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Land Grab Cheats North Dakota Tribes Out of $1 Billion, Suits Allege

Pro Publica -- Native Americans on an oil-rich North Dakota reservation have been cheated out of more than $1 billion by schemes to buy drilling rights for lowball prices, a flurry of recent lawsuits assert. And, the suits claim, the federal government facilitated the alleged swindle by failing in its legal obligation to ensure the tribes got a fair deal.

This is a story as old as America itself, given a new twist by fracking and the boom that technology has sparked in North Dakota oil country. Since the late 1800s, the U.S. government has appropriated much of the original tribal lands associated with the Fort Berthold reservation in North Dakota for railroads and white homesteaders. A devastating blow was delivered when the Army Corps of Engineers dammed the Missouri River in 1953, flooding more tha

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Submitted Feb 24, 2013 By: aservant
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LetemEatCake
Champion Author Oklahoma City

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 6:40:01 PM
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Sounds like deja vu for the BIA. The very same thing happened in Northern OK.with the Osage tribe about 40 years ago with numerous companies including the Koch brothers..

The article says, "Reservation lands are still held in trust by the U.S. government. As a trustee, the Department of the Interior has responsibility for overseeing the development of oil and gas on tribal lands, and for ensuring that any leases or sales of that land are made in "the best interest" of the Native Americans. When it comes to leases to drill for oil — even those negotiated directly between the tribal council and the oil industry — the Bureau of Indian Affairs is required to make sure the leases meet this standard."

So this is not a straight up purchase between the reservation tribes and Oil companies. Uncle Sam and the BIA are trustees. In the case of the Osage, they won and won big in court...although the attorneys got theirs.

These fraudulent transactions are not how an American should treat the first people. Unlike what some posters indicated, this is NOT good business when you leave victims in the wake.

[Edited by: LetemEatCake at 2/24/2013 6:41:14 PM EST]
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ktbaeohana
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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 4:51:45 PM
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not surprise. watch and see.
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PDQBlues
Champion Author San Diego

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 3:28:53 PM
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Another case of unscrupulous corporate executives screwing over Native Americans. Hopefully justice will be served.
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rjojo40AL
All-Star Author Alabama

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 11:43:45 AM
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bunch of dumb asses white man drills the oil and Native Americans get money in court...LOL
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drpepperTX
Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 10:31:00 AM
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Allegedly.
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MidNJ
Champion Author New Jersey

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 8:55:33 AM
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Humblepie, it is about making money and profits for the oil companies, not giving fair value to the original owners, right?
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CityCouponer
All-Star Author New Orleans

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 7:56:36 AM
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Manifest Destiny - the tradition continues.

WZ, I agree.
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mandoid
Champion Author Colorado Springs

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 7:34:44 AM
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i agree with you humblepie
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Radar1992
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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 7:25:35 AM
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Always beware when someone comes to your home offering you a deal out of no where...
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humblepie
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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 6:15:49 AM
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if they sold the rights without coesion whats the gripe now ?
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MrLefty0706
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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 2:23:29 AM
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Looks like corruption is running out of control in North Dakota.
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OHMS
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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 2:13:38 AM
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Injuns doan need no stinking suits
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Vette1967
Champion Author Albany

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Greed never ends.
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wz
Champion Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 1:27:35 AM
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Shrewd businessmen have been pulling the same game since the beginning of money (and probably before). Their victims of choice are the uneducated masses. Our public school system is supposed to provide everyone a usable education. If the tribes (and inner-city districts) choose to not teach basic economics, their graduates will continue to fall prey to such schemes.
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NOTSOGRN
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 1:26:58 AM
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.
.
Buy low...sell high...that's the American way...
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TripleHs
Champion Author Austin

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 1:22:00 AM
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people are getting greedy with more and more money on the table
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arinkrat17
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Ok
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prius22
Champion Author Twin Cities

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It's the American way.
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Mowerman08
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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 1:18:04 AM
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very likely
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kd5kpd
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Nothing unusual, big government at work again.
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djp071158
All-Star Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 1:16:12 AM
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I for one, am in favor of the Indians.
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TXGasPriceSpy
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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 1:15:41 AM
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I think, I think I'm going to throw up!!!
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mcbrownie220
Sophomore Author Toledo

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 1:13:36 AM
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hmmm
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mfeldstein
Champion Author Ottawa

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 1:12:22 AM
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I believe it.
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spmaudio
Champion Author Chicago

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 1:09:51 AM
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@ krobp46: Yuh. I thought our government would have stopped screwing the Indians by now!
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JaegerWMeister
All-Star Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 1:09:37 AM
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I hear the ring of legal fees
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DirtDauber
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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 1:09:29 AM
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They don't have to sell.
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krobp46
Champion Author Milwaukee

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 1:07:53 AM
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Way to go Washington, screw the Indians again
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CdnLynx
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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 1:07:45 AM
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Circle those wagons lads; we maybe experiencing another little big horn!
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Thomtec
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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 1:07:34 AM
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Lawyers
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RENEGADEGAS
Champion Author Missouri

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 1:06:17 AM
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I would think the Native Americans have good attorneys that can handle this situation. If they are relying on this regime to protect them, they may as well hang it up.
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Ron77095
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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 1:05:10 AM
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Really?
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abacus44
Champion Author Toms River

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 1:04:48 AM
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They could have held out for higher prices.
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nurdco
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Just like NATIVE Hawaiians
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J Eric
Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 1:00:46 AM
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Cheating Indians? Oh, nooooo, we would never do that. (They got to open a casino near the oilfields, though.)
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10k
Champion Author North Carolina

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 12:58:59 AM
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if the feds were involved, i'm not surprised..too bad there are not enough oldtime indian warriors left that could swarm, and take over washington..
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MN1
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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 12:56:48 AM
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SOP
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yonasb
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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 12:56:16 AM
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a deal is a deal
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DrGasPain
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modern day cowboys and indians !
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Rageagainsttm
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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 12:54:52 AM
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Ain't that America.
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Dsin44
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tipical
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probedude2
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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 12:53:32 AM
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Those reservations are dirt poor, what did you expect them to do?
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Bobski13
Sophomore Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 12:53:29 AM
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Only in America!!
I think the companies that committed this should be fined, jailed and made to pay the Native Americans the $1 Billion + interest + penalties.
The law is the law and it should apply equally!!! However, it will never happen in America...the government takes and never gives back.
'Nuff said!
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grt197
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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 12:51:37 AM
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OK
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unicornpmb
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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 12:51:36 AM
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It will never end.
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melvindale
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 12:51:02 AM
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North American Natives being cheated out of their rights and property once again.
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grt197
All-Star Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 12:50:46 AM
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OK
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silvereb
Veteran Author Fort Wayne

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 12:50:29 AM
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This is just wrong.
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Double_Golden
Champion Author San Francisco

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Message Posted: Feb 24, 2013 12:49:02 AM
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that's nothing new, it happen since 1776...
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moregas1966
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typical for the usa
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