As part of the historical relationship between the Cherokee Nation and the United States, the federal government held certain money, land and other resources in trust for the Cherokee Nation that were required by treaty to be used for the tribe’s benefit.
When the United States began occupying Cherokee Nation’s land, the two governments entered into numerous treaties. Those agreements often required the federal government to manage the Cherokee Nation’s vast lands and resources for the benefit of the tribe.
Cherokee Nation has filed a trust accounting claim against the United States requesting it provide a full and complete accounting of the Cherokee Nation’s funds, assets and resources as well as an accounting system for reporting future balances.
There are numerous questions about the federal government’s handling of Cherokee Nation’s trust resources. Until 1978, the U.S. was legally charged with managing these assets and providing a reporting to the Cherokee Nation of its trust.
The Cherokee Nation announced on November 28, 2016, that it has filed a claim against the United States asking for an accounting of its resources and assets that are held in trust by the federal government. Follow this link for the status of the claim.