The flag of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe. Image from Manataka American Indian Council
The Interior Department has sent out $9 million in offers to landowners on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation in Idaho. The offers were made to more than 400 landowners as part of the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations. Participation is voluntary and any interests that are acquired will be transferred to the Coeur d'Alene Tribe. "This year, we have made a significant and lasting step toward our goal of ensuring that every available dollar is returned to tribal communities,” Deputy Secretary Michael Connor said in a press release today. “The program is an exceptional opportunity that cannot be taken for granted. We are committed to learning from every sale and every location and ensuring that landowners are given every opportunity to make informed decisions about the potential sale of their land at fair market value.” Landowners have until February 2, 2015, to respond to the offers. The tribe has provided additional information on its buy-back page. The $3.4 billion Cobell settlement provided $1.9 billion for Indian landowners who want to sell their fractionated interests. DOI will pay "fair market value" as required by the Indian Land Consolidation Act. Since the program started last winter, DOI has successfully concluded more than $300 million in transactions, according to the press release. Nearly 500,000 acres have been returned to tribes. More than $750 million in offers have been extended since December 2013 so not all landowners accept them. Connor has said the participation rate ranges from 30 percent to 40 percent on each individual reservation.
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