Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 68 Part 1.djvu/900

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PUBLIC LAW 671-AUG- 27, 1954

Public Law 671 August 27, 1954 [S.3532]

u t e Indians, Utah. Distribution of assets. Terml n a t i o n of {federal stipervl* sion.

Definitions.

M i x e d * blood me sobers. Right to organize.

[68

STAT.

CHAPTER 1009

AN ACT To provide for the partition and distribution of the assets of the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in Utah between the mixed-blood and full-blood members thereof; and for the termination of Federal supervision over the property of the mixed-blood members of said tribe; to provide a development program for the full-blood members of said tribe; and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the purpose of this Act is to provide for the partition and distribution of the assets of the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in Utah between the mixed-blood and full-blood members thereof; for the termination of Federal supervision over the trust, and restricted property, of the mixed-blood members of said tribe; and for a development program for the full-blood members thereof, to assist them in preparing for termination of Federal supervision over their property. SEC. 2. For the purposes of this Act— (a) "Tribe" means the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, Utah. (b) "Full-blood" means a member of the tribe who possesses onehalf degree of Ute Indian blood and a total of Indian blood in excess of one-half, excepting those who become mixed-bloods by choice under the provisions of section 4 hereof. (c) "Mixed-blood" means a member of the tribe who does not possess sufficient Indian or Ute Indian blood to fall within the full-blood class as herein defined, and those who become mixed-bloods by choice under the provisions of section 4 hereof. (d) "Secretary" means Secretary of the Interior. (e) "Superintendent" means the Superintendent of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, Utah. (f) "Asset" means any property of the tribe, real, personal or mixed, whether held by the tribe or by the United States in trust for the tribe, or subject to a restriction against alienation imposed by the United States. (g) "Adult" means a member of the tribe who has attained the age of twenty-one years. SEC. 3. For the purposes of this Act Ute Indian blood shall be determined in accordance with the constitution and bylaws of the tribe and all tribal ordinances in force and effect on the effective date of this Act. SEC. 4. Any member of the tribe whose name appears on the proposed roll of full-blood members as provided in section 8 hereof and any person whose name is added to such proposed roll as the result of an appeal to the Secretary may apply to the Superintendent to become identified with and a part of the mixed-blood g r o u p: Provided, That such application is made within thirty days subsequent to the publication of such proposed roll or in the event of an appeal within thirty days subsequent to notification of the decision on said appeal: ATid provided further, That before such transfer is made upon the official rolls the Secretary shall first certify that, in his opinion, such change in status is not detrimental to the best interest of the person seeking such change. SEC. 5. Effective on the date of publication of the final rolls as provided in section 8 hereof the tribe shall thereafter consist exclusively of full-blood members. Mixed-blood members shall have no interest therein except as otherwise provided in this Act. SEC. 6. The mixed-blood members of the tribe, including those residing on and off the reservation, shall have the right to organize for their common welfare, and may adopt an appropriate constitution and bylaws which shall become effective when ratified by a majority

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