Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations
The Cobell settlement was approved by Congress on November 30, 2010 (Claims Resolution Act of 2010) and signed by President Obama on December 8, 2010. The $3.4 billion Cobell Settlement will address the Federal Government’s responsibility for trust accounts and trust assets maintained by the United States on behalf of more than 300,000 individual Indians. A fund of $1.5 billion will be used to compensate class members for their historical accounting, trust fund and asset mismanagement claims.
In addition, to address the continued proliferation of thousands of new trust accounts caused by the "fractionation" of land interests through succeeding generations, the Settlement establishes a $1.9 billion fund for the voluntary buy-back and consolidation of fractionated land interests. The land consolidation program will provide individual American Indians with an opportunity to obtain cash payments for divided land interests and free up the land for the benefit of tribal communities.
Furthermore, up to $60 million will be set aside to provide scholarships for higher education for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Documents Related to the Cobell Trust Land Consolidation Program
- Latest Updates [See Buy-Back Program site for more]
- Updates
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- Tribal Leaders update on preparations to utilize the Cobell Settlement's Trust Land Consolidation Fund
- Press Release, Feb. 2, 2012 - Interior Seeks Comments on Cobell Land Consolidation Draft Plan
- NOA - Land Trust Consolidation Program Draft Plan [signed PDF]
- Cobell Land Consolidation Program Draft [signed PDF]
- Federal Register Meeting Notice, March 2012 [signed PDF]
- Settlement Agreement
- Secretarial Order
- Secretarial Commission on Indian Trust Administration and Reform
Upcoming Consultations for the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations
Consultations
- Minneapolis, MN - January 31, 2013
- When: Thursday, January 31, 2013. Registration begins at 8am, Consultation from 9am - 4pm.
- Where: Mystic Lake Casino and Hotel 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd Prior Lake, MN 55372.
*For reservations, call 952-445-9000 or 800-262-7799 and ask for a discounted room rate under the "BIA Consultation" block.- Consultation Agenda
- Rapid City, SD - February 6, 2013
- When: Wednesday, February 6, 2013. Registration begins at 8am, Consultation from 9am - 4pm.
- Where: Best Western Ramkota Hotel, 2111 North LaCrosse Street, Rapid City, SD 57701, (605) 343-8550
- Consultation Agenda
- Seattle, WA - February 14, 2013
- When: Thursday, February 14, 2013. Registration begins at 8am, Consultation from 9am - 4pm.
- Where: Arctic Club Seattle, Doubletree Hotel, 700 3rd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, (206) 340-0340
- Consultation Agenda
Materials to Review Prior to a Consultation
Past Consultations
Billings, MT Consultation - July 15, 2011
- First Regional Tribal Consultation on Cobell Trust Land Consolidation Program Announced
- Federal Registrar's Notice for Billings, Montana Consultation
- Tribal Leader Letter
- Transcript
Minneapolis, MN Consultation - August 18, 2011
Seattle Consultation – Sept 16, 2011
Albuquerque Consultation – Sept 27, 2011
Phoenix Consultation – Sept 29, 2011
Oklahoma City Consultation – Oct 6, 2011
Rapid City Consultation – Oct 26, 2011