MINNESOTA CHIPPEWA RESOLUTION No. 37

Whereas the need for Federal funds still remains for the disposition of allotments requested for sale on the Leech Lake Reservation;

Whereas lakeshore properties with a value of approximately $300,000 remain unsold;

Whereas new requests by heirs for sale of their inherited interests are being received: Be it hereby

Resolved, That the tribal manager write to the Congressmen in the State of Minnesota requesting $250,000 for the purchase of these lands by the United States Forest Service; be it further

Resolved, That unless specifically authorized otherwise by the allottees consenting to the sale that the mineral rights in said lands be reserved in the allottees.

MINNESOTA CHIPPEWA RESOLUTION No. 6

Whereas the Grand Portage Indian Reservation is a part of the wilderness and roadless areas created by the Secretary of the Interior (25 C. F. R. 281.2) and such action restricts the use and occupancy of the individual Indian allotments remaining in trust status; and

Whereas the records show that either aliens or non-Indians hold interests in whole or in part on a large percent of the allotments and in accordance with regulations these interests are unrestricted, and patents-in-fee should be issued for said interests which would make the interests of Indians of questionable value: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Indian Bureau make available sufficient funds to purchase all the allotments in whole or in part that are held by Indians on the Grand Portage Reservation, title to be taken in the name of the United States of America in trust for the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, from funds allotted by Congress under the Indian Reorganization Act so that the Indian owners may realize a fair value from their holdings and at the same time solve the complicated heirship problem that has, and is continuing to develop on this reservation.

MINNESOTA CHIPPEWA RESOLUTION No. 21

Whereas the Minnesota Agency is conducting land sales at the request of owners;

Whereas the regulations by requiring 100-percent request for sale and 100percent consent makes sales impossible on certain allotments because of—

1. Minors without legal guardians-funds in their share would not pay for the appointment of guardians.

2. Incompetents without legal guardians.

3. Indifference of recipients because of very small cash shares. Therefore be it resolved, That a request be made to change the regulations

thus:

That sales listing be made by request of majority shares.
That sale can be processed by consent of majority shares.

MINNESOTA CHIPPEWA RESOLUTION No. 22

Whereas the United States Forest Service has purchased many allotments that have been requested for sale by Indians, with funds appropriated to them for such acquisition; and

Whereas there still are continuing requests for sale by the Indians both inside and outside the boundaries of the Chippewa National Forest on the Leech Lake Reservation, and such allotments have been advertised for sale but without successful bids: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Congress of the United States be requested to appropriate funds to the United States Forest Service for the acquisition of allotted lands as follows:

For the purchase of allotments outside the Chippewa National Forest boundaries on the Leech Lake Reservation_-_

For purchase of allotments inside the Chippewa National Forest boundaries on the Leech Lake Reservation___.

$50,000

10,000

MINNESOTA CHIPPEWA, SIOUX, AND RED LAKE

AS TO ALLOTTED INDIAN RESERVATIONS IN MINNESOTA AND ALLOTMENTS ON THE PUBLIC DOMAIN IN MINNESOTA

DISPOSALS-REMOVAL FROM INDIAN BUREAU JURISDICTION BY PLACING OF UNRESTRICTED FEE-SIMPLE TITLE IN OWNERS

B. RED LAKE

DATA ON QUESTIONNAIRE ON THE DISPOSITION AND ACQUISITION OF INDIAN LANDS IN THE LAST 10 YEARS FOR THE RED LAKE INDIAN RESERVATION IN MINNESOTA

PART I

1. How many acres were there in tribal ownership on July 1, 1947? Answer. There were 573,238 acres.

How many acres in trust?

Answer. All of this land is held in trust by the United States for the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians.

How many acres which the tribe had acquired in fee?

Answer. None of the land is in fee status.

2. How many acres of trust or restricted land were there in individual Indian ownership on July 1, 1947?

Answer. Four allotments totaling 240 acres in trust, held in individual ownership on July 1, 1947.

3. How many transactions, by which tribal or individually owned lands were disposed of (including the placing of unrestricted fee title in the hands of the owners by issuance of patents in fee, certificates of competency, etc.), were consummated during each fiscal year since July 1, 1947?

Answer. There were three sales of public domain allotments under the jurisdiction of this reservation during the 1955 fiscal year.

4. How many acres were so disposed of or removed from Bureau jurisdiction during each fiscal year since July 1, 1947?

Answer. A total of 140 acres was involved in the 3 sales mentioned under No. 3.

5. Give the numbers of transactions for each year which will be shown in answer to No. 3 above, broken down by the type of transaction.

Answer. The transactions were all advertised, supervised sales.

6. Give the acreages for each year which will be shown in answer to No. 4 above, broken down by the type of transaction.

Answer. There were 3 supervised sales, totaling 140 acres.

7 through 10. How many transactions, by which tribal or individual Indian lands were acquired, were consummated during each fiscal year since July 1, 1947? How many acres were so acquired during each calendar year since July 1, 1947? Give the numbers of transactions for each year which will be shown in answer to No. 7 above, broken down by the type of transaction. Give the acreages for each year which will be shown in answer to No. 8 above, broken down by the type of transaction.

Answer. There was no acquisition of land on the Red Lake Reservation for the period involved.

11. How many acres were there in tribal ownership on December 31, 1957? How many acres held by the United States in trust? How many acres which the tribe had acquired in fee?

Answer. There were 573,238 acres.

12. How many acres of trust or restricted land were there in individual Indian ownership on December 31, 1957? Answer. There were 102 acres.

13. Cite and discuss briefly any special acts of Congress which have affected the acquisition and disposal of Indian lands (termination acts, private acts directing the issuance of patents in fee, etc.). What study is being made of the cause and effect of sales? Has the tribal council passed or considered any resolutions on this subject? Please elaborate and include any resolutions approved.

Answer. The Red Lake Reservation is not an allotted reservation, and therefore the land status has remained constant for the period involved. There were four allotments on the public domain issued to individual Indians and carried on the records of the Red Lake Reservation. At the request of heirs, three of these allotments were appraised and sold under the supervision of the Indian Bureau in the fiscal year 1955. The fourth allotment is still held by the original owner who resides on same.

14. Discuss to what extent, if any, the heirship or multiple-ownership problem has affected the acquisition and disposal of Indian lands, with particular reference to the following facets of the problem: (a) undivided interest owned by the tribe; (b) undivided interest owned by non-Indians and alien Indians; (c) undivided interest owned by minors on reservations which are under the Indian Reorganization Act, (d) difficulty of reaching agreement among all heirs as to use or disposal of lands; (e) what use has been made of the Secretary's authority to sell heirship lands when the owners have died intestate and have left minor or incompetent heirs? To what extent has the tribe been encouraged or permitted to buy such lands?

Answer. This question is not applicable to Red Lake Reservation.

PART II-RED LAKE

This part is not applicable to Red Lake Reservation.

PART III-RED LAKE

The purpose of this part of the questionnaire is to ascertain to what extent the tribes have assumed responsibility for real-estate activities. Answer. The real-estate activities on the Red Lake Indian Reservation are limited to a very few leases which are negotiated by the tribal council and approved by the reservation superintendent. In addition, there are issued by the tribal council assignments for homesites and other purposes, to individual members of the reservation. The Red Lake Reservation is largely a forested area and the management of these products are under the direction and supervision of the Indian Bureau.

ADDITIONAL DATA ON INDIAN LAND STATUS IN MINNESOTA AS REQUESTED BY UNITED STATES SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS

During the period of 1930 to 1947 there was a land-purchase program conducted for the various groups of Indians as organized under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, and the purchases on the 6 reservations of the groups organized as the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe were Grand Portage, 21,613 acres; Nett Lake, 5,350 acres;