Michael L. Connor, the Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior.

The Interior Department is targeting 21 reservations as part of the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations.

The reservations are primarily located in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain regions. But officials said they are ready to add others to the list as they seek to consolidate fractionated Indian interests across the country.

"The goal of the buy-back program is to unlock fractionated lands so they can benefit tribal communities. We remain committed to reaching as many interested landowners as possible," Deputy Secretary Michael Connor said in a press release.

As part of efforts to expand the program, Connor will hold a listening session later this month in Portland, Oregon. Tribes and individual landowners are invited to the meeting on May 29.

The $3.4 billion Cobell settlement authorized $1.9 billion for land consolidation. DOI is using the money to buy fractionated interests from landowners in order to return the land to tribal governments

So far, DOI has completed offers worth a total of $61.2 million on three reservations. Nearly 175,000 acres have been returned to the Oglala Sioux Tribe, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and the Makah Nation.

The Cobell settlement requires the money to spent within 10 years. That puts the deadline at December 2020.

Get the Story:
21 reservations next up in consolidation program (AP 5/15)
Reservations targeted in consolidation program (AP 5/15)

Federal Register:
Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations Under Cobell Settlement (April 30, 2014)

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