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The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) plans to repatriate 984 cultural items to certain Native American tribes, including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Cherokee Nation, and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. These items, mostly ceramic vessel fragments, were removed from a site in Qualla Boundary, North Carolina, between 1935 and 1936 without permission and are considered unassociated funerary objects. Repatriation may take place after May 19, 2025, and requests for repatriation can be made by other eligible tribes or descendants who can prove a cultural connection. The process follows the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is seeking public comments on their proposal to renew an information collection regarding probate of Indian estates, excluding members of the Osage Nation and Five Civilized Tribes. This information is essential for compiling probate files that help determine heirs and distribute trust assets after a person's death. Feedback is requested on the necessity, burden, and methods of this data collection to ensure its proper and efficient use. Comments are to be submitted by January 8, 2025, and are publicly accessible, though personal information may not be withheld.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs of the Interior Department announced amendments to the Pueblo of Santa Clara Liquor Code, which were adopted by the Tribal Council on December 13, 2024. These amendments aim to regulate the introduction, sale, and consumption of alcohol within Santa Clara Indian Lands to promote economic and social goals while protecting public health, safety, and welfare. The updated Liquor Code outlines various regulations, such as types of licenses, selling hours, and prohibitions against selling alcohol to individuals under the legal drinking age. Additionally, a percentage of alcohol sales revenue will fund programs for alcoholism prevention and treatment. The changes will officially take effect on April 17, 2025.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs, a part of the Interior Department, has decided to take ownership of a 2.42-acre site in Medford, Oregon. This land will be held in trust for the Coquille Indian Tribe and used for gaming and other purposes. This decision is made under the authority of the Indian Reorganization Act and the Coquille Restoration Act. The transfer of the land title will happen once all departmental requirements are met.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has announced that two parcels of land, called the Tinta Otunwe Parcel and the Group E Parcel, have been added to the reservation of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community in Scott County, Minnesota. The announcement was made by the Acting Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs, following the authority granted by the Secretary of the Interior. These parcels total approximately 276.25 acres and are subject to existing rights, easements, and reservations, but this change does not alter the ownership of the land.

The Department of the Interior is informing the public about its decision to adopt certain categorical exclusions (CXs) for environmental reviews from the Department of Energy and the National Telecommunications Information Administration. These CXs will be used by the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to streamline actions like setting up fences, roads, or communication towers without needing full environmental assessments if no special circumstances exist. This decision is aimed at improving efficiency in managing public and Tribal lands, while ensuring actions don't harm the environment. The adoption became effective on January 16, 2025.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has published a notice listing 574 Tribal entities that are recognized by and eligible for services from the Bureau. This list is updated from a previous notice published in January 2020. It includes name changes and corrections to some of the listed Tribes. The recognized Tribes are acknowledged for their government-to-government relationship with the United States, granting them certain rights and responsibilities.

The Department of the Interior has announced that the Tuskarora Nation of Moratoc Indians has submitted a petition to be officially recognized as an American Indian Tribe. The Department is inviting the public to provide comments and evidence regarding this petition, which must be received by April 15, 2025. Details about the petition and how to submit comments are available on the Bureau of Indian Affairs' website. This initiative is part of an effort to enhance transparency and public access to tribal acknowledgment processes.

The Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, announced a decision related to land acquisitions under the Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute Settlement Act of 1996. The decision permits the Hopi Tribe to acquire and place in trust up to 500,000 acres of land in northern Arizona. The Hopi Tribe has already purchased over 161,000 acres of private land, and together with the state of Arizona, they have identified another 110,759.17 acres of state trust lands for acquisition. The Department of Justice has started the process of condemning these state trust lands to facilitate the transfer into trust for the Hopi Tribe.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has published a notice about amendments to the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community's Liquor Ordinance. These changes, effective from March 21, 2025, update the rules for selling alcohol within the community, covering both on-sale and off-sale transactions. The amendments provide regulations on licensing, operation, and management of liquor sales on Tribally-owned property, including compliance with state and federal laws. The Community's Business Council plays a key role in overseeing on-sale and off-sale liquor operations and reporting to the General Council.