Indian Bureau Agrees With Rosebud Sioux On Land Consolidation Program

The Bureau of Indian Affairs and Rosebud Sioux Tribe Agree on Land Consolidation Program

Introduction

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) of the Department of the Interior has confirmed its agreement with the leaders of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota on a major program of tribal land consolidation. The program was announced by the tribal leaders in Washington on December 5.

Reasons for Large Loan

To help finance the operation, the BIA will extend a loan of $500,000 from its revolving loan fund to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Commissioner Glenn L. Emmons explained that an unusually large loan is being made in this case for four main reasons. Firstly, the program developed by the Rosebud leaders is one of the soundest of its kind presented by any tribal organization in recent years. Secondly, the tribe has shown exceptional managerial ability over the past four years. Thirdly, the prospects of repayment for the loan are excellent. Finally, the consolidation program will eventually decrease the BIA’s cost of administering trust lands on the reservation.

Disproving Unfounded Statements

Commissioner Emmons emphasized that the action taken on this tribally developed program should help to disprove unfounded statements that the Bureau seeks to break up tribal groups and separate them from their land resources. He stated that the Bureau’s consistent purpose is to help tribes make the most constructive and beneficial use of their available resources. The cooperation with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe on this particular program is seen as a step towards achieving this goal.

Details of the Land Consolidation Program

The Rosebud Sioux Tribe has announced a plan to consolidate its lands on the reservation, with the goal of providing greater opportunities for Indian families to make a living from livestock operations. Currently, only 141 out of 365 Indian families are engaged in the cattle business on the reservation.

Under the new program, the tribal organization will work towards consolidating its holdings, which currently total 337,000 acres. However, these lands are separated and broken apart by other holdings, severely limiting their usefulness. To address this issue, the tribe plans to take two major steps.

Firstly, they will buy up about 26,500 acres owned by individual Indians. Secondly, they will acquire full title to an additional 800 tracts totaling about 117,000 acres, in which they currently have only a fractional interest. Most of these lands are owned by individual Indians.

Financing the Program

To start the program, the tribe will receive a $500,000 loan from the BIA. Additionally, they are hoping to raise around $800,000 by selling about 16,000 acres of scattered tribal tracts in the eastern part of the reservation, where few Indians live and consolidation is not feasible.

It is important to note that congressional authorization is necessary before Indian tribal trust land can be sold. The tribal leaders are consulting with their members to get their views on asking the next Congress for legislation authorizing the sale of the 16,000 acres of tribal land in trust. This legislation would reduce the overall boundaries of the reservation and remove it completely from three South Dakota counties: Tripp, Gregory, and Lyman. The remaining reservation lands would be in Mellette and Todd counties.

Benefits of the Program

In addition to land transactions, the tribal organization also plans to make cattle available to its individual members on a loan basis. An individual donor has agreed to supply the tribe with 200 head as a starter, with the possibility of additional contributions if the program proves successful.

The primary goal of the program is to provide a decent living for more Indian families on the Rosebud reservation. While it is acknowledged that the reservation lands cannot support the entire population of 5,500 people, the program aims to make the fullest and most beneficial use of the available resources. By focusing on the productive working age bracket of the population, the tribe hopes to reduce the reservation’s population to a level that the lands can sustain.

Economic and Educational Implications

The Rosebud Sioux Tribe believes that this new program will not only have economic benefits but also educational implications. They expect that it will enable more families to keep their children in school through the high-school level. Currently, approximately 50% of the population is under 21 years of age, and another 20% is over 65. The program aims to target the remaining 30% in the productive working age bracket.

The tribe also plans to enlarge irrigation projects on the reservation, providing wage work for many of their people. Additionally, they hope to attract industries to the general area, creating employment opportunities for those who may not be interested in operating the lands or lack the necessary skills.

Tribal Success and Cooperation with the BIA

The Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council has successfully operated similar programs over the past four years, steadily increasing the tribe’s income from present resources. This experience has been made possible with substantial help from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The tribe is grateful for the BIA’s confidence in their ability to carry out this new land consolidation program, considering it a major step forward for the Rosebud Sioux people.

In conclusion, the agreement between the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe on the land consolidation program is a significant development. The program aims to provide greater opportunities for Indian families to make a living from livestock operations and utilize the available resources more effectively. The cooperation between the tribe and the BIA signifies a commitment to the tribe’s economic and educational success.