The Department of the Interior has issued an administrative order restoring to the San Carlos Apache Tribe full ownership of, approximately 200,000 acres of land known as the "mineral strip," ceded to the Government in 1896.
The land, lying along the southern border of the tribe's Arizona reservation, was ceded by the tribe with the understanding that the Government would supervise mineral recovery on the lands and return all mineral revenues to the tribe.
However, because of insignificant financial returns to the Indians and the tribe's desire to have the land returned, the strip was closed to further mineral patents in 1934 and all mineral rights were returned to the tribe by Secretarial action in 1963.
The restoration order followed a recommendation by Commissioner of Indian Affairs Robert L. Bennett. The order excludes lands already patented or to which there are other valid existing rights.
