The Department of the Interior today announced completion of a trust agreement under which the United States National Bank of Portland, Oregon, replaces the Bureau of Indian Affairs as trustee for the tribal property of the remaining members of the Klamath Indian Tribe of Oregon.
Under terms of the agreement, the Indian Bureau’s Area Office in Portland, yesterday (March 3) conveyed to the Bank deeds for a total of approximately 140,000 acres of land together with $737,608.61 of tribal funds. The major portion of the tribal land is forested and will be managed by the Bank in accordance with sustained yield principles under a plan previously approved by the Department.
The Bank also took over full authority and responsibility formerly vested in the Secretary of the Interior in connection with timber contracts and grazing permits on the tribal lands which have not yet expired.
A roll of the 473 remaining members of the Tribe was turned over to the Bank along with the other documents on March 3.
In addition, the Bank has taken over responsibility for deciding on a request which the remaining tribal members have recently made for a $600 per capita payment from their available funds. Because the request was made at a time when negotiations with the Bank were well along toward completion, no action was taken on it by the Department prior to final execution of the trust agreement.
