Montana tribes start receiving settlement money

HELENA — Some Indian tribes have started receiving their shares of a $1 billion settlement with the U.S. government over mismanagement of their money and trust lands, while others are waiting and remain undecided on what to do with their windfall.

The agreement between the government and 44 tribes across the nation was announced in March to settle claims of money lost in mismanaged accounts and royalties from natural resource development.

The tribes sued in an attempt to receive an accounting of the Interior Department's management of the trust funds and to learn how much had been lost.

Their...