Hualapai mulls per capita payments from settlement

By FELICIA FONSECA
Associated Press

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) - A northwestern Arizona tribe that recently received a more than $5 million settlement from the federal government is discussing how to spend the money, including whether to split it evenly among all tribal members.

Others have suggested that the money from the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to compensate the Hualapai Tribe for the use of its land would best be invested in infrastructure or education.

Each of the 2,100 enrolled tribal members would receive about $2,500 if the Tribal Council chooses to give it directly to them, or it's settled by a referendum vote. That amount is about one-fifth of what the Census estimates is the yearly per capita income among those living on the reservation.

Tribal lawmakers are meeting Friday to decide how to proceed.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.