{"id":10809,"date":"2021-04-27T16:13:15","date_gmt":"2021-04-27T20:13:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=10809"},"modified":"2021-04-27T16:14:58","modified_gmt":"2021-04-27T20:14:58","slug":"united-south-and-eastern-tribes-welcome-biden-administration-homelands-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/04\/27\/united-south-and-eastern-tribes-welcome-biden-administration-homelands-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"United South and Eastern Tribes welcome Biden administration homelands policy"},"content":{"rendered":"<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" data-attachment-id=\"10815\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/04\/27\/united-south-and-eastern-tribes-welcome-biden-administration-homelands-policy\/kirkfrancis\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/kirkfrancis-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1707\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1374488259&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;27&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.001&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"kirkfrancis\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Kirk Francis serves as president of the United South and Eastern Tribes and as chief of the Penobscot Nation. Photo: &lt;a href=https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/usfwsnortheast\/9353255248\/&gt;Meagan Racey \/ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/kirkfrancis-1024x683.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/kirkfrancis-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"kirkfrancis\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10815\" \/><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Kirk Francis serves as president of the United South and Eastern Tribes and as chief of the Penobscot Nation. Photo: <a href=https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/usfwsnortheast\/9353255248\/>Meagan Racey \/ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h3-responsive font-weight-bold\">USET SPF Lauds DOI\u2019s Return to Policies Promoting Homelands Restoration<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Tuesday, April 27, 2021<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source\">Source: USET Sovereignty Protection Fund<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source-links\"><a href=https:\/\/www.usetinc.org\/>usetinc.org<\/a><\/div>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nToday, the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced that it will be <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/04\/27\/interior-secretary-deb-haaland-takes-action-for-tribal-homelands\/>removing restrictions to the restoration of Tribal homelands<\/a> imposed by the previous Administration and reinstating policies that promote this fundamental obligation to Tribal Nations. \r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThis includes the withdrawal of M-37054 and M-37055, two Solicitor\u2019s Opinions, issued last year without Tribal consultation, which replaced a 2-part process and interpretation of the meaning of \u201cunder federal jurisdiction\u201d under the Indian Reorganization Act following the decision in <em>Carcieri v. Salazar<\/em> with a new, arduous 4-part process. USET SPF condemned this action by the Trump Administration, as its apparent purpose was to undermine the federal land-into-trust process and was ultimately utilized to justify its reprehensible efforts to disestablish the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe\u2019s reservation.\r\n <P><\/P>\r\nWith the withdrawal of M-37074 and M-37055, the DOI Solicitor\u2019s Office has reinstated M-37029, a 2014 opinion which provides a consistent and measured interpretation of \u201cunder federal jurisdiction\u201d that has been upheld by multiple federal courts. In addition, Secretary of the Interior Debra Haaland issued Secretary\u2019s Order 3400, redelegating the authority to review and approve non-gaming land-into-trust applications to Bureau of Indian Affairs regional directors. \r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\u201cAt <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Interior?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Interior<\/a>, we have an obligation to work with Tribes to protect their lands &amp; ensure that each Tribe has a homeland where its citizens can live together &amp; lead safe &amp; fulfilling lives\u201d: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SecDebHaaland?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SecDebHaaland<\/a> is taking new steps to restore tribal homelands.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ct9kRNmng7\">https:\/\/t.co\/ct9kRNmng7<\/a><\/p>&mdash; indianz.com (@indianz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/indianz\/status\/1387075348152688642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 27, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\r\n<P><\/p>\r\nUnder the Trump Administration, this authority was needlessly elevated to DOI Headquarters, causing avoidable and excessive delays in trust land acquisition. USET SPF hails the reinstatement of processes supporting the return of Tribal homelands as an example of the Biden Administration\u2019s commitment to delivering upon its promises to Tribal Nations.\r\n <P><\/P>\r\n\u201cOur homelands are essential to the exercise of Tribal sovereignty, cultural identity, and the foundations of our economies,\u201d said USET SPF President Kirk Francis. \u201cAnd placing land into trust on behalf of Tribal Nations is foundational to the federal government\u2019s trust and treaty obligations. USET SPF has repeatedly called for the reinstatement of M-37029 in response to the Trump Administration\u2019s attempts to destabilize the land-into-trust process and, by extension, Tribal governments.\u201d \r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cToday\u2019s actions by the Department of the Interior restore certainty to the restoration of Tribal homelands in the post-Carcieri era and deliver upon one of President Biden\u2019s central promises to Indian Country,\u201d said President Francis. \u201cUSET SPF applauds these efforts, along with this Administration\u2019s renewed focus on empowering and rebuilding Tribal Nations. We look forward to working together on policies that will further improve and streamline trust land acquisition, as well as achieving a fix to the disastrous decision in Carcieri once and for all.\u201d\r\n <P><\/P><div class=\"mt-1 mb-1\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-8411603009680747\" data-ad-slot=\"6394965691\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div><p><\/p>\r\nUSET SPF has been advocating for a fix to the Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar since it was handed down in 2009. Carcieri has created a deeply inequitable 2-class system, in which some Tribal Nations have the ability to restore their homelands and others do not. This 2-class system serves to deny these Tribal Nations a critical component of the trust relationship, vital aspects of the exercise of inherent sovereignty, and the opportunity to qualify for several government programs. \r\n<P><\/P>\r\nUSET SPF continues to call for the immediate passage of a fix that contains the two features necessary to restore parity to the land-into-trust process: (1) a reaffirmation of the status of current trust lands; and (2) confirmation that the Secretary has authority to take land into trust for all federally recognized Tribal Nations.\r\n <P><\/P>\r\n <HR><EM>\r\nEstablished in 1969, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usetinc.org\/\">United South and Eastern Tribes<\/a>, Inc. (USET) is a non-profit, inter-Tribal organization promoting the interests of and advocating for thirty-three (33) federally recognized Tribal Nations, from the Northeastern Woodlands to the Everglades and across the Gulf of Mexico. USET is dedicated to enhancing the development of Tribal Nations, improving the capabilities of Tribal governments, and improving the quality of life for Indian people through a variety of technical and supportive programmatic services.\r\n<P><\/P>  \r\nThe USET Sovereignty Protection Fund (USET SPF) is a non-profit, inter-Tribal organization promoting the interests of and advocating for thirty-three (33) federally recognized Tribal Nations from the Northeastern Woodlands to the Everglades and across the Gulf of Mexico. USET SPF is dedicated to promoting, protecting, and advancing the inherent sovereign rights and authorities of Tribal Nations and in assisting its membership in dealing effectively with public policy issues and serving the broad needs of Indian people.<\/em><HR>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Relevant Biden Administration Documents<\/div>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/M-37069.pdf\">M-37069: Withdrawal of M-37064 and Announcement of Consultation on the Department\u2019s Interpretation of the Indian Reorganization Act and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in Connection with the Secretary\u2019s Land into Trust Authority<\/a>\r\n(April 27, 2021)<BR>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/M-37070.pdf\">M-37070: Withdrawal of Certain Solicitor M-Opinions, Reinstatement of Sol. Op. M-37029\r\nThe Meaning of \u2018Under Federal Jurisdiction\u2019 for Purposes of the Indian Reorganization Act, and Announcement Regarding Consultation on \u201cUnder Federal Jurisdiction\u201d Determinations<\/a>\r\n(April 27, 2021)<BR>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/SO-3400.pdf\">Secretarial Order: Delegation of Authority for Non-Gaming Off-Reservation Fee-to-Trust Acquisitions<\/a> (April 27, 2021)\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Withdrawn Trump Administration Documents<\/div>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/M-37054.pdf\">M-37054: Interpreting the Second Definition of &#8220;Indian&#8221; in Section 19 of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934<\/a>\r\n (March 9, 2020)<\/a><BR>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/M-37055.pdf\">M-37055: Withdrawal of Solicitor&#8217;s Opinion M-37029. &#8220;The Meaning of &#8216;Under Federal Jurisdiction&#8217; for Purposes of the Indian Reorganization Act&#8221;<\/a>\r\n (March 9, 2020)<BR>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/M-37064.pdf\">M-37064: Permanent Withdrawal of Solicitor Opinion M-37043, \u201cAuthority to Acquire Land into Trust in Alaska\u201d<\/a> (January 19, 2021)","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cOur homelands are essential to the exercise of Tribal sovereignty, cultural identity, and the foundations of our economies,\u201d said USET SPF President Kirk Francis.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10815,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,13,1,14],"tags":[117,625,736,157,88,118,161,267,924,186,220,755,469],"class_list":["post-10809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-indian-trust","category-law","category-national","category-politics","tag-bia","tag-bryan-newland","tag-carcieri","tag-consultation","tag-deb-haaland","tag-doi","tag-gaming","tag-ira","tag-kirk-francis","tag-land-into-trust","tag-sovereignty","tag-uset","tag-wampanoag","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/kirkfrancis-scaled.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-2Ol","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10809","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10809"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10809\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10809"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10809"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10809"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}