The United States government on Friday finalized a settlement with the Navajo Nation for a record amount of US$554 million, in a dispute which started over 50 years ago.

The said amount is the largest that the U. S. government has ever agreed to pay an Indian tribe for a settlement.

Like Us on Facebook

In exchange, the Navajo Nation agreed to withdraw the lawsuit filed against the government over allegations of fund mismanagement of the tribe's resources.

Many of the Navajo owned land has been leased for gas and oil development, farming, mining, housing and grazing.

However, the U.S. government, which oversees the leases has allegedly mismanaged the tribes trust account and its 5.7 million hectares worth of land resources.

The tribe has agreed to a settlement several months ago, but was waiting for several federal agency's approval to finalize the deal.

When the complaint was filed in 2006, the Navajo Nation originally asked for a US$900 million settlement.

Ben Shelly, president of the Navajo Nation, said the settlement of the dispute was a victory for tribal sovereignty," adding that town meetings will be held  starting October to discuss how the funds will be allocated.

In a statement released by Shelly, the Navajo Nation president expressed his satisfaction that the tribe has received a "fair and just compensation" after a very long process.

Meanwhile, according to Navajo Nation Council Delegate Lorenzo Curley, several members of the tribe wanted a portion of the funds to be set aside for future generations.

Shelly's adviser, Deswood Tome, on the other hand, said the funds can help with the infrastructure needs of the tribe, adding that there is a "critical housing shortage" in the Navajo Nation.

Sally Jewell, United States Interior Secretary, went to Window Rock, Arizona on Friday to finalize the deal with the tribe.

According to her, the settlement strengthens the relationship between the government and the Navajo Nation.

Tagspolitics, politics news, navajo nation, navajo tribe, US government