Daines Calls On Interior Secretary To Empower Tribes in Land Buy Back Program Implementation

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Representative Steve Daines today called on the Department of Interior to expedite the implementation of the Land Buy Back Program and permit Tribes to assume many functions of the land acquisition program that they have the capacity to administer.

In a letter sent today to Secretary Sally Jewell, Daines calls on the Department of Interior to implement substantive changes to the Land Buy Back Program implementation that ensures Tribe's voices are heard and addresses the frustration that many Tribes have felt as implementation has been delayed.

"We are concerned your recent announcement lacks any substantive changes to the Land Buy Back Program implementation plan that would allow more active and effective participation of Tribal Nations in order to ensure the program is a success," Daines wrote."Given the 10-year authority for the program is running, we urge the Department to immediately take whatever steps are necessary to permit Indian tribes -- at their request -- to assume as many of the functions of the land acquisition program that they have the capacity to administer."

The full letter is available here.

Daines outlines concerns regarding the Department of Interior's insistence that it is without authority to permit Tribes to carry out some of the most important functions of the program--including making final offers to willing sellers and rendering payment for interests sold.

These concerns were raised at a recent House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs hearing on the implementation of the Cobell Settlement, which was held last month at Daines' request.

During last month's hearing, Daines called for the Department of Interior to cooperatively work with Montana tribes and address the systemic problems that have led to delays and persistent challenges during the implementation of the Land Buy Back Program. Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribal Councilman Grant Stafne and Fort Belknap Tribal Council President Mark L. Azure also testified during the hearing.

"Fractionation makes economic development and access to essential services extremely challenging. Navigating federal government bureaucracy becomes even more complex. The Land BuyBack Program has provided Indian Country with a means to improve their future," Daines stated during the hearing. "However, as we have heard today, the program is not working and the hope in Indian country is turning into frustration. When I toured several of the reservations in Montana at the beginning of this year, implementation of the Land Buy Back Program was the highest issue of concern for most tribes. When every tribe is experiencing similar challenges, we know the problems must be systemic."

The Cobell Settlement provided for the resolution of individual Indian claims to land and funds held in trust. This settlement called for a one-time payment of $1.9 billion to fund an Interior Department program to consolidate highly fractionated interests of Indian lands into tribal ownership.

Highly fractionated trust land is difficult and costly for individual Indian land owners and the Department of the Interior to manage, holding back potential opportunities for Tribes to make effective land-use decisions and manage land for economic development and resource development. In Montana, large amounts of highly fractionated Indian lands are in mineral-rich areas like the Bakken oil formation or Powder River Coal Basin.

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