The House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs held an oversight hearing on Thursday to consider some tribal land disputes.

Lawmakers focused on two disputes. One is between the Navajo Nation and the Zuni Pueblo over the division of surplus military land in New Mexico.

The other is a dispute over land-into-trust efforts by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians in California. Non-Indians are fighting the tribe.

Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), the chairman of the subcommittee, and lawmakers from both parties indicated a need for the parties to work out the disputes on their own. But Young said he would be willing to intervene to ensure that all three tribes obtain some land for economic development and other purposes.

Audio files from the hearing can be downloaded below. The testimony and Q&A are rather lengthy:

• Opening Statements

Panel I
• Testimony | Q8A
Michael Black
Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs

The Honorable Arlen Quetawki, Sr.
Governor, Zuni Tribe

The Honorable Johnny Naize
Speaker, Navajo Nation Council

The Honorable Vincent Armenta
Chairman, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians

Marshall Grossman
Partner, Bingham McCutchen LLP

Committee Notice:
Oversight Hearing on "Indian lands: exploring resolutions to disputes concerning Indian tribes, state and local governments, and private landowners over land use and development" (August 2, 2012)

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Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs sets hearing (8/1)