S. 642: Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025

This bill, titled the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025, aims to resolve compensation issues relating to land that the federal government took from the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community without just compensation. Here are the primary components of the bill broken down into sections:

Background and Findings

The bill recognizes the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community as a federally recognized tribe based in the L’Anse Indian Reservation in Michigan. It notes that:

• The Community holds rights over land as per treaties established in the 19th century.
• Land previously owned by the Community was taken without proper compensation, violating their rights and impacting their cultural, economic, and subsistence activities.
• Some non-Indian individuals and local governments now occupy lands within the reservation boundaries, having acquired these in good faith.

Purpose of the Bill

The intent of the bill includes the following aims:

• To acknowledge and compensate for the land taken from the Community.
• To finalize and extinguish all claims by the Community regarding the taken lands.
• To confirm ownership of the land for current, non-Indian landowners.
• To allocate financial resources for the Community to address their needs and ensure local landowners receive clear title to the land.

Compensation Details

Under the provisions of this bill:

• The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to transfer $33.9 million to the Community as compensation for the lands taken.
• The funds may be used for various purposes except for acquiring land for gaming purposes, which is explicitly prohibited.

Extinguishment of Claims

The bill states that once the Community receives the compensation, any claims they hold to the mentioned lands held by others will be extinguished, clearing the titles for current landowners from any prior claims by the Community.

Implementation and Restrictions

The bill includes provisions to ensure that:

• The compensation is aimed at a fair settlement without the need for lengthy legal proceedings.
• The act does not authorize the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for gaming purposes.
• Land acquired with the funds cannot be used for gaming operations, maintaining a boundary around these financial resources.

Relevant Companies

None found