Cobell Settlement Payments: Department of the Interior to Participate in National Congress of American Indians Webinar

WASHINGTON, DC– On Wednesday, January 16, 2013, the Department of the Interior will participate in a 2:00 pm (Eastern Time) conference call and webinar hosted by the National Congress of American Indians to inform and clarify roles and responsibilities regarding the recent Cobell Settlement trust administration class payments. Representatives from the Department of the Interior, Cobell plaintiffs’ legal counsel, and the court appointed Claims Administrator (the Garden City Group) will provide important information to tribal leaders across the country regarding the status of the payments to members of the historical accounting class and the next steps in the process of finalizing this historic Settlement.

“The Department is committed to providing accurate and current information to our beneficiaries regarding the historic Cobell Settlement,” said Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn, “and OST and BIA leadership are working closely to ensure the OST Trust Beneficiary Call Center and the field operations in the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Office of the Special Trustee are providing this information in a timely manner.”

Eligibility determinations and payments are made exclusively by Garden City Group, and they can be reached at www.IndianTrust.com or 1-800-961-6109. To update addresses or identify “Whereabouts Unknown” Individual Indian Money (IIM) accounts, please contact Garden City Group. Garden City Group will work with OST to update your information. For more information, please visit the Department of the Interior Cobell website at http://www.doi.gov/cobell.

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