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Show Years of Trouble, Years of Hope, 1934-1960 147 tended to buy. In order to get cash, many People sold the items obtained by purchase orders to whites, often for much less than the original price. In 1938 Congress passed another special law permitting the People to sue the government. Between 1941 and 1946 several suits were filed asking for an accounting of Ute land disposed of to 1938. Delays by the Court and Congress put off the final judgment of these cases until 13 July 1950. The case had taken fifteen years of work by the tribal lawyers (Wilkinson, Cragun, and Barker). The United States Court of Claims awarded the Confederated Bands almost $32,000,000. This Judgment Fund was released in 1951 after a "program of economic and social development" was established. This Three Year Plan included the purchase of lands and their "improvement." It established a credit fund for the tribal members and funds for adult education. Over $1,600,000 was given to individuals as per capita payments. Much of this money was quickly spent. In 1956 a long-range plan for the use of the rest of the Judgement Fund was approved by the Secretary of the Interior. This Family Plan, however, did not bring the People any closer to economic self-sufficiency. In the 1960s the People turned to the development of tribal enterprises. A number of jobs were created for the unemployed. Money awards for claims against the government continued to be made to the People. In 1958 claims for land taken for the Uinta Forest Reserve, the Strawberry Valley Reclamation Project, and mineral claims were settled for $3,250,000. Other awards were made in 1961 and 1981. Indian Claims Commission, 1946-1978 In the meantime the Indian Claims Commission was established. The 1946 Act created a special system for the Indians to sue the federal government.18 It created a council to "hear and determine" claims of the Indians. This act was part of the termination effort. Congress saw settlement of tribal claims against the United States as a necessary step to rid the government of its responsibilities for the tribes. The Commission was set up to consider claims by any "tribe, band, or group of identifiable American Indians" with whom the |