Oregon Public Broadcasting

Officials from Oregon's Indian tribes met Wednesday to discuss a $3.4 billion national legal settlement with the Obama Administration.

Ethan Lindsey reports from Bend.

Tribal officials say a major part of the settlement is a $2 billion payment to buy plots of land deeded to individual Indians in 1887, including land on reservations in Oregon.

Each succeeding generation has split ownership of those pieces of land multiple times, resulting in divided property rights.

Christpher Burford: "There are many people in Indian Country who own interests in land that are one-milionths."

Christopher Burford is the attorney general of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Christopher Burford: "It may make a huge difference in Indian Country for Indians to be able consolidate their ownership of land and for tribes to be able to manage the land within their reservation."

In addition, according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 5667 Native Americans living in Oregon will receive $1000 checks under the terms of the settlement.