Acts of Congress 1933-1950

Relating to Navajo land additions, exchanges, withdrawals, transfers and sales

1933. Additions to Navajo Reservation in Utah

March 1, 1983, ch. 160,47 Stat. 1418,1419

May 17, 1968, Pub. L. 90–306, 82 Stat. 121.

AN ACT

To permanently set aside certain lands in Utah as an addition to the Navajo Indian Reservation, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all vacant, unreserved, and undisposed of public lands within the areas in the southern part of the State of Utah, bounded as follows: Beginning at a point where the San Juan River intersects the one hundred and tenth degree of west longitude; thence down said river to its confluence with the Colorado River; thence down the Colorado River to a point where said river crosses the boundary line between Utah and Arizona; thence east along said boundary line to the one hundred and tenth degree of west longitude; thence north to the place of beginning; also beginning at a point where the west rim of Montezuma Creek or wash intersects the north boundary line of the Navajo Indian Reservation in Utah; thence northerly along the western rim of said creek or wash to a point where it intersects the section line running east and west between sections 23 and 26, township 39 south, range 24 east, Salt Lake base and meridian in Utah; thence eastward along said section line to the northwest section corner of section 26, township 39 south, range 25 east; thence south one mile along the section line between sections 25 and 26 to the southeast section corner of section 26, township 39 south, range 25 east; thence eastward along the section line between sections 25 and 36, township 39 south, range 25 east, extending through township 39 south, range 26 east, to its intersection with the boundary line between Utah and Colorado; thence south along said boundary line to its intersection with the north boundary line of the Navajo Indian Reservation; thence in a westerly direction along the north boundary line of said reservation to the point of beginning be, and the same are hereby, permanently withdrawn from all forms of entry or disposal for the benefit of the Navajo and such other Indians as the Secretary of the Interior may see fit to settle thereon: Provided, That no further allotments of lands to Indians on the public domain shall be made in San Juan County, Utah, for the health, education, and general welfare of the Navajo Indians residing in San Juan County. Planning for such expenditures shall be done in cooperation with the appropriate departments, bureaus, commissions, divisions, and agencies of the United States, the State of Utah, the county of San Juan in Utah, and the Navajo Tribe, insofar as it is reasonably practicable, to accomplish the objects and purposes of this Act. Contribution may be made to projects and facilities within said area that are not exclusively for the benefits of the beneficiaries hereunder in proportion to the benefits to be received therefrom by said beneficiaries, as may be determined by the State of Utah through its duly authorized officers, commissions, or agencies. An annual report of its accounts, operations, and recommendations concerning the funds received hereunder shall be made by the State of Utah, through its duly authorized officers, commissions, or agencies, to the Secretary of the Interior and to the Area Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the information of said beneficiaries.

SEC. 2. That the State of Utah may relinquish such tracts of school land within the areas added to the Navajo Reservation by section 1 of this Act as it may see fit in favor of the said Indians, and shall have the right to select other unreserved and nonmineral public lands contiguously or noncontiguously located within the State of Utah, equal in area and approximately of the same value to that relinquished, said lieu selections to be made in the same manner as is provided for in the Enabling Act of July 16, 1894 (28 Stat. L. 107), except as to the payment of fees or commissions which are hereby waived.

Approved, March 1, 1933; approved May 17, 1968.

History

The proviso in first sentence of § 1 of this Act appears in 25 U.S.C. § 337a and 43 U.S.C. § 190a.

Amendments–1968. Amended Act by deleting all of that part of last proviso of section 1 after the word “Utah” and inserting new provisions.

1934. Exterior boundaries of Navajo Reservation in Arizona

June 14, 1934, ch. 521, 48 Stat. 960–962

AN ACT

To define the exterior boundaries of the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the exterior boundaries of the Navajo Indian Reservation, in Arizona, be, and they are hereby, defined as follows: Beginning at a point common to the States of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah, thence west along the boundary line between the States of Arizona and Utah to a point where said boundary line intersects the Colorado River; thence down the south bank of that stream to its confluence with the Little Colorado River; thence following the north bank of the Little Colorado River to a point opposite the east boundary of the Grand Canyon National Park; thence south along said east boundary to the southeast corner of section 5, township 30 north, range 6 east, Gila and Salt River base and meridian, Arizona; thence east to the southeast corner of section 4; thence south to  the southwest corner of section 10; thence east to the southeast corner of section 10; thence south to the southwest corner of section 14;  thence east to the northwest corner of the northeast quarter section 23; thence south two miles to the southeast corner of the southwest quarter section 26; thence west one half mile to the southeast corner of section 27, township 30 north, range 6 east, Gila and Salt River base and meridian, Arizona; thence south 7 miles to the southwest corner of section 35, township 29 north, range 6 east; thence east one mile; thence south one and one half miles to the southwest corner of the northwest quarter section 12, township 28 north, range 6 east; thence east through the center of section 12 to the range line between ranges 6 and 7 east; thence south along said range line five and one half miles to the southeast corner of section 1, township 27 north, range 6 east; thence west 3 miles to the southwest corner of section 3, township 27 north, range 6 east; thence south 5 miles to the southeast corner of section 33, township 27 north, range 6 east; thence east along township line between townships 26 and 27, six and one half miles, to the northeast corner of the northwest quarter section 3, township 26 north, range 7 east; thence south two miles to the southeast corner of the southwest quarter section 10, township 26 north, range 7 east; thence east four and one half miles to the southeast corner of section 8, township 26 north, range 8 east; thence north four miles to the northwest corner of section 28, township 27 north, range 8 east, Gila and Salt River base and meridian; thence east one mile to the southeast corner of section 21; thence north four miles to the northeast corner of section 4, township 27 north, range 8 east;  thence east along township line between townships 27 and north to its intersection with the Little Colorado River; thence up the middle of that stream to the intersection of the present west boundary of the Leupp Extension Reservation created by Executive order of November 14, 1910; thence south along the present western boundary of said extension to where it intersects the fifth standard parallel north; thence east along said standard parallel to the southwest corner of township 21 north, range 26 east, Gila and Salt River base and meridian; thence north six miles to the northwest corner of township 21 north, range 26 east; thence east 12 miles to the northeast corner of township 21 north, range 27 east; thence south 2 miles; thence east 12 miles; thence south four miles; thence east along the township line  between townships 20 and 21 north to the boundary line between the States of New Mexico and Arizona; thence north along said boundary line to the point of beginning. All vacant, unreserved, and unappropriated public lands, including all temporary withdrawals of public lands in Arizona heretofore made for Indian purposes by Executive order or otherwise within the boundaries defined by this Act, are hereby permanently withdrawn from all forms of entry or disposal for the benefit of the Navajo and such other Indians as may already be located thereon; however, nothing herein contained shall affect the existing status of the Moqui (Hopi) Indian Reservation created by Executive order of December 16, 1882. There are hereby excluded from the reservation as above defined all lands heretofore designated by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to section 28 of the Arizona Enabling Act of June 20, 1910 (36 Stat. L. 575), as being valuable for water-power purposes and all lands withdrawn or classified as power-site lands, saving to the Indians, nevertheless, the exclusive right to occupy and use such designated and classified lands until they shall be required for power purposes or other uses under the authority of the United States: Provided, That nothing in this Act contained shall be construed as authorizing the payment of proceeds or royalties to the Navajo Indians from water power developed within the areas added to the Navajo Reservation pursuant to section 1 of this Act; and the Federal Water Power Act of June 10, 1920 (41 Stat. L. 1063 [16 U.S.C. § 791a et seq.]), and amendments thereto, shall operate for the benefit of the state of Arizona as if such lands were vacant, unreserved, and unappropriated public lands. All valid rights and claims initiated under the public land laws prior to approval hereof involving any lands within the areas so defined, shall not be affected by this

SEC. 2. The Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized in his discretion, under rules and regulations to be prescribed by him, to accept relinquishments and reconveyance to the United States of such privately owned lands, as in his opinion are desirable for and should be reserved for the use and benefit of the Navajo Tribe of Indians, including patented and nonpatented Indian allotments and selections, within the counties of Apache, Navajo, and Coconino, Arizona; and any Indian so relinquishing his or her right shall be entitled to make lieu selections within the areas consolidated for Indian purposes by this Act. Upon conveyance to the United States of a good and sufficient title to any such privately owned land, except Indian allotments and selections, the owners thereof, or their assigns, are hereby authorized, under regulations of the Secretary of the Interior, to select from the unappropriated, unreserved, and nonmineral public lands of the United States within said counties in the State of Arizona lands approximately equal in value to the lands thus conveyed, and where surrendered lands contain springs or living waters, selection of other lands taken in lieu thereof may be of like character or quality, such values to be determined by the Secretary of the Interior, who is hereby authorized to issue patents for the lieu lands so selected. In all selections of lieu lands under section 2 of this Act notice to any interested party shall be by publication. Any privately owned lands relinquished to the United States under section 2 of this Act shall be held in trust for the Navajo Tribe of Indians; and relinquishments in Navajo County, Arizona, excluding Indian allotments and selections, shall not extend south of the township line between townships 20 and 21 north, Gila and Salt River base and meridian. The State of Arizona may relinquish such tracts of school land within the boundary of the Navajo Reservation, as defined by section 1 of this Act, as it may see fit in favor of said Indians, and shall have the right to select other unreserved and nonmineral public lands contiguous or noncontiguous, located within the three counties involved equal in value to that relinquished, said lieu selections to be made in the same manner as is provided for in the Arizona Enabling Act of June 20, 1910 (36 Stat. L. 558), except as to the payment of fees or commissions which are hereby waived. Pending the completion of exchanges and consolidations authorized by section 2 of this Act, no further allotments of public lands to Navajo Indians shall be made in the counties of Apache, Navajo and Coconino, Arizona, nor shall further Indian homesteads be initiated or allowed in said counties to Navajo Indians under the Act of July 4, 1884 (23 Stat. L. 96 [43 U.S.C. § 190]); and thereafter should allotments to Navajo Indians be made within the above-named counties, they shall be confined to land within the boundaries defined by section 1 of this Act.

SEC. 3. Upon the completion of exchanges and consolidations authorized by section 2 of this Act, the State of Arizona may, under rules and regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior, relinquish to the United States such of its remaining school lands in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache Counties as it may see fit; and shall have the right to select from the vacant, unreserved, and nonmineral public lands in said counties lieu lands equal in value to those relinquished without the payment of fees or commissions.

SEC. 4. For the purpose of purchasing privately owned lands, together with the improvements thereon, within the boundaries above defined, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated, from any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $481,879.38, which sum shall be reimbursable from funds accruing to the Navajo tribal funds as and when such funds accrue and shall remain available until expended: Provided, That title to the land so purchased may, in the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior, be taken for the surface only: Provided further, That said funds may be used in purchasing improvements on any land within said boundaries or on leased State school land within the boundaries above defined, provided the State of Arizona agrees to the assignment of said leases to the Navajo Tribe of Indians on a renewable and preferential basis, and provided the Legislature of said State enacts such laws as may be necessary to avail itself of the exchange provisions contained in section 2 of this Act, and disclaim any right, title or interest in and to any improvements on said lands.

Approved, June 14, 1934.

1934. Land acquisition; restrictions (Wheeler–Howard Act)

June 18, 1934, ch. 576, § 5, 48 Stat. 985; 25 U.S.C. § 465

25 U.S.C. § 465. Acquisition of lands, water rights, or surface rights; appropriation

The Secretary of the Interior is authorized, in his discretion, to acquire, through purchase, relinquishment, gift, exchange, or assignment, any interest in lands, water rights, or surface rights to lands, within or without existing reservations, including trust or otherwise restricted allotments, whether the allottee be living or deceased, for the purpose of providing land for Indians.

For the acquisition of such lands, interests in lands, water rights, and surface rights, and for expenses incident to such acquisition, there is authorized to be appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, a sum not to exceed $2,000,000 in any one fiscal year: Provided, That no part of such funds shall be used to acquire additional land outside of the exterior boundaries of Navajo Indian Reservation for the Navajo Indians in Arizona, nor in New Mexico, in the event that legislation to define the exterior boundaries of the Navajo Indian Reservation in New Mexico, and for other purposes, or similar legislation, becomes law.

The unexpended balances of any appropriations made pursuant to this section shall remain available until expended.

Title to any lands or rights acquired pursuant to sections 461, 462, 463, 464, 465, 466–470, 471–473, 475, 476–478, and 479 of this title shall be taken in the name of the United States in trust for the Indian tribe or individual Indian for which the land is acquired, and such lands or rights shall be exempt from State and local taxation. (June 18, 1934, ch. 676, § 5, 48 Stat. 985.)

1940. Exchange of lands for privately owned mineral lands

July 10, 1940, ch. 565, 54 Stat. 746

AN ACT

To authorize exchanges of lands within the Navajo Indian Reservation, Arizona.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized, in his discretion, to exchange tribal lands within the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona for privately owned mineral lands of approximately equal value within the boundary of such reservation. Upon conveyance to the United States in trust for the Navajo Indians of the lands being acquired by the United States, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to issue a patent in fee covering the lands granted in exchange: Provided, That the sufficiency of title to all such lands acquired by the United States shall be approved by the Secretary of the Interior.

Approved, July 10, 1940.

1944. Exchanges of lands with Presbyterian Church

May 29, 1944, ch. 212, 58 Stat. 257

AN ACT

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to exchange certain lands within the Navajo Indian Reservation, Arizona.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to exchange approximately six acres of Navajo Tribal land located in section 26, township 27 north, range 26 east, Gila and Salt River meridian, Apache County, Arizona, for a tract of Mission land containing approximately four and fourteen-one-hundredths acres in section 27, township 27 north, range 26 east, Gila and Salt River meridians, Apache County, Arizona, being a portion of the land fee patented to the Woman’s Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.

SEC. 2. Title to the land received in the exchange shall be satisfactory to the Secretary of the Interior and shall be taken in the name of the United States of America in trust for the Navajo Indian Tribe.

Approved, May 29, 1944.

1947. Helium–bearing gas lands

June 27, 1947, ch. 158, 61 Stat. 189, as amended

July 29, 1954, ch. 617, 68 Stat. 580–582

AN ACT

Authorizing certain agreements with respect to rights in helium-bearing gas lands in the Navajo Indian Reservation, New Mexico, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Mines, and the Navajo Tribe of Indians are authorized to enter into an agreement dated December 1, 1945, entitled “An agreement serving certain formations from oil and gas leases and substituting new leases as to those formations” and an “Amending agreement”, affecting lands in the Navajo Indian Reservation, New Mexico, copies of which are published in House of Representatives Document Numbered 212, Eightieth Congress, first session; and said agreements are ratified and approved.  If said Navajo Tribe of Indians shall, after investigation, deem the total consideration payable to it by the United States pursuant to such agreement dated December 1, 1945, as amended, to be in any respect less than reasonable, fair, just, and equitable, said tribe shall be entitled within three years after the date of enactment of this Act to institute suit against the United States in the Court of Claims for the recovery of such additional sum, if any, as may be necessary to compensate said tribe for the reasonable, fair, just, and equitable value of all right, interest, and property passing from said tribe to the United States under such agreement, as amended. Jurisdiction is hereby conferred upon the Court of Claims to hear and determine any suit so instituted and to enter final judgment against the United States therein for such sum if any, in excess of the total consideration payable pursuant to such agreement, as amended, as such court may determine to be necessary to provide consideration in all respects reasonable, fair, just, and equitable: Provided, That interest shall be allowed on such sum at the rate of 4 per centum per annum from October 20, 1947, to the date of payment and no offsets shall be deducted by the court from any sum determined by the court to be a reasonable, fair, just, and equitable consideration for the right, interest, and property passing to the United States under and pursuant to said agreement of December 1, 1945, as amended, and the interest thereon: Provided further, That the foregoing provision relating to interest and offsets shall not extend to any other claim or claims asserted in any such suit, whether or not the same arise out of the subject matter of said agreement, but such other claim or claims, if any, shall be governed by the law relating to actions brought pursuant to title 28, United States Code, section 1505. Appellate review of any judgment so entered shall be in the same manner, and subject to the same limitations, as in the case of claims over which the Court of Claims has jurisdiction under section 1491 of Title 28, United States Code. Notwithstanding any contract to the contrary, not more than 10 per centum of the amount received or recovered by said tribe in satisfaction of any claim asserted under this section shall be paid to or received by any agent or attorney on account of services rendered in connection with such claim. [June 27, 1947, ch. 158, § 1, 61 Stat. 189, as amended July 29, 1954, ch. 617, § 1, 68 Stat. 580, 581.]

SEC. 2. The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Mines, is authorized to enter into an agreement dated September 19, 1946, with Continental Oil Company and Santa Fe Corporation entitled “Agreement for assignments of interests in oil and gas leases and for operations on the leaseholds” and two agreements supplemental thereto, affecting lands in the Navajo Indian Reservation, New Mexico, copies of which are published in House of Representatives Document Numbered 212, Eightieth Congress, first session; and said agreements are ratified and approved. [June 27, 1947, ch. 158, § 2, 61 Stat. 189.]

SEC. 3. Jurisdiction is hereby conferred on the Court of Claims to determine, notwithstanding any statute of limitations or laches, in any suit instituted pursuant to section 1 of this Act, (1) whether the assignment dated December 1, 1942, accepted and approved December 17, 1942, of oil and gas lease 149–ind–5337, covering the lands denominated “1942 lands” in section 4 of said agreement dated December 1, 1945, as amended, should in law or in equity, taking into consideration such fiduciary relationship as may exist between the United States and the Navajo Tribe, have been accepted by the United States for the account of the Navajo Tribe instead of for its own account, and, if such assignment should have been so accepted, whether the property interest or any part thereof covered by such assignment was taken by the United States from the said tribe at any time prior to the effective date of said agreement; (2) whether, and in what amount, if any, the Navajo Tribe is entitled on the basis of such determination to compensation for the acquisition or taking, by the United States, of the property interest or any part thereof covered by such assignment; and (3) whether, and in what amount, if any, the United States is entitled to credit against such compensation for rentals on such lease or for other expenditures, borne by the United States, for the benefit of such lease prior to any such acquisition or taking by the United States; and to enter judgment in accordance with such determinations. No offsets shall be deducted by the court from any net sum, and the interest thereon, if any, that the court awards under this section. The provisions of the last two sentences of section 1 of this Act shall be applicable to any judgment entered pursuant to this section. [June 27, 1947, ch. 158, § 3, as added July 29, 1954, ch. 617, § 21, 68 Stat. 581, 582.]

History

Amendments–1954. Amended section 1 of the 1947 Act by adding the two provisos relating to interest and offsets and revising the citation of 28 U.S.C. 1491; and added section 3 to the 1947 Act.

1947. Appropriation for relief of Navajo and Hopi Indians

December 19, 1947, ch. 521, 61 Stat. 940

AN ACT

To authorize an appropriation for the immediate relief of the Navajo and Hopi Indians, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby authorized to be appropriated the sum of $2,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to enable the Secretary of the Interior to provide immediate relief for needy Navajo and Hopi Indians who are on their reservations or allotted holdings and for those who leave their reservations for employment as hereinafter provided. Not to exceed $500,000 of such amount shall be available for relief of the children, the blind, aged, sick, and disabled, who are needy, and the needy able-bodied where work is not available; and not to exceed $1,500,000 (a) to provide useful employment on permanent construction projects duly authorized for the Navajo and Hopi Indians and (b) to secure employment off their reservations for Navajo and Hopi Indians.

SEC. 2. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed at the earliest practicable date to submit to the Congress his recommendations for necessary legislation for a long-range program dealing with the problems of the Navajo and Hopi Indians.

Approved, December 19, 1947.

1948. Sale of certain lands to Southwest Indian Mission

April 28, 1948, ch. 238, 62 Stat. 203, 204

AN ACT

To authorize the sale of certain public lands in San Juan County, Utah, to the Southwest Indian Mission, Incorporated.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Southwest Indian Mission, Incorporated, is hereby authorized for a period of one year from and after the effective date of this Act to file with the Secretary of the Interior an application to purchase, and the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized and directed to issue a patent to it, for use by Saint Christopher’s Mission to the Navajo, for the following-described lands in San Juan County, Utah: The east half of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 20, the west half of the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 21, lot

4 and the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 28 and lots 1, 2, and 5 of section 29, township 40 south, range 22 east, Salt Lake meridian, containing one hundred and sixty-five and five-tenths acres.

SEC. 2. The patent shall not be issued until after payment has been made by the Southwest Indian Mission, Incorporated, to the Secretary of the Interior for the land at its reasonable appraised price of not less than $1.25 per acre, to be determined by the Secretary in accordance with the provisions of the Act of December 22, 1928 (45 Stat. 1069 [43 U.S.C. §§ 1068, 1068a]). The patent shall reserve to the United States all of the oil, gas, and all other mineral deposits in the land, together with the right to prospect for, mine, and remove the same under such regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe.

Approved, April 28, 1948.

1949. Lands for Pueblo and Canoncito Navajo Indians

August 13, 1949, ch. 425, 63 Stat. 604, 605; 25 U.S.C. §§ 621–623

25 U.S.C. § 621. Portions of tribal lands to be held in trust by the United States; remainder to become part of the public domain

Title to the lands and the improvements thereon, lying and situated within the State of New Mexico, which have been acquired by the United States under authority of title II of the National Industrial Recovery Act of June 16, 1933 (48 Stat. 200), the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of April 8, 1935 (49 Stat. 115), section 55 of Title I of the Act of August 24, 1935 (49 Stat. 750, 781), the Bankhead–Jones Farm Tenant Act (50 Stat. 522, 525) and subsequent emergency relief appropriation Acts administrative jurisdiction over which has heretofore been transferred by the President from the Secretary of Agriculture to the Secretary of the Interior, to be administered through the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for the benefit of the Indians, by Executive Orders Numbered 7792, 7975, 8255, 8471, 8696, and 8472 and that title to the public domain lands and improvements thereon, lying and situated within the State of New Mexico, which were withdrawn in aid of proposed legislation by the Secretary of the Interior on December 23, 1938, and May 31, 1939, and now in use by Pueblo or Canoncito Navajo Indians, excepting those portions thereof used by the United States for administrative purposes, is declared to be in the United States of America in trust for the respective tribes, bands, or groups of Indians occupying and using same as a part of their respective existing reservations, subject to valid existing rights. The remainder of the aforesaid land is declared to be a part of the public domain of the United States and shall be transferred by the Secretary of the Interior to the Bureau of Land Management for administration under the provisions of the Act of Congress of June 28, 1934, generally known as Taylor Grazing Act (48 Stat. 1269, as amended). The boundaries and descriptions of the areas to become Indian lands and those which are to be transferred to the Bureau of Land Management are set out in sections III and IV, respectively, of the memorandum of information which is attached to and a part of the report of the Secretary of the Interior to the Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs on sections 621–623 of this Title, and such boundaries and descriptions are adopted as part of said sections and shall be published in the Federal Register: Provided, That before said boundaries and descriptions are published in the Federal Register as provided in this section, the Secretary of the Interior may correct any clerical errors in section III of said memorandum of information and shall revise the same so as to define the areas on that portion of the lands conveyed by sections 621–623 of this Title and known as Bell Rock Mesa used and occupied respectively by the Laguna Pueblo Indians and the Canoncito Navajo Indians. (August 13, 1949, ch. 425, § 1, 63 Stat. 604.)

History

References in text. Title II of the National Industrial Recovery Act of June 16, 1933, (48 Stat. 200), referred to in text, was formerly classified to 40 U.S.C. §§ 401–414. These sections were terminated by the provisions of act June 27, 1942, ch. 450, § 101, 56 Stat. 410.

The Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of April 8, 1935 (49 Stat. 115), referred to in the text, was not classified to U.S.C. Section 55 of Title I of the Act of August 24, 1935 (49 Stat. 750, 781), referred to in the text, was not classified to U.S.C.

The Bankhead–Jones Farm Tenant Act (50 Stat. 52–2, 525), referred to in the text, is classified to 7 U.S.C. §§ 1001–1005d, 1006c, 1006d, 1007, 1008–1012, 1014–1025, and 1027–1029.

Taylor Grazing Act (48 Stat. 1269, as amended), referred to in the text, is classified to 43 U.S.C. chapter 8A.

25 U.S.C. § 622. Exchange of tribal lands; title to lands

For the purpose of consolidation of Indian lands the Secretary of the Interior is authorized, under such regulations as he may prescribe, to exchange any lands or interests therein, including improvements and water rights with the consent of the Pueblo or Navajo tribal authorities for other lands, water rights, and improvements of similar value in the area set apart for the Pueblos and Canoncito Navajos or in the areas declared to be public domain or within any public domain within New Mexico. Title to all lands acquired under the provisions of sections 621–623 of this title shall be taken in the name of the United States in trust for the respective Pueblo Indians and the Navajo Canoncito group. (August 13, 1949, ch. 425, § 2, 63 Stat. 605.)

25 U.S.C. § 623. Disbursement of deposits in the United Pueblos Agency

The funds now on deposit in the United Pueblos Agency in “special deposits” which have accrued from issuance of livestock-crossing permits and fees collected for grazing permits on the lands which have been under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior shall be expended or disbursed for the benefit of the Indians under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe.  (August 13, 1949, ch. 425, § 3, 63 Stat. 605.)

1949. Exchanges of lands with State of Utah

September 7, 1949, ch. 567, 63 Stat. 695

AN ACT

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to exchange certain Navajo tribal Indian land for certain Utah State land.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior or his authorized representative is authorized, with the consent of the governing body of the Navajo Indian Tribe, to exchange the surface rights in Navajo tribal Indian land described as the south half southwest quarter section 24; northwest  quarter,  northeast  quarter,  southeast  quarter,  and  north half southwest quarter section 25, township 43 south, range 15 east, S. L. B.& M., containing six hundred and forty acres, more or less, for the surface rights in land of the State of Utah described as all of section 32, township 43 south, range 16 east, S. L. B. M., all in San Juan County, Utah. Title to the Indian land exchanged shall be transferred by the Secretary of the Interior to the State of Utah by the issuance of a patent in fee. Title to the State lands to be conveyed to the Indians shall be taken in the name of the United States in trust for the Navajo and such other Indians as the Secretary of the Interior may see fit to settle thereon, and shall be satisfactory to the Secretary of the Interior.

SEC. 2. In the event the lands acquired by the State of Utah under the provisions of this Act shall be used for airport purposes, members of the Navajo Tribe of Indians shall be given preference in employment in every phase of construction, operation, and maintenance of the airport for which they are qualified, notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in the Federal Airport Act of May 13, 1946 (60 Stat. 170 [49 U.S.C. § 1101 et seq.]), or any other Act of Congress.

Approved, September 7, 1949.

1950. Surplus property at Wingate Ordnance Depot, New Mexico

June 20, 1950, ch. 320, 64 Stat. 248

AN ACT

To make available for Indian use certain surplus property at the Wingate Ordnance Depot, New Mexico

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Army is hereby authorized and directed to transfer to the Department of the Interior, for use by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, that portion of the Fort Wingate Military Reservation, New Mexico, comprising approximately thirteen thousand one hundred and fifty acres, heretofore determined to be surplus to the requirements of the Department of the Army. Title to the land so transferred shall remain in the United States for the use of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

SEC. 2. All contractual rights and all property, right, title, and interest of the United States in and with respect to structures and improvements in Veterans Temporary Housing Project NM–VN–29166, located on land of the Navajo Tribe of Indians, and known as Wingate Navajo Village, Gallup, New Mexico, are hereby relinquished and transferred to the Navajo Tribe of Indians. After the date of enactment of this Act, the provisions of the Act entitled “An Act to expedite the provision of housing in connection with national defense, and for other purposes”, approved October 14, 1940 (54 Stat. 1125 [42 U.S.C. § 1521 et seq.]), as amended, shall not apply to said temporary housing project.

Approved, June 20, 1950.