Indian Land Claims Settlements facts for kids
Indian Land Claims Settlements are special agreements made by the United States Congress to resolve long-standing land disputes with Native American tribes. These agreements are officially recorded in a part of U.S. law called 25 U.S.C. ch. 19.
Sometimes, these settlements officially ended a tribe's original ownership rights to land, known as "aboriginal title." The first two major settlements, in Rhode Island and Maine, completely ended all aboriginal title in those states. This happened after courts first ruled in favor of the tribes.
The Mohegan Nation in Connecticut also had a court ruling in their favor. Their settlement in 1994 returned some land but did not end all original land claims in the state. Other tribes still had their own land claims waiting to be resolved.
Important court cases like Passamaquoddy (1975), Narragansett I and II (1976), and Mohegan (1980, 1982) happened after a key U.S. Supreme Court decision. This decision, called Oneida I (1974), said that federal courts had the power to hear these types of land claims.
Some settlements, like those for the Miccosukee and Seminole tribes in Florida, were about water rights in the Everglades. In Canada, similar agreements are made with First Nations.
Contents
Understanding Land Claims Settlements
These settlements are important because they help correct historical injustices. For many years, Native American tribes lost their lands through unfair treaties or other actions. These agreements aim to give back land or provide money as a way to make up for those losses.
Why Were These Settlements Needed?
For hundreds of years, Native American tribes lived on their ancestral lands. As the United States grew, many of these lands were taken. This often happened without fair agreements or proper payment. Land claims are legal efforts by tribes to get their lands back or receive payment for them.
How Do Settlements Work?
When a tribe makes a land claim, it often goes to court. If the court agrees with the tribe, it can lead to negotiations. These talks involve the tribe, the state, and the U.S. government. The goal is to reach a settlement that everyone agrees on. This settlement then becomes a federal law passed by Congress.
Key Land Claims Settlements in the U.S.
Many different Native American tribes have reached land claim settlements with the U.S. government. These agreements often involve returning land, providing money, or settling specific rights like water access. Here is a list of some notable settlements:
| Act | Passed | Tribe | What Led to the Settlement | Main Issue | Money Received |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island Claims Settlement Act | Sept. 30, 1978 | Narragansett | Court cases in 1976 | Original land ownership | $3,500,000 |
| Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act | Oct. 10, 1980 | Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, and Maliseet | Court case in 1975 | Original land ownership | $81,500,000 |
| Florida Indian (Miccosukee) Land Claims Settlement | Dec. 31, 1982 | Miccosukee | Court case in Florida | Water rights | None |
| Connecticut Indian Land Claims Settlement | Oct. 18, 1983 | Mashantucket Pequot Tribe | Court case in Connecticut | Original land ownership | $900,000 |
| Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians Supplementary Claims Settlement Act | Oct. 27, 1986 | Maliseet | Modified earlier Maine settlement | Original land ownership | $200,000 |
| Massachusetts Indian Land Claims Settlement | Aug. 18, 1987 | Wampanoag | Court case in Massachusetts | Original land ownership | $4,500,000 |
| Florida Indian (Seminole) Land Claims Settlement | Dec. 31, 1987 | Seminole | Court case in Florida | Water rights | None |
| Puyallup Tribe of Indians Settlement Act of 1989 | June 21, 1989 | Puyallup | Excluded land from a court case | Original land ownership | $162,000,000 |
| Seneca Nation (New York) Land Claims Settlement | Nov. 3, 1990 | Seneca | Past laws and court cases | Approval of leases and past payments | $60,000,000 |
| Aroostock Band of Micmacs Settlement Act | Nov. 26, 1991 | Micmacs | Modified earlier Maine settlement | Original land ownership | $900,000 |
| Mohegan Nation (Connecticut) Land Claims Settlement | Oct. 19, 1994 | Mohegan people | Court cases in 1980 and 1982 | Original land ownership | None |
| Crow Boundary Settlement | Nov. 2, 1994 | Crow | Error in reservation boundary maps | Reservation boundary | $35,000,000 |
| Santo Domingo Pueblo Claims Settlement | Nov. 1, 2000 | Pueblo | Court cases in 1991 and later | Original land ownership | $23,000,000 |
| Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Claims Settlement | Dec. 27, 2000 | Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians | Court cases about flooding | Indian reservation flooding | $14,200,000 |
| Cherokee, Choctaw, and Chickasaw Nation Claims Settlement | Dec. 13, 2002 | Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw | Various court cases | Mismanagement of tribal resources | $40,000,000 |
| Pueblo De San Ildefonso Claims Settlement | Sept. 27, 2006 | Pueblo | Court cases from 1975 to 1996 | Original land ownership, among other issues | $6,900,000 |
Other Important Settlements
Besides the specific acts listed above, other ways land claims have been settled include:
- Decisions made by the Indian Claims Commission, a special group set up to hear these claims.
- The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), a very large agreement for Native peoples in Alaska.
- A court case called South Carolina v. Catawba Indian Tribe (1986) led to a settlement of $50,000,000. This was formalized by the Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina Land Claims Settlement Act of 1993.
