Indians Granted More than $33 M on Claims During 1967

Fourteen final awards totaling almost $33 million were granted 11 American Indian groups by judgments of the Indian/Claims Commission during 1967, the Bureau of Indian Affairs reported today.

In addition, six other Indian groups were given awards in 1965 and 1967 totaling another $21,363,355.33, but these have not become final because of appeal or other legal actions.

Congress has appropriated funds for $15.3 million of the total granted. The appropriated funds earn interest for the tribes involved, while awaiting Congressional action and final disbursement.

The Indian Claims Commission was established in 1946 as an independent tribunal by Act of Congress. It hears and determines the claims of tribes, bands and other identifiable groups of American Indians living in the United States. In 1967 its membership was expanded from three to five.

Veteran members of the Commission are William M. Holt and T. Harold Scott. In December 1967, three vacancies were filled with the appointment of John T. Vance, Richard W. Yarborough, and Jerome K. Kuykendall.

As of January 1, 1968, the Commission had granted 100 awards totaling more than $225,420,000. Of a total of 586 dockets filed, approximately 242 or two-fifths, have been completed.

Most of the Indian claims filed with the Commission are for fair value of Indian lands ceded to the United States or taken by the Government in the past. Increasingly the funds received through judgments are now being invested by the tribes for projects to improve the social and economic conditions of the Indian people.

Typical projects include: Scholarships for the education of Indian youth; social services for reservation dwellers; construction of community centers and funding of community development projects; and tribal enterprises including recreational tourism development, industrial parks and other projects calculated to bring new sources of income and employment to the tribe.

Awards granted in 1965 by the Indian Claims Commission and regarded as final included:

Awards granted during 1965 and 1967 but not final pending appeal or other action: