By Kriska Obermiller
This documentary of Elouise Cobell’s life was very moving. The best part was learning it was President Barack Obama who had signed the Bill.
The story of the US Government withholding some 27 Billion dollars from multiple tribes who had put their trust in the government to pay royalties to the tribes which never happened. The final amount that the courts settled on was 3 billion, less than 10% of the original asking amount.
This film goes and talks with the elder landowners who grew old and sick while waiting for their money. In some cases, even when the money was sent out, many times with the names misspelled, the amount of difficulties cashing made it more costly than what the check was worth.
This film shined a glimpse to the injustices done to the tribes during the beginning years of this country, and the level of problems that were endured is terrible example of how the courts that we rely on to be fair and balance are anything but that.