Four tribes in the Dakotas have recently received more than $100 million through settlements with the federal government over claims that the government mismanaged tribal money and trust lands.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe…whose reservation is in both North Dakota and South Dakota is getting $49 million while in just South Dakota, the Rosebud Sioux are getting $20 million, the Lower Brule Sioux $18 million and the Crow Creek Sioux $14.5 million.

The money is part of $1.7 billion in settlements to 65 tribes made in the past decade, including $1-1/4 billion awarded this year to 59 tribes, with other tribal governments still in negotiations for settlements.

The Lower Brule Sioux Tribe has decided to use the money to pay down debts rather than distribute it to tribal members…a move that recently triggered two days of protests at the tribal headquarters.

The tribal settlements are separate from the trust funds lawsuit involving individual members of tribes across the country, which ended with a $3.4 billion class-action settlement.

That case, which includes $1.5 billion to be divided among 500,000 claimants, and about $1.9 billion to buy back land and award scholarships and training grants, is nearing an end with one of the final battles coming over attorney fees.

The lawyers for the Indians worked on the case for more than 15 years for no fees, and are asking that the $99 million set by a judge as their compensation be raised to $223 million.