Week #9: Where There’s a Will

When I was in 6th grade, we were approved to receive money from the Pyramid Lake Water Settlement.  This money was given to the descendants of Henry Harris and other Paiute Indians.  Grandpa Harris had water rights from the Pyramid Lake that were bought by the US Government. And, as history has repeated itself, the US Government did not make their final payments.  Grandpa Harris died before he received the final payments so his descendants inherited that money.


The application process took 2-3 years to be completed. Descendants had to prove their lineage to those Paiutes that should have received the money.


My mom's check was $5600 when she received her. Because I was a minor, my money went into an Individual Indian Money account until I turned 18.  My check was $10,600 when I received my check.  I used it for college.



Three years ago, I also came in on another payment from the Cobell Settlement.  The US Government was sued on grounds that they did not invest money in the best interest of those that had IIM accounts.  The government lost their case.  I received another $3000 because I had an IIM account that was affected by this law suit.



None of my ancestors were ever rich enough to leave a monetary will.  Many of them are Indian and had land that was in trust with the federal government.  So I am very thankful for the legacy that Henry Harris left for his descendants.