25 U.S.C. § 2216

Trust and restricted land transactions

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(a) PolicyIt is the policy of the United States to encourage and assist the consolidation of land ownership through transactions—(1) involving individual Indians;(2) between Indians and the tribal government that exercises jurisdiction over the land; or(3) between individuals who own an interest in trust and restricted land who wish to convey that interest to an Indian or the tribal government that exercises jurisdiction over the parcel of land involved;in a manner consistent with the policy of maintaining the trust status of allotted lands. Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to or to authorize the sale of trust or restricted lands to a person who is not an Indian.(b) Sales, exchanges and gift deeds between Indians and between Indians and Indian tribes(1) In general(A) Estimate of valueNotwithstanding any other provision of law and only after the Indian selling, exchanging, or conveying by gift deed for no or nominal consideration an interest in land, has been provided with an estimate of the value of the interest of the Indian pursuant to this section—(i) the sale or exchange or conveyance of an interest in trust or restricted land may be made for an amount that is less than the fair market value of that interest; and(ii) the approval of a transaction that is in compliance with this section shall not constitute a breach of trust by the Secretary.(B) Waiver of requirementThe requirement for an estimate of value under subparagraph (A) may be waived in writing by an owner of a trust or restricted interest in land either selling, exchanging, or conveying by gift deed for no or nominal consideration such interest—(i) to an Indian person who is the owner’s spouse, brother, sister, lineal ancestor, lineal descendant, or collateral heir; or(ii) to an Indian co-owner or to the tribe with jurisdiction over the subject parcel of land, where the grantor owns a fractional interest that represents 5 percent or less of the parcel.(2) Limitation

For a period of 5 years after the Secretary approves a conveyance pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary shall not approve an application to terminate the trust status or remove the restrictions of such an interest.

An Indian, or the recognized tribal government of a reservation, in possession of an interest in trust or restricted lands, at least a portion of which is in trust or restricted status on November 7, 2000, and located within a reservation, may request that the interest be taken into trust by the Secretary. Upon such a request, the Secretary shall forthwith take such interest into trust.

(d) Status of lands

The sale, exchange, or conveyance by gift deed for no or nominal consideration of an interest in trust or restricted land under this section shall not affect the status of that land as trust or restricted land.

(e) Land ownership informationNotwithstanding any other provision of law, the names and mailing addresses of the owners of any interest in trust or restricted lands, and information on the location of the parcel and the percentage of undivided interest owned by each individual shall, upon written request, be made available to—(1) other owners of interests in trust or restricted lands within the same reservation;(2) the tribe that exercises jurisdiction over the land where the parcel is located or any person who is eligible for membership in that tribe; and(3) any person that is leasing, using, or consolidating, or is applying to lease, use, or consolidate, such trust or restricted land or the interest in trust or restricted lands.(f) Purchase of land by Indian tribe(1) In generalExcept as provided in paragraph (2), before the Secretary approves an application to terminate the trust status or remove the restrictions on alienation from a parcel of, or interest in, trust or restricted land, the Indian tribe with jurisdiction over the parcel shall have the opportunity—(A) to match any offer contained in the application; or(B) in a case in which there is no purchase price offered, to acquire the interest in the parcel by paying the fair market value of the interest.(2) Exception for family farms(A) In general

Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a parcel of, or interest in, trust or restricted land that is part of a family farm that is conveyed to a member of the family of a landowner (as defined in section 2205(c)(2)(A)(iv) of this title) if the conveyance requires that in the event that the parcel or interest is offered for sale to an entity or person that is not a member of the family of the landowner, the Indian tribe with jurisdiction over the land shall be afforded the opportunity to purchase the interest pursuant to paragraph (1).

(B) Applicability of other provision

Section 2205(c)(2)(A) of this title shall apply with respect to the recording and mortgaging of any trust or restricted land referred to in subparagraph (A).

(Pub. L. 97–459, title II, § 217, as added Pub. L. 106–462, title I, § 103(6), Nov. 7, 2000, 114 Stat. 2002; amended Pub. L. 108–374, § 6(a)(9), Oct. 27, 2004, 118 Stat. 1803; Pub. L. 109–157, § 7, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2952.)Editorial NotesAmendments

2005—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 109–157 substituted “be made available to—” for “be made available to”.

2004—Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 108–374, § 6(a)(9)(A), added subpar. (B) and struck out heading and text of former subpar. (B). Text read as follows: “The requirement for an estimate of value under subparagraph (A) may be waived in writing by an Indian selling, exchanging, or conveying by gift deed for no or nominal consideration an interest in land with an Indian person who is the owner’s spouse, brother, sister, lineal ancestor of Indian blood, lineal descendant, or collateral heir.”

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 108–374, § 6(a)(9)(B), added introductory provisions and struck out former introductory provisions which read as follows: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the names and mailing addresses of the Indian owners of trust or restricted lands, and information on the location of the parcel and the percentage of undivided interest owned by each individual, or of any interest in trust or restricted lands, shall, upon written request, be made available to—”.

Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 108–374, § 6(a)(9)(C), struck out “Indian” before “owners”.

Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 108–374, § 6(a)(9)(D), substituted “any person that is leasing, using, or consolidating, or is applying to lease, use, or consolidate,” for “prospective applicants for the leasing, use, or consolidation of”.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 108–374, § 6(a)(9)(E), added subsec. (f) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (f). Text read as follows: “After the expiration of the limitation period provided for in subsection (b)(2) of this section and prior to considering an Indian application to terminate the trust status or to remove the restrictions on alienation from trust or restricted land sold, exchanged or otherwise conveyed under this section, the Indian tribe that exercises jurisdiction over the parcel of such land shall be notified of the application and given the opportunity to match the purchase price that has been offered for the trust or restricted land involved.”

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesEffective Date of 2005 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 109–157 effective as if included in Pub. L. 108–374, see section 9 of Pub. L. 109–157, set out as a note under section 5107 of this title.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 5 cases, 2005–2020 · leading case: Miami Tribe of Oklahoma v. United States, 374 F. Supp. 2d 934 (D. Kan. 2005).

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Miami Tribe of Oklahoma v. United States, 374 F. Supp. 2d 934 (D. Kan. 2005). · cites it 21× “Early in this case, the parties agreed to bifurcate Count I (APA, Injunctive Relief, and Violation of 25 U.S.C. § 2216 ) of Plaintiffs Complaint from Counts II (Breaches of Trust) and III (Constitutional Violations) and to proceed first with Count I.”

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma v. United States, 656 F.3d 1129 (10th Cir. 2011). · cites it 3× “This finding required the BIA to further a statutory preference expressed in 25 U.S.C. § 2216 (a)—encouraging the consolidation of lands between Indians and tribes “that exereise[ ] jurisdiction over the land.”

Miami Tribe of Ok v. United States, 679 F. Supp. 2d 1269 (D. Kan. 2010). · cites it 4× “According to Miami Tribe, if Smith’s present interest is held in trust by the terms of the 1989 partition order, then the IBIA acted arbitrarily and capriciously when it refused to approve the gift transfer of Smith’s interest “in trust” under 25 U.S.C. § 2216 (d). That statute…”

Chissoe v. Zinke (10th Cir. 2018). · cites it 3× “For the first time, citing 25 U.S.C. § 2216 (c), he argued that “[b]ecause the [Property] was already in restricted status, acceptance of the fee-to-trust acquisition was mandatory.”

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians v. Ryan Zinke (D.D.C. 2020). · cites it 2× “It points to a section of the Indian Land Consolidation Act, see 25 U.S.C. § 2216 (c), as an example. Dep’t Reply at 9.”

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