Poarch Creeks head to Congress for land-into-trust legislation

Thursday, March 31, 2011  

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians in Alabama is asking Congress to place thousands of acres in trust.

The tribe doesn't want to go through the Bureau of Indian Affairs because the process takes too long. So the tribe has met with members of Alabama's Congressional delegation and is holding meetings with local officials to discuss the plan.

“We wanted to try to get everybody involved and make everyone aware of what we are doing,” Robbie McGhee, the tribe's governmental relations advisor, told The Atmore Advance. “We’re trying to be completely open regarding this process.”

The tribe gained federal recognition in 1984. Going through the land-into-trust process at the BIA might force the tribe to address issues raised by the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar.

Get the Story:
Tribe proposing additional trust land (The Atmore Advance 3/30)