U.S. House Approves Poarch Creek Land Reaffirmation Act

January 17, 2018

The U.S. House passed a bill known as the Poarch Band of Creek Indians Land Reaffirmation Act on Tuesday.

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians Land Reaffirmation Act is a bipartisan bill that simply affirms that land that was taken into trust for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians prior to the 2009 decision in Carcieri vs. Salazari will remain in trust.

On February 24, 2009 the Supreme Court handed down a decision in Carcieri v. Salazar stating that Section 5 of the Indian Reorganization Act  authorized the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust only for those tribes that were “under federal jurisdiction” in 1934, when the IRA was enacted

The legislation simply clears up any legal ambiguity that may have been caused by the previous court decision. The legislation does not have any change over the way the Poarch Creek Indians or their land are currently being treated in Alabama.

The bill prohibits and lawsuits related to the trust land

“The Poarch Creek Indians are a valued and trusted part of our community in Southwest Alabama. Their economic impact in Escambia County, Alabama speaks for itself. From their help with funding for community projects to their business enterprises that employ thousands of Alabamians, the Poarch help make life better for so many people in our area,” bill sponsor Congressman Bradley Byrne said.

Pictured: Congressman Bradley Byrne speaks in support of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians Land Reaffirmation Act on the floor of the U.S. House. Image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

2 Responses to “U.S. House Approves Poarch Creek Land Reaffirmation Act”

  1. Grey Eagle on January 19th, 2018 8:54 am

    As it should be, and should have been all along… God Bless our elders and our heritage.

  2. Jan Cole Tribal #3431 on January 17th, 2018 12:01 pm

    Thanks so much for recognizing that our tribe, Poarch Band of
    Creek Indians is a source of income
    and prosperity to the state of Alabama.
    In 2008 with great pride, I received my roll number which
    proved that I was half blooded Creek Indian. My only wish
    was that my father to have been alive and received his roll number
    as a full blood Creek Indian.





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