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Ariz. tribe to receive land consolidation funds
Friday, February 6, 2004
The Gila River Indian Community in Arizona will be participating in the expansion of the Bureau of Indian Affairs land consolidation program.
Interior Secretary Gale Norton and Gila River Gov. Richard Narcia will announce the tribe's participation today. According to the department, the tribe will receive funds within the next six months.
The fiscal year 2004 budget includes $21 million for land consolidation. In 2005, the Bush administration is requesting $75 million.
According to government officials and outside experts, the amount is not nearly enough to combat fractionation. The Indian Land Tenure Foundation estimated it would take up to $3 billion to consolidate individual Indian allotments.
At a Senate hearing last year, Wayne Nordwall, a regional BIA director, agreed with the high number. For just the 12 reservations where fractionation is a documented problem, he said it would take $144 million a year.
The BIA has operated a pilot consolidation program in the Great Lakes region with limited success. Although approximately 40,000 interests were purchased over the past five years, an equal number were created, leaving the BIA with a net gain of zero.
S.1721, the American Indian Probate Reform Act of 2004, seeks to stem the fractionation of the Indian estate and consolidate land. The Bush budget request says the provisions are a key element of trust reform.
Relevant Documents:
Fiscal
Year 2005 Budget in Brief |
Unified
Trust Budget |
Serving
Tribal Communities |
BIA
Highlights |
Departmental
Offices [for Office of Special Trustee]
Indian Land Tenure Foundation -
http://www.indianlandtenure.orgNative
American Bank -
http://www.nabna.comIndian
Land Working Group -
http://www.ilwg.netIndian
Trust: Cobell v. Norton -
http://www.indiantrust.comIndian
Trust, Department of Interior -
http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust
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Panel debating reform
bill a third time (10/15)
Tribes focus energies on 'core'
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On
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Indian land bill draws complaints
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Congress tackles trust land reform bill
(5/6)
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