Allotted land in new purchase program (Flathead)-Continued [Timber status: (1) Uncut; (2) cutover; (3) partly cutover; unnumbered, open lands] UNIT NO. 8-Continued Helen Essert, Lawrence G. Cheauma. 120.00 1,200 80.00 800 40.00 400 40.00 400 Winfield N. Blodgett... Mabel M. Blodgett Ogden... Frank Antoine. Isabel Whitecoyte. Susan Quequesah Antoine, Rose Antoine Allotted land in new purchase program (Flathead)—Continued [Timber status: (1) Uncut; (2) cutover; (3) partly cutover; unnumbered, open lands] Allotted land in new purchase program (Flathead)—Continued [Timber status: (1) Uncut; (2) cutover; (3) partly cutover; unnumbered, open lands] 4. FORT BELKNAP CONSOLIDATED AGENCY Hon. JAMES E. MURRAY, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Washington, D. C. BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, MY DEAR MR. MURRAY: There are transmitted herewith in duplicate, the completed tabular forms and reply to questionnaire furnished this agency with your letter of April 17, 1958. Both forms and reply apply to the Fort Belknap Reservation, the Rocky Boy's Reservation, and Turtle Mountain public domain allotments which are under the administrative jurisdiction of this consolidated agency. Sincerely yours, H. DUSHANE, Superintendent. A. REPLY TO QUESTIONNAIRE AS TO FORT BELKNAP RESERVATION PART I 1. As of July 1, 1957, there were 65,892 acres of land in tribal ownership. The total 65,892 acres were in trust status. The Fort Belknap Tribes owned no acreage in fee simple status in 1947 and as of this date own no real property in fee simple status. 2. A total of 533,181 acres of land were in individual ownership as of July 1, 1947. 3. No tribal or individually owned lands passed from trust title to fee simple title during the fiscal years 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, and 1954. In 1953 there were 5 transactions; in 1955, 1 transaction; in 1956, 1 transaction; and, in 1957, 1 transaction in which lands moved from trust to fee simple status. 4. No tribal or individually owned trust acreage passed to fee simple title during the fiscal years 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, and 1954; 1,127 acres were transferred from trust status in 1953, 245 acres in 1955, 180 acres in 1956, and 320 acres in 1957. A total of 1,872 acres has passed to fee simple title during the 10 years preceding fiscal year 1958. 5. There were no transactions from trust to fee simple status during the fiscal years 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, and 1954. During the fiscal year 1953 there were 3 issuances of fee patents, 1 removal of restrictions against alienation and 1 transfer to fee status because of inheritance by or devise to a non-Indian. One fee patent was issued during the fiscal year 1955; 1 fee patent was issued during the fiscal year 1956; and 1 fee patent was issued during the fiscal year 1959. 6. No acreage passed from trust to fee simple status during the fiscal years 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, and 1954. There were 694 acres transferred to fee simple status through the issuance of fee patents, 32 acres by removal of restrictions, and 401 acres through inheritance by or devise to non-Indians during the fiscal year 1953; 245 acres were transferred to fee simple status in 1955 through issuance of fee patent; 180 acres were transferred to fee simple status in 1956 through issuance of fee patent and in the fiscal year 1957; 320 acres were likewise transferred through issuance of fee patents. 7. No transactions were consummated during the fiscal years 1948 through 1957 by which tribal or individual Indian lands were added through acquisition of lands not previously under Indian ownership. 8. No acreage was acquired during the fiscal years 1948 through 1957 for tribal or individual Indian ownership from lands not previously under Indian ownership. 9. No transactions were consummated during the fiscal years 1948 through 1957 by which tribal or individual Indian lands were added through acquisition of lands not previously under Indian ownership. 10. No acreage was acquired during the fiscal years 1948 through 1957 for tribal or individual Indian ownership from lands not previously under Indian ownership. 11. A total of 123,098.54 acres of land were held in tribal ownership as of December 31, 1957. All of this tribal acreage is held in trust status. The Fort Belknap Tribes have not acquired and do not hold any acreage in fee simple. 12. A total of 475,974.23 acres of trust lands were in individual Indian ownership as of December 31, 1957. 13. No special acts of Congress have affected the acquisition and disposal of Indian lands. H. R. 7241, introduced by Representative Metcalf on May 6, 1957, and reported with an amendment on April 30, 1958, for the purpose of removing the restrictions as to alienation of allotted lands designated as homestead under the Fort Belknap Allotting Act of March 3, 1921 (41 Stat. 1355), will aid the Fort Belknap original allottees who desire to either sell or fee patent their lands. Lands designated as homestead are frequently so interspersed with the balance of the individual allotment that either sale or the fee patenting of the balance of the allotment is either impossible because of the acreage of salable tracts or impractical as to fee patent issuance when benefit to allottee is considered. Passage of the bill is most important to the individual Indian owner of lands on this reservation. This reservation has been under the Indian Reorganization Act since December 13, 1935. Through the years, the allottees have been averse to the sale of their lands except to the tribe. The thought that sale only to the tribe, or an individual of the tribe, was possible has been fostered by the tribal council continually since that time. Until very recent years it appears evident that the administration at this agency gave full support to the idea. At the present time a large number of the landowners are considering the sale of land to the general public if the tribe does not wish or is unable to buy. We have an approximate 100 applications for the sale of land to the general public at this time. The demand for sales and fee patents will rapidly increase, now that the general Indian public is aware that sale to the public may be had. |