Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson announced today that a plan for the use and distribution of more than $600,000 awarded by the Indian Claims Commission to the Northern Tonto Apache Indians is being published in the Federal Register.
The award represents payment for lands taken by the United States in 1873 and 1875.
According to the plan, approved by Congress with an effective date of September 5, 1975, the funds will be divided between two successor groups of the Northern Tonto Apache Tribe. The Yavapai Apache Community of the Camp Verde Reservation in Arizona will receive 88 percent and the balance will go to the smaller Yavapai-Tonto Apache Community of Payson, Arizona.
The Camp Verde Community will make a per capita distribution of 80 percent of their share of the funds to community members and will use the remaining 20 percent for economic development, community and tribal government purposes.
The Payson Community will distribute 25 percent of their funds on a per capita basis and program the rest for tribal and community purposes.
