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TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - The Cherokee Nation has reached an agreement with the United States Department of Labor (DOL) to settle a dispute involving more than $1 million of past funding. The settlement is a result of a 1999 DOL audit that disallowed more than $1 million in costs between 1993 and 1999.

"This settlement is beneficial to us because we have saved a substantial amount of money for the Cherokee Nation", said Diane Hammons, director of the Cherokee Nation’s Justice department.

After a trial in July of this year, DOL attorneys contacted the Cherokee Nation to discuss settlement, which they had declined to do prior to trial.

"I think our witnesses had a lot to do with it", said Diane Hammons, director of the Cherokee Nation’s Justice department. "The judge said he saw more CPAs in a couple days at the trial than he had in his whole life. Our witnesses were knowledgeable and credible." The final financial details of the settlement cannot be released, but Hammons called the savings to the Nation "a considerable sum."

"It’s finally over", Hammons said. "The Cherokee Nation has been carrying that liability for more than four years. Now we are able to move forward and put this behind us. With this resolved, we have resolved one of the final financial liabilities incurred by the (former Principal Chief Joe) Byrd administration."

Related contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org