Land buy-back program launched at Fort Belknap

Officials at Fort Belknap Indian Reservation are ready to launch a massive land buy-back program with funds allocated to the reservation under a federal lawsuit.

People on the reservation and throughout the United States own small parcels, sometimes less than a quarter acre, that the tribe hopes to buy back, consolidate and convert into useful property, said Margey Bell Azure, a realty specialist for the reservation’s Tribal Land Department.

The money was allocated to the tribe through the terms of a settlement in a federal lawsuit spearheaded by Elouise Cobell, a Blackfeet banker. The lawsuit alleged mismanagement of Indian trust funds by the federal government. After a protracted suit, the federal government settled on a $3.4 billion compromise.

Azure explained that because people didn’t often file wills and because of the procedural problems, land tracts were divided up into small pieces over the years, as called for under Montana probate law.

For instance, she said, when someone died, their land might be divided into three, with one part going to a widow and two parts going to children.

Or in some cases, the land would be joined owned by three descendants.

“Over six generations, that got confusing,” she said.

People ended up owning small pieces of land in remote areas that are too small for ranching and not useful for any other purpose.

Original tracts on the reservation were initially 100 acres, she said. Many people have title to tiny pieces of land.

Some people are still in the area, she said, but others are spread across the United States.

A tribe in South Dakota that is further along in the process, found property owners in all 50 states and eight foreign countries, she said.

Azure suspects that she will be dealing with people in most states and at least some foreign countries.

She has already received calls from several parts of the country.

The tribal government hopes to buy back the land and consolidate it. Then it could be leased for ranching or used by the tribe for commercial purposes or for economic development, thus bringing money back to the tribe, she said.

“But no casinos,” she added.

Azure said she has already met with senior citizens groups and other community organizations trying to get the word out. Community meetings will be held.

She said she expects interest will perk up once people are aware that the program is underway.

Anyone with questions can call her office at 406-353-8333.