To provide compensation to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community for the taking without just compensation of land by the United States inside the exterior boundaries of the L’Anse Indian Reservation that were guaranteed to the Community under a treaty signed in 1854.
Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill settles a long-standing land claim by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, a federally recognized tribe in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Between 1893 and 1937, the federal government improperly transferred approximately 4,000-5,000 acres of land from within the L'Anse Indian Reservation to the State of Michigan through the Swamp Land Act and Canal Land Act, despite that land being guaranteed to the tribe under an 1854 treaty. This bill provides compensation for that unconstitutional taking.
Who Benefits and How
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community receives $33.9 million in compensation from the federal government. The tribe can use these funds for governmental services, economic development, natural resources protection, and land acquisition (though not for gaming purposes).
Current landowners within the reservation boundaries benefit by receiving clear title to their land. Once the tribe receives payment, all tribal claims to these lands are extinguished, removing any legal clouds on property ownership.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The U.S. Federal Government bears the cost, with $33.9 million authorized for appropriation in fiscal year 2026. This represents the government acknowledging and compensating for the unconstitutional taking of treaty-protected lands without just compensation under the Fifth Amendment.
Key Provisions
- Authorizes $33.9 million payment to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community for lands improperly taken from the L'Anse Indian Reservation
- Extinguishes all tribal claims to the Reservation Swamp Lands (~2,743 acres) and Reservation Canal Lands (~1,333-2,720 acres) upon payment
- Clears title for current non-Indian landowners who acquired the land in good faith
- Restricts use of settlement funds: the tribe cannot use the money to acquire land for gaming purposes
- Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from taking any land into trust for gaming purposes under this Act
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
This bill aims to provide compensation to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community for the uncompensated taking of land by the United States inside the L'Anse Indian Reservation, as guaranteed under a treaty signed in 1854.
Key Policy Areas
Indigenous Rights, Land Management, Compensation
Primary Purpose
This bill aims to provide compensation to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community for the uncompensated taking of land by the United States inside the L'Anse Indian Reservation, as guaranteed under a treaty signed in 1854.
Policy Domains
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMr. Bergman introduced the following bill; which was referred to …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of the Interior
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
The L'Anse Indian Reservation, located within specific townships in Baraga County, Michigan.
2,743 acres of land within the Reservation boundaries conveyed by the Federal Government to Michigan between 1893 and 1937 under the Act of September 28, 1850 (Swamp Land Act).
The Secretary of the Interior.
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