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What is the Land Buy-Back Program? - Archive
Albuquerque, NM Landscape with mountains in the background
4/25/2016
The Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations implements the land consolidation component of the Cobell Settlement, which provided $1.9 billion to purchase fractional interests in trust or restricted land from willing sellers at fair market value within 10 years. 
Agua Caliente, Nez Perce, Yankton Become Latest Tribal Nations to Partner with Interior to Reduce Fractionation in Indian Country - Archive
Department of the Interior bison seal set against green mountainous background.
4/21/2016
Interior Deputy Secretary Michael L. Connor announced today that the Department of the Interior has signed agreements with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation in California, Nez Perce Tribe in Idaho, and the Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota to conduct the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Buy-Back Program) in their communities.
Interior Department Transfers Nearly $5 Million to Cobell Education Scholarship Fund - Archive
Department of the Interior bison seal set against green mountainous background.
4/13/2016
The U.S. Department of the Interior today announced that an additional $4.8 million has been transferred to the Cobell Education Scholarship Fund (Scholarship Fund), bringing the total amount contributed so far to almost $39 million.
Nearly $3.8 Million in Purchase Offers Sent to More Than 3,200 Landowners with Fractional Interests at Fond du Lac Reservation - Archive
Office of the Secretary, Cobell / Land buyback, Press Release
Department of the Interior bison seal set against green mountainous background.
3/14/2016
Deputy Secretary Michael L. Connor today announced that nearly $3.8 million in purchase offers have been sent to more than 3,200 landowners with fractional interests at the Fond du Lac Reservation in Minnesota as part of the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Buy-Back Program).
More Than 500 Tribal Leaders, Individuals Attend Land Buy-Back Program 2016 Listening Session - Archive
Cobell / Land buyback, Press Release
Department of the Interior bison seal set against green mountainous background.
3/7/2016
The Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Buy-Back Program) hosted more than 500 tribal leaders and landowners at its third Listening Session on March 3, 2016, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 
Interior Department Transfers Additional $4 Million to Cobell Education Scholarship Fund - Archive
Department of the Interior bison seal set against green mountainous background.
1/6/2016
With its newest contribution, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced today that it has transferred $4 million to the Cobell Education Scholarship Fund, bringing the total transferred funds to nearly $35 million.
Interior Department Partners with Two Additional Tribal Nations to Reduce Land Fractionation in Indian Country - Archive
Department of the Interior bison seal set against green mountainous background.
12/16/2015
Continuing President Obama’s commitment to strengthen tribal sovereignty, Interior Deputy Secretary Michael L. Connor announced today that the Department has signed agreements with the Round Valley Indian Tribes of the Round Valley Reservation in California and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota to implement the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Buy-Back Program).
Interior's Deputy Secretary to Host Listening Session on Land Buy-Back Program in New Mexico - Archive
Department of the Interior bison seal set against green mountainous background.
12/8/2015
U.S. Department of the Interior Deputy Secretary Michael L. Connor will host a listening session on March 3, 2016, at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to hear directly from tribal leaders and individual landowners on the progress of the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Buy-Back Program). Deputy Secretary Connor will be joined by Special Trustee for American Indians Vince Logan.
Nearly 900 Landowners with Fractional Interests at Lummi Indian Reservation Receive $4 Million in Purchase Offers - Archive
Cobell / Land buyback, Press Release
Department of the Interior bison seal set against green mountainous background.
11/17/2015
Deputy Secretary Michael L. Connor today announced that more than $4 million in purchase offers have been sent to nearly 900 landowners with fractional interests at the Lummi Indian Reservation in Washington state as part of the Land Buy Back Program for Tribal Nations (Buy-Back Program).  
Interior Releases 2015 Status Report for Land Buy-Back Program - Archive
Department of the Interior bison seal set against green mountainous background.
11/4/2015
The Department of the Interior today released the 2015 Status Report for the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Program), which summarizes its implementation to date and significant economic impact in Indian Country. Since 2013, the Buy-Back Program has paid nearly $715 million to landowners and restored the equivalent of approximately 1.5 million acres of land to tribal governments.
Nearly 200 Landowners with Fractional Interests at Swinomish Indian Reservation Receive $3.8 Million in Purchase Offers - Archive
Cobell / Land buyback, Press Release
Department of the Interior bison seal set against green mountainous background.
10/27/2015
Deputy Secretary Michael Connor today announced that more than $3.8 million in purchase offers have been sent to nearly 200 landowners with fractional interests at the Swinomish Indian Reservation in Washington state. Interested sellers have 45 days – until December 11, 2015 – to return accepted offers in the pre-paid postage envelopes provided. 
Interior Transfers an Additional $10 Million to the Cobell Education Scholarship Fund, Brings Total to Nearly $30 Million - Archive
Department of the Interior bison seal set against green mountainous background.
10/1/2015
The Department of the Interior today announced that an additional $10 million has been transferred to the Cobell Education Scholarship Fund (the Fund), bringing the total amount contributed so far to nearly $30 million. Funded in part by the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Buy-Back Program), and authorized by the Cobell Settlement, the Fund is designed to be a permanent endowment which provides financial assistance through scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native students wishing to pursue post-secondary and graduate education and training.
Five Tribal Nations Partner with Interior Department to Reduce Fractionation, Strengthen Tribal Sovereignty - Archive
Department of the Interior bison seal set against green mountainous background.
9/15/2015
U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior Michael Connor announced today that the Department has signed agreements with five additional tribal nations to implement the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Buy-Back Program), which facilitates the purchase of individual interests in fractionated trust lands and consolidates ownership for the tribe with jurisdiction. The tribal nations are the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians in California; the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in Minnesota; the Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Quinault Indian Nation in Washington; and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation in Idaho.
Interior Department’s Latest Transfer to Cobell Education Scholarship Fund Brings Total to Almost $20 Million - Archive
Department of the Interior bison seal set against green mountainous background.
7/9/2015
As the White House Tribal Youth Gathering commences in Washington, the Department of the Interior today announced that an additional $2 million has been transferred to the Cobell Education Scholarship Fund, bringing the total amount contributed so far to $19.5 million. The Scholarship Fund – funded in part by the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Buy-Back Program) and authorized by the Cobell Settlement – provides financial assistance through scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native students wishing to pursue post-secondary and graduate education and training.
Interior Offers $230 Million for Fractional Land Interests on Tracts with Improvements at Fort Belknap and Fort Peck - Archive
Montana, Cobell / Land buyback, Native Americans, Press Release
Department of the Interior bison seal set against green mountainous background.
6/8/2015
Interior Deputy Secretary Michael Connor today announced that more than $230 million in purchase offers have been sent to nearly 12,000 landowners with fractional interests at the Fort Belknap and Fort Peck Indian Reservations in Montana.

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