Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 25 : Section 487


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 487. Spokane Indian Reservation; consolidations of land

    (a) Purchase, sale, and exchange
      For the purpose of effecting consolidations of land situated
    within the Spokane Indian Reservation in the State of Washington
    into the ownership of the tribe and of individual tribal members
    and for the purpose of attaining and preserving an economic land
    base for Indian use, alleviating problems of Indian heirship and
    assisting in the productive leasing, disposition, and other use of
    tribal lands, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized in his
    discretion to:
      (1) Purchase for the Spokane Tribe of Indians with any funds of
    such tribe and to otherwise acquire by gift, exchange, or
    relinquishment any lands or interest in lands or improvements
    thereon within the Spokane Indian Reservation.
      (2) Sell or approve sales of any tribal trust lands, any interest
    therein or improvements thereon.
      (3) Exchange any tribal trust lands, including interests therein
    or improvements thereon, for any lands situated within such
    reservation.
    (b) Individual Indian trust lands
      The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to sell and exchange
    individual Indian trust lands held in multiple ownership to the
    Spokane Tribe or to individual members thereof if the sale or
    exchange is authorized in writing by owners of at least a majority
    interest in such lands; except that no greater percentage of
    approval of individual Indians shall be required under this Act
    than in any other statute of general application approved by
    Congress.
    (c) Nontaxability
      Title to lands, or any interests therein, acquired pursuant to
    this Act for the Spokane Tribe or individual enrolled members
    thereof, shall be taken in the name of the United States of America
    in trust for the tribe or individual Indian, and shall be
    nontaxable as other tribal and allotted Indian trust lands of the
    Spokane Reservation.
    (d) Lands held by mortgage or deed of trust
      That any tribal land that may be sold pursuant to this Act may,
    with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, be encumbered
    by a mortgage or deed of trust and shall be subject to foreclosure
    or sale pursuant to the terms of such a mortgage or deed of trust
    in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington. The United
    States shall be an indispensable party to any such proceeding with
    the right of removal of the clause to the United States district
    court for the district in which the land is located, following the
    procedure in section 1446 of title 28: Provided, That the United
    States shall have the right to appeal from any order of remand in
    the case.
    (e) Acquisition and sale procedures; land purchase and
      consolidation program
      The acquisition and sale of lands for the Spokane Tribe pursuant
    to this Act shall be upon request of the business council of the
    Spokane Tribe, evidenced by a resolution adopted in accordance with
    the constitution and bylaws of the tribe, and shall be in
    accordance with a land purchase and consolidation plan approved by
    the Secretary of the Interior, and except as it may otherwise be
    authorized or prescribed by the Secretary, shall be limited to
    lands situated within the boundary of the Spokane Reservation. Such
    acquisition by the Spokane Tribe, or individual members thereof,
    may be achieved by exchange of lands with Indians or non-Indians as
    well as outright purchase, with adjusting payments to approximate
    equal value. Moneys or credits received by the tribe in the sale of
    lands shall be used for the purchase of other lands, or for such
    other purpose as may be consistent with the land purchase and
    consolidation program, approved by the Secretary of the Interior.



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