Nevada public lands transferred to tribal nations

..this bill will transfer more than 70,000 acres of Nevada public lands back into tribal control – empowering those tribal governments to control their land use destinies. By carefully balancing the unique needs of our Nevada tribal nations with those of local ranchers, land owners, and businesses, this legislation will allow Nevadans to chart brighter futures for their communities, while preserving their cultural heritage and traditions.

Congress Passes Native Nations Land Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., and U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., this week announced passage of the bipartisan Nevada Native Nations Land Act.

“Specifically, this bill will transfer more than 70,000 acres of Nevada public lands back into tribal control – empowering those tribal governments to control their land use destinies,” said Amodei. “By carefully balancing the unique needs of our Nevada tribal nations with those of local ranchers, land owners, and businesses, this legislation will allow Nevadans to chart brighter futures for their communities, while preserving their cultural heritage and traditions.

The act transfers land into a trust for six Nevada tribes: the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe of the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation, the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation, the Summit Lake Paiute Tribe, the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe. 

Approximately 82 acres of U.S. Forest Service land in Elko County will be held in trust for the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation for housing and infrastructure to address the reservation housing shortage and to recruit doctors, nurses, law enforcement, conservation officers, and first responders.

“The Nevada Native Nations Land Act is an important step toward righting the wrongs of our past and helping tribes restore their homelands,” said Reid. “I commend the tribes who worked tirelessly to make this legislation possible and remain committed to continuing a strong working partnerships between our governments.”

Elko Daily Free Press

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