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Synopsis

Broken Promises: Indian Trust is a film about a relationship between the United States government and American Indians. Like all relationships, whether personal, professional, or governmental, this relationship was founded on the principle of trust.  But what exactly is trust?  Trust by definition is the firm reliance on the integrity, ability or character of a person or thing. The Department of Treasury defines trust as a relationship in which one person holds the title to property subject to an obligation to keep or use the property for the benefit of another. Trust therefore impacts all of us. It is an important part of our lives and the heart of this story.

This relationship of trust begins in 1887 when the United States government broke up Indian reservations, parceled out millions of acres of land to American Indian families and promised to manage the land. They established the Indian Trust Fund to oversee the revenues collected from oil, gas, timber and grazing leases.  American Indians trusted the federal government.  But for 118 years the Department of Interior has failed to live up to that trust by engaging in a “shocking pattern of deception,” according to Federal Judge Royce Lamberth.  Billions of dollars belonging to one of the most impoverished people in America are unaccounted for and nothing has been done to rectify it.

Broken Promises: Indian Trust is about the history of the trust.  It takes us inside the lives of Indian beneficiaries who own some of the richest land in the world, yet live in abject poverty. Windowless shacks with no running water or electricity reveal the reality of life for 21st century American Indian beneficiaries. Woven throughout their personal stories is the story of a warrior: 

Elouise Cobell, is a member of the Blackfeet tribe in Montana. She grew up hearing the stories of dwindling funds and missing checks. In 1996 she decided to take action and filed the largest class action lawsuit ever filed against the federal government. This is her story, this is their story----a story about trust.

Note from the Director:  Melinda Janko

Throughout my film making career, I have always been attracted to stories about the triumph of the human spirit, and people overcoming the odds. So when I went looking for a story in March 2002, I looked for one that would inspire, make a difference and maybe even change the way we see the world. What I found was an article in Mother Jones magazine about a people, a government and a betrayal of trust. It is a story that has its roots in the 19th century but still continues today. Some call it the “Enron of the U.S. government.”  The truth is--- it is bigger than Enron! This little known story has evolved into “Broken Promises: Indian Trust.”
 
During my research and investigation, it was shocking to find that most Americans do not know about the largest class action lawsuit ever brought against the federal government.  How can billions of dollars belonging to one of the most impoverished people in America be unaccounted for and not be front page news? It seems that all the current news is focused on Indian wealth through casino ownership. It is the new stereotype of Native Americans.  But the facts about casinos and the nouveau-riche American Indians are distorted, and ignore the truth---- one in three Native Americans today live in poverty. That is why I decided to tell this story.

Broken Promises: Indian Trust is indeed a story about Native Americans, but more importantly, it is a critical piece of American history that takes a close look at the government’s relationship with its first citizens, and brings us inside the lives of the people who are affected by the Trust.  It follows the courageous efforts of one Native American woman who has spent the past 25 years fighting for justice for her people and it forces us to ask a very important question:  If the standards of fiscal responsibility are compromised for one group of people, how safe are the rest of us?

Through this film and the Outreach campaign that accompanies it, we hope to educate the American public about this important piece of history. I consider it a privilege to work on such an important story.  I hope you will join me in supporting the film. Thank you for your interest.

Quotes

“If this type of egregious action had been inflicted on any other ethnic group, there would have been a tremendous public outcry.” Senator John McCain (R) Arizona

“The United States government made a commitment, through solemn treaty obligations when it divided Indian lands in 1887, to hold those lands in trust, to manage them wisely, and to give any income from the sale or lease of the land to its Indians owners. Our government has never fulfilled that promise.” Former Senator Tom Daschle (D) South Dakota

“After a century of mismanaging Indian assets, it’s time for our nation to keep our promises.”
Senator Maria Cantwell (D) Washington

“The Department’s handling of the Individual Indian Money trust has served as the gold standard for mismanagement by the federal government for more than a century.”  Federal Judge Royce Lamberth

“The Interior Department has been the Enron of federal agencies when it comes to managing Indian trust assets.” Representative Nick J. Rahall II, (D) West Virginia


“The way these trust fund holders have been treated….is a national disgrace. If 40,000 people were cut off Social Security, there would be an uproar in Congress.” 
Representative Tom Udall (D) New Mexico