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Uncle Sam pays off century-old debtBy GWEN FLORIO Associated Press Writer TAMA, Iowa (AP) The Mesquakie Indians of Tama's pine-forested hills can finally pay their overdue bills Uncle Sam has paid off a century-old debt.The Indians, following a 30-year powwow with lawyers and bureaucrats, have collected $6 6 million from the U.S. government in payment of land ceded to the government between 1804 and 1867.“Now that all the bills are paid, we never get any more mail,'' said a Mesquakie housewife.The 902-member tribe elected to take 80 per cent of the money now’ - $5,267,-738 with the rest going into a trust.“People think we re getting so much money, but thev don't realize how smallw wthe individual payments are, said Frank Pushetonequa, who serves as tribal planner Per capita payments were $5,840, although the tribe’s 329 minors won't get their share until they reach 18.Another measure on the Georgia ballotwould allow a governor to succeed himself for a second four-year term. InMontana, residents of 156 counties, cities and towns will vote on proposals for new forms of local government The new ideas generally would increase power at the local level STATE CAPITALThe biggest issue on the Alaska ballot is where to put the state capital. Alaskans voted in 1974 to move it fromJuneau and created a commission to propose three alternative sites The choices Willow, about 70 miles north of Anchorage and the cheapest of tin* three to develop Mount Yenlo. a wilderness area 100 miles north of Anchorage andthe second cheaDest to develop and“That kind of money is nothing today, said the housewife, who spent most of her $5,840 on billsTama merchants reported increased sales to the Mesquakie as a result of the windfall, with household appliances, television sets and clothing leading the listSeveral Mesquakie bought new and used cars and trucks “and they're still coming in,' said auto dealer Ruth Kasai “A lot have invested their mon ey and will borrow to buy the vehicles.Most aren't squandering it away, Mrs Kasai said The Mesquakie of the Sac and Fox of the Mississippi in Iowa don't feel the government gave them the money in a gesture of goodwill or apology “We sued them for it and we beatthem, Pushetonequa said The initial action was taken in 1948 but the suit didn t get to court until 1956''We’ve had to battle them for everything we have The government is very slow when it comes to Indians.The Indians’ long court battle was fought mainly by Lawrence Mills, aChicago claims attorney. “The blankety-blank government found all kinds of excuses, Mills said They don t like to see the Indians get what’s coming to them.Mills also handled claims suits bv twowother Sac and Fox tribes Payments to»all three tribes totaled more than $23 million, with Mills standing to collect 10 per cent of that as his feeHowever, the attorney denied that he*would collect anything approaching $2 3 million, once insurance and taxes were paidIt's not been a profitable case Some other lawyers figured that over the 30 years it took to win this case that I would get about $1 50 an hour. he said The remaining 20 per cent of the money, $1,316,395. was left in trust with the federal government If the Mesquakie want some of the money or interest, they must submit a program stating how thev intend to use it
Newspaper Details
Fort Madison Evening Democrat
Fort Madison, Iowa, US
Wed, Oct 13, 1976
Page 11
Full Page
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IA, USA 06 Feb 2020
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