H.R. 411: Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025

This bill, titled the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025, aims to address historical land claims by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, a federally recognized tribe residing on the L’Anse Indian Reservation in Michigan. The legislation acknowledges that the community has suffered because of the federal government's actions regarding two specific types of land: the Reservation Swamp Lands and the Reservation Canal Lands. These lands were taken without just compensation, violating principles established in treaties from 1842 and 1854.

Key Provisions

The main components of the bill include:

• Compensation: The bill authorizes a payment of $33.9 million to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community to compensate for the uncompensated taking of the lands.
• Use of Funds: The community can use these funds for various lawful purposes such as governmental services, economic development, natural resource protection, and land acquisition, except for acquiring land for gaming purposes.
• Extinguishment of Claims: Upon receipt of the payment, the community must extinguish all claims to the Reservation Swamp Lands and Reservation Canal Lands. This also clears the titles of current landowners from any claims the community might hold.
• Title Security: The bill aims to protect the ownership rights of non-Indian current landowners while addressing the community's claims, thereby avoiding long and costly litigation.

Technical Aspects

The bill outlines the following technical measures:

1. Recognition of the historical treaties that underpin the community's rights to the land.
2. A process for reimbursing the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community for the land lost due to federal actions, particularly regarding the aforementioned swamp and canal lands.
3. Authorization of appropriations needed to facilitate the transfer of the specified funds to the Community.
4. A definition section clarifying terms such as “Community,” “Reservation,” and “Secretary,” which is the Secretary of the Interior.

Impact of the Bill

The legislation is designed to resolve past inequities and current disputes regarding land ownership within the L’Anse Indian Reservation. The community's claims have been recognized as valid by the Department of the Interior, indicating that there is merit to their assertions of loss regarding the swamp and canal lands. The bill aims for a non-confrontational settlement that benefits both the community and current landowners by granting clear title to land.

Relevant Companies

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