Ad caling for the return of ancestral land to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma appeared in a Washington, D.C., publication on February 5, 2014.



It looks like the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma won't be seeing the return of their ancestral land soon.

The federal government took about 10,000 acres for use as Fort Reno. The land was supposed to be returned to the tribes when it was no longer needed for military purposes but that hasn't happened yet.

Now, the Obama administration has found a new purpose for the land. The Grazinglands Research Laboratory is one of seven "climate hubs" for climate change research.

"USDA's Climate Hubs are part of our broad commitment to developing the next generation of climate solutions, so that our agricultural leaders have the modern technologies and tools they need to adapt and succeed in the face of a changing climate," Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a press release today.

Additionally, a provision in the Farm Bill that just cleared Congress ensures the land stays under federal control. Section 7512 of the H.R.2642, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act, adds another five years to the clock.

The Department of Agriculture has previously acknowledged that the Grazinglands lab may not be needed any longer. The facility has just two employees but will presumably gain more after the climate research announcement.

President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill into law on Friday.

Get the Story:
U.S. to launch 'climate hubs' to help farmers face climate change (Reuters 2/5)
Oklahoma Gets One Of Seven Regional Climate Change Hubs (KGOU 2/5)

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Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes seek return of ancestral land (1/9)