discriminated against them could lose their land before they have their day in court.
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2011. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
|
