Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 94 Part 2.djvu/507

 PUBLIC LAW 96-420—OCT. 10, 1980

94 STAT. 1785

Public Law 96-420 96th Congress An Act To provide for the settlement of land claims of Indians, Indian nations and tribes and bands of Indians in the State of Maine, including the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, and for other purposes.

Oct. 10, 1980— [H.R. 7919]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,TYmt this Act may be Maine Indian cited as the "Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980". S t t E L n t Act CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF POLICY

of 1980. 25 USC 1721

SEC. 2. (a) Congress hereby finds and declares that: (1) The Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, and the 25 USC I72i. Maliseet Tribe are asserting claims for possession of lands within the State of Maine and for damages on the ground that the lands in question were originally transferred in violation of law, including, but without limitation, the Trade and Intercourse Act of 1790 (1 Stat. 137), or subsequent reenactments or versions thereof. (2) The Indians, Indian nations, and tribes and bands of Indians, other than the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, that once may have held aboriginal title to lands within the State of Maine long ago abandoned their aboriginal holdings. (3) The Penobscot Nation, as represented as of the time of passage of this Act by the Penobscot Nation's Governor and Council, is the sole successor in interest to the aboriginal entity generally known as the Penobscot Nation which years ago claimed aboriginal title to certain lands in the State of Maine. (4) The Passamaquoddy Tribe, as represented as of the time of passage of this Act by the Joint Tribal Council of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, is the sole successor in interest to the aboriginal entity generally known as the Passamaquoddy Tribe which years ago claimed aboriginal title to certain lands in the State of Maine. (5) The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, as represented as of the time of passage of this Act by the Houlton Band Council, is the sole successor in interest, as to lands within the United States, to the aboriginal entity generally known as the Maliseet Tribe which years ago claimed aboriginal title to certain lands in the State of Maine. (6) Substantial economic and social hardship to a large number of landowners, citizens, and communities in the State of Maine, and therefore to the economy of the State of Maine as a whole, will result if the aforementioned claims are not resolved promptly. (7) This Act represents a good faith effort on the part of Congress to provide the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians with a fair and

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