Thursday, August 21, 2014

Government will honor land buy-back program

There’s a new pledge from the Federal Government to tribes around the country. The issue -- an almost $2 billion land buy-back program, which is part of the historic Cobell settlement over the misuse of tribal royalties. The program is slow to start; some worry it will run out before the land is bought back, and that’s why the Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell visited Montana on Wednesday. "I'm honored that she took the time to come down and visit and listen to our concerns, and she is optimistic about getting it and so am I," said Tribe Chairman Ronald Trahan.  The problem boils down to multiple owners of individual land. It's called fractionated lands, passed down sometimes with no will, divided by heirs. That means several people can own one piece of land.  The buy-back program has a 10-year shelf life...more

No comments: