Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 100 Part 1.djvu/97

 PUBLIC LAW 99-264—MAR. 24, 1986 Public Law 99-264 99th Congress

100 STAT. 61

An Act

To settle unresolved claims relating to certain allotted Indian lands on the White Earth Indian Reservation, to remove clouds from the titles to certain lands, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That this Act may be cited as the "White Earth Reservation Land Settlement Act of 1985". SEC. 2. The Congress finds that— (1) claims on behalf of Indian allottees or heirs and the White Earth Band involving substantial amounts of land within the White Earth Indian Reservation in Minnesota are the subject of existing and potential lawsuits involving many and diverse interests in Minnesota, and are creating great hardship and uncertainty for government, Indian communities, and nonIndian communities; (2) the lawsuits and uncertainty will result in great expense and expenditure of time, and could have a profound negative impact on the social and well-being of everyone on the reservation; (3) the White Earth Band of Chippewa Indians, State of Minnesota, along with its political subdivisions, and other interested parties have made diligent efforts to fashion a settlement to these claims, and the Federal Government, by providing the Eissistance specified in this Act, will make possible the implementation of a permanent settlement with regard to these claims; (4) past United States laws and policies have contributed to the uncertainty surrounding the claims; (5) it is in the long-term interest of the United States, State of Minnesota, White Earth Band, Indians, and non-Indians for the United States to assist in the implementation of a fair and equitable settlement of these claims; and (6) this Act will settle unresolved legal uncertainties relating to these claims. SEC. 3. For purposes of this Act: (a) "Allotment" shall mean an allocation of land on the White Earth Reservation, Minnesota, granted, pursuant to the Act of January 14, 1889 (25 Stat. 642), and the Act of February 8, 1887 (24 Stat. 388), to a Chippewa Indian. (b) "Allottee" shall mean the recipient of an allotment. (c) "Full blood" shall mean a Chippewa Indian of the White Earth Reservation, Minnesota, who WEIS designated as a full blood Indian on the roll approved by the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota on October 1, 1920, or who was so designated by a decree of a Federal court of competent jurisdiction; it shall also refer to an individual who is not designated on said roll but who is the biological child of two full blood parents so designated on the roll

Mar. 24, 1986 [S. 1396]

White Earth Reservation Land Settlement Act of 1985. Minnesota. 25 USC 331 note. 25 USC 331 note.

25 USC 331 note.

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