Trust Land Acquisitions

  • Provide counsel to tribes on how to expand the tribal trust land base, a critical tool tribal governments can use to assert sovereign civil and criminal governmental authority on lands within their respective territories.
  • Assist tribes in acquiring trust lands through the land-into-trust process and the fee-to-trust process.
  • Advise and assist tribes in obtaining and establishing trust status of tribal lands through:
    • Implementation of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.
    • Use of the Indian Land Consolidation Act.
    • Use of excess and surplus federal property acts.
    • Land exchange mechanisms.
    • Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission process.
    • Navigate all aspects of the trust land acquisition processes, including:
      • Development and completion of trust application forms and guidelines.
      • Preparation of real property contracts.
      • Negotiation of cooperative agreements related to law enforcement and fire protection.
      • Communications with federal officials and legal counsel.
      • Assistance in addressing title issues, environmental requirements, and jurisdictional matters.
    • Monitor efforts to streamline and improve the fee-to-trust process including the Department of the Interior’s recent effort to change the Part 151 regulations.