TABLE XII.-Volume of transactions, 1948–57, by the type involved in the disposal of individual Indian lands from trust status, arranged by agency in order of greatest to least gross volume-Continued

TABLE XII.-Volume of transactions, 1948–57, by type involved in the disposal of individual Indian lands from trust status, arranged by agency in order of greatest to least gross volume—Continued

REAL ESTATE ACTIVITIES OF THE INDIAN TRIBES

To: Hon. James E. Murray.
From: Indian Affairs.

THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE SERVICE, Washington, D. C., October 31, 1958.

Subject: Real-estate activities of the Indian tribes.

In response to a request from Mr. Victor O. Reinemer of your office on October 8, 1958, I am herewith submitting this memorandum and accompanying chart which will help to summarize the returns on tribal real-estate activities from the committee questionnaire of April 17, 1958, on Indian land transactions.

Land acquisition programs of Indian tribes appear to be mainly confined to Aberdeen, Billings, and Portland areas. The real-estate activities of the various tribes vary considerably from minor interest to a comprehensive real-estate program and staff.

In the Aberdeen area the following agencies indicated tribal realestate activities: Cheyenne River, Fort Berthold, Crow Creek, Lower Brule, Pine Ridge, Rosebud, Standing Rock, Turtle Mountain, and Fort Totten.

Cheyenne River. The land and forestry committee of the tribal council, composed of members of the council, reviews all land sale applications to determine if purchase by the tribe is feasible. Tribal council resolutions dealing with a proposed program drawn up by the tribe relating to land acquisitions and disposal were submitted. Fort Berthold.-The tribal council has a land committee consisting of five members which considers all tribal land matters and makes recommendations to the council. The Doane Agricultural Service has been retained by the tribe to make an industrial and economic survey of the reservation.

Crow Creek.-A plan of operations of the land purchase and adjustment enterprise of the Crow Creek Tribe was approved April 7, 1950. A copy of this plan was submitted to the Senate committee and the Pierre Agency. It included provision for the purchase by the tribe of key tracts of individually owned trust land, fee lands, and heirship tracts. The tribe has purchased land and continues to purchase land under this enterprise.

Lower Brule. This reservation has a plan of operation of a land service enterprise which was approved April 7, 1950, and a copy was submitted by the Pierre Agency to the Senate committee.

Pine Ridge. This tribe has legal counsel which advises on land. matters. The executive committee of the tribal council is composed of four members who have been delegated authority to approve all land transactions. Resolutions are prepared on these transactions. There is a land committee in the tribal council composed of six members and

a chairman, which committee advises the tribe on long range realestate activities.

A tribal land enterprise was set up during 1947 to coordinate the tribal land program of land purchasing, exchanging, leasing, and grazing permit issuance with the agency. The plan of operation of the Oglala Sioux Tribe Leasing Service Enterprise, June 18, 1947, was also submitted.

The tribe has been active in land consolidation and in assisting individual members in liquidating delinquent credit loans by purchasing their lands.

Rosebud.-The tribal land committee is made up of five members who review all cases involving the acquisition, disposal, or changes in the status of tribally owned lands. This committee makes recommendations to the tribal council. The tribal land enterprise, organized in 1943, is a subsidiary organization under the tribal council but with its own board of directors. A copy of the bylaws of the tribal enterprise was submitted to the Senate committee.

Standing Rock.-A tribal land enterprise was approved September 16, 1947, with the stated purpose of consolidating and improving the tenure of the land base. Purchase of key tracts of individually owned lands or restricted lands and alienated lands were included in parts of its program. The enterprise is managed by a committee of six members of the tribal council and these are chosen by the council.

Turtle Mountain.-The advisory committee of the Turtle Mountain Tribe acts in the capacity of a real-estate committee with authority to approve real-estate activities. This committee, however, may delegate its authority to the chairman and secretary in a resolution.

Fort Totten.-A tribal land enterprise was approved December 2, 1947. In the Billings area the Blackfeet, Fort Belknap, and Northern Cheyenne agencies indicated some degree of real-estate activity by the tribes.

Blackfeet.-A land committee of the tribal council reviews land transactions and recommends final council action. There is a tribal land enterprise.

Fort Belknap.-A standing committee of four from the tribal council reviews offers to sell land to the tribe and makes its recommendations to the council as a whole.

Northern Cheyenne.-The real-estate committee of the tribal council has authority for determining key tracts in purchasing land under the present land program.

In the Gallup area only the Navajo tribe indicated any marked real-estate activities.

Navajo. The advisory committee, resources committee, and the land use and survey office all furnish advice and assistance to the tribal council on real-estate activities. The land use and survey office of the tribe makes investigations and recommendations to tribal authorities regarding land acquisition and disposal.

In the Portland area tribal interest in real-estate activities was indicated at Colville, Spokane, Fort Hall, Nez Perce, and Yakima. Colville. The land and forestry committee of the tribal council handles matters relating to land acquisition and disposal.

Spokane. The tribal council acts on land acquisition and disposal.