Search Results for agency_names:"Indian Affairs Bureau"

The U.S. Department of the Interior has issued final regulations revising the rules that implement Tribal Self-Governance as part of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. This update was created through negotiations among Self-Governance and non-Self-Governance Tribes and the Department. The new regulations aim to give Tribes more control over certain federal programs and associated funding, reduce bureaucratic barriers, and better align these regulations with Tribal sovereignty and self-determination principles. These rules also establish procedures for future involvement and input from Tribal nations, along with setting standards for managing federal programs and responsibilities.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has approved the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma's Business Leasing Ordinance under the HEARTH Act, allowing the tribe to conduct agricultural, business, residential, and other types of leases without needing further BIA approval. This approval is part of a broader initiative to enhance tribal control over land leasing and reduce bureaucratic delays, thereby promoting economic development and tribal sovereignty. The federal government maintains a strong interest in preventing state and local taxes from being applied to improvements and activities on tribal lands, aiming to support self-sufficiency and prevent economic burdens that could discourage leasing activities.

The Presidential Memorandum titled “Federal Recognition of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina” has been published. This memorandum directs the Secretary of the Interior to assist the Lumbee Tribe in obtaining full federal recognition, including access to federal benefits. The Secretary must submit a plan within 90 days, considering legal pathways such as congressional acts or judicial actions. The memorandum emphasizes the significance of the Lumbee Tribe and the U.S. policy to support their full federal recognition.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior Department has announced that about 56.66 acres of land have been officially added to the Rincon Reservation for the Rincon Band of Luiseno Mission Indians in San Diego, California. This proclamation was made on December 17, 2024, by the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs, under the authority granted by the Secretary of the Interior. While the land is recognized as part of the reservation, this action does not alter existing rights or easements for public utilities and transportation present on the land.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has announced a decision to take 68.60 acres of land, known as the Shiloh Site in Sonoma County, California, into trust for the Koi Nation of Northern California. This land acquisition is intended for gaming and other purposes under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The decision was finalized on January 13, 2025, and the transfer will be completed once all departmental requirements are met. This action is authorized by various delegations within the Department of the Interior and follows necessary legal and regulatory procedures.

The document is a notice from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior announcing that the class III gaming compacts between three Tribes in California and the State of California have been extended. The Tribes involved are the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, Cher-Ae-Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria, and the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians of California. These compacts have been extended until December 31, 2025. The extension does not change any other terms of the existing agreements and therefore does not require approval from the Secretary.

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 announced that the 2024 amendments to the Gaming Compact between the Ho Chunk Nation and the State of Wisconsin have been automatically approved by law. These amendments allow for new forms of gaming, such as event wagering and geofenced remote wagering, and introduce updated internal control standards and changes in payment deduction rules. This approval occurred because the Secretary of the Interior did not act within the required 45-day period, making the amendments effective starting January 8, 2025, as long as they comply with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

The notice publishes an amendment to the Liquor Ordinance of the Chippewa Cree Tribe on the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation in Montana. The amendment arises from an agreement between the Tribe and the State of Montana to have a consistent tax level for alcoholic beverage sales both inside and outside the reservation. This aims to minimize legal disputes and share tax revenue effectively between the Tribe and the State. The ordinance mandates the Tribe to impose taxes matching Montana's liquor excise and license taxes for alcoholic beverages sold within the reservation's boundaries.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has announced adjustments to the electric power rates for the Mission Valley Power Project (MVP), which will take effect in March 2025 and 2026. Despite an initial proposal for rate changes in 2024, those were delayed and won't be implemented. The public had the opportunity to comment on these changes, but no feedback was received. MVP provides electric services to areas in and around the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana, and the adjustments were made following federal guidelines, including consultation with Tribal governments.