§ 465. Acquisition of lands, water rights or surface rights; appropriation; title to lands; tax exemption

The Secretary of the Interior is authorized, in his discretion, to acquire, through purchase, relinquishment, gift, exchange, or assignment, any interest in lands, water rights, or surface rights to lands, within or without existing reservations, including trust or otherwise restricted allotments, whether the allottee be living or deceased, for the purpose of providing land for Indians.

For the acquisition of such lands, interests in lands, water rights, and surface rights, and for expenses incident to such acquisition, there is authorized to be appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, a sum not to exceed $2,000,000 in any one fiscal year: Provided, That no part of such funds shall be used to acquire additional land outside of the exterior boundaries of Navajo Indian Reservation for the Navajo Indians in Arizona, nor in New Mexico, in the event that legislation to define the exterior boundaries of the Navajo Indian Reservation in New Mexico, and for other purposes, or similar legislation, becomes law.

The unexpended balances of any appropriations made pursuant to this section shall remain available until expended.

Title to any lands or rights acquired pursuant to this Act or the Act of July 28, 1955 (69 Stat. 392), as amended (25 U.S.C. 608 et seq.) shall be taken in the name of the United States in trust for the Indian tribe or individual Indian for which the land is acquired, and such lands or rights shall be exempt from State and local taxation.

(June 18, 1934, ch. 576, § 5, 48 Stat. 985; Pub. L. 100–581, title II, § 214, Nov. 1, 1988, 102 Stat. 2941.)

References In Text

References in Text

This Act, referred to in text, is act June 18, 1934, which is classified generally to this subchapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 461 of this title and Tables.

Act of July 28, 1955, referred to in text, is act July 28, 1955, ch. 423, 69 Stat. 392, as amended, which is classified to sections 608 to 608c of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Amendments

Amendments

1988—Pub. L. 100–581 inserted “or the Act of July 28, 1955 (69 Stat. 392), as amended (25 U.S.C. 608 et seq.)” after “this Act”.

Miscellaneous

Payson Band, Yavapai-Apache Indian Reservation

Pub. L. 92–470, Oct. 6, 1972, 86 Stat. 783, provided: “That

(a) a suitable site (of not to exceed eighty-five acres) for a village for the Payson Community of Yavapai-Apache Indians shall be selected in the Tonto National Forest within Gila County, Arizona, by the leaders of the community, subject to approval by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture. The site so selected is hereby declared to be held by the United States in trust as an Indian reservation for the use and benefit of the Payson Community of Yavapai-Apache Indians.

“(b) The Payson Community of Yavapai-Apache Indians shall be recognized as a tribe of Indians within the purview of the Act of June 18, 1934, as amended (25 U.S.C. 461–479, relating to the protection of Indians and conservation of resources), and shall be subject to all of the provisions thereof.”

Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation

Pub. L. 85–773, Aug. 27, 1958, 72 Stat. 931, provided: “That the land acquired by the United States pursuant to section 5 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984) [this section], title to which was conveyed to the United States of America in trust for the Chippewa, Cree, and other Indians of Montana, and thereafter added to the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, Montana, by proclamation signed by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior on November 26, 1947, is hereby designated for the exclusive use of the members of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation, Montana.”

Seminole Indian Reservation

Act July 20, 1956, ch. 645, 70 Stat. 581, provided: “That the equitable title to the lands and interests in lands together with the improvements thereon, acquired by the United States under authority of title II of the National Industrial Recovery Act, approved June 16, 1933 (48 Stat. 200), the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935, approved April 8, 1935 (49 Stat. 115), and section 55 of the Act entitled ‘An Act to amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act, and for other purposes’, approved August 24, 1935 (49 Stat. 750, 781), administrative jurisdiction over which was transferred from the Secretary of Agriculture to the Secretary of the Interior by Executive Order Numbered 7868, dated April 15, 1938, for the use of the Seminole Tribe, is hereby conveyed to the Seminole Tribe of Indians in the State of Florida, and such lands and interests are hereby declared to be held by the United States in trust for the Seminole Tribe of Indians in the State of Florida in the same manner and to the same extent as other land held in trust for such tribe.

“Sec. 2. The lands declared to be held in trust for the Seminole Tribe of Indians in the State of Florida under the first section of this Act and all lands which have been acquired by the United States for the Seminole Tribe of Indians in the State of Florida under authority of the Act entitled ‘An Act to conserve and develop Indian lands and resources; to extend to Indians the right to form business and other organizations; to establish a credit system for Indians; to grant certain rights of home rule to Indians; to provide for vocational education for Indians; and for other purposes’ approved June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984) [sections 461, 462, 463, 464, 465, 466 to 470, 471, 472, 473, 474, 475, 476 to 478 and 479 of this title], are hereby declared to be a reservation for the use and benefit of such Seminole Tribe in Florida.

“Sec. 3. Nothing in this Act shall deprive any Indian of any individual right, ownership, right of possession, or contract right he may have in any land or interest in land referred to in this Act.”