Secretary of the Interior Stewart L. Udall announced today steps are being taken to implement a new law which provides for payment to the Delaware Indians for lands ceded under an 1818 treaty. He announced the amendment of regulations which will permit preparation of p tribal roll.
The Act of September 21, 1968, authorized the distribution of funds derived from a judgment by the Indian Claims Commission, and directed the Secretary to prepare a roll to serve as a basis for paying the money.
The judgment of $1,627,244.64 represents additional payment for almost 4 million acres of Indian land. The Commission found the Delaware Nation had a recognized half interest in the ceded land, this interest having a value of $2,218,925 in 1818.
A sum of $124,674.73 already had been paid to the Indians as compensation for the lands, and the Commission determined there were other offsets and counterclaims allowable in the sum of $467,005.63. This resulted in the award granted.
One amendment changes a section of Code of Federal Regulations to define "lineal ancestor," and another includes requirements for enrollment and establishes a deadline of December 31, 1969, for filing applications for enrollment to share in the funds.
Applications for enrollment must be filed with the Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, P.O. Box 368, Anadarko, Okla., 73005, or the Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Federal Building, Muskogee, Okla., 74401, and must be postmarked no later than December 31, 1969.
