Daines Bill to Return Land Rights to Northern Cheyenne Tribe Approved by Full Committee Without Opposition

Press Release

Today,Representative Steve Daines' legislation to provide the Northern Cheyenne Tribe with a resolution to long-fought land and mineral resource claims against the United States was approved by the full House Natural Resources Committee without opposition--clearing the way for a vote on the House floor.

The Northern Cheyenne Lands Act provides long-overdue relief to the Northern Cheyenne Tribe by correcting a federal error that occurred more than 100 years ago and allowing the Northern Cheyenne Tribe more control over their lands and mineral resources, strengthening tribal sovereignty and increasing the Tribe's ability to serve their people.

Daines' bill works to consolidate land into trust in the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, transfer into trust tribally owned sacred lands, and settle claims brought by the Tribe against the United States for a breach of trust.

"The Northern Cheyenne Tribe has called the Lame Deer area home for thousands of years, but lacks the freedom to control their own future. The Northern Cheyenne Lands Actis necessary to address this injustice," Daines said. "Simply stated, it upholds the federal government's relationship with the leadership of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and is critical to providing the tribe the freedom it needs to help resurrect themselves from poverty and improve the future of younger generations."

The bill has strong support from Northern Cheyenne leadership.

"Our Tribe has been seeking this kind of greatly-needed relief from Congress for many years, reaching back to my first administration in the early 1990's and prior to that," Northern Cheyenne Tribal President Llevando "Cowboy" Fisher previously stated. "This crucial issue is a number one priority of the Tribe, as it involves our Reservation lands and subsurface which we made many historic sacrifices to restore and preserve. If the bill is passed, our control over our Reservation will be solidified and our economic development opportunities will be substantially enhanced."

The bill is also supported by Montana's Land Board, the Montana and Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council, and by the National Congress of American Indians.

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