The Bureau of Indian Affairs announced that the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs decided to acquire about 14.993 acres of land, called the Bartlesville Site, located near Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to be held in trust for the Cherokee Nation. This decision was made on January 15, 2025, and allows the land to be used for gaming and other purposes under specific U.S. laws. The land acquisition follows the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 and meets the requirements for the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act’s “on-Reservation” exception. Once all requirements are met, the land will be held by the U.S. for the Cherokee Nation.
Simple Explanation
The Cherokee Nation is getting a special piece of land in Oklahoma from the government that they can use for things like playing games and other activities. The government decided this is okay as long as they follow the rules that let them use the land in this way.