Buy-Back Program Sends $6.6 Million in Purchase Offers to 3,000 Landowners with Fractional Interests at Bad River Reservation

Date: October 26, 2016
Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov

WASHINGTON – Interior Deputy Secretary Michael L. Connor today announced that nearly 3,000 landowners with fractional interests at the Bad River Indian Reservation in Wisconsin have received more than $6.6 million in purchase offers as part of the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations. 

The Buy-Back Program implements the land consolidation component of the Cobell Settlement, which provided $1.9 billion to purchase fractional interests in trust from willing sellers at fair market value. Individuals who choose to sell their interests receive payments directly into their Individual Indian Money (IIM) accounts. Interests consolidated through the Program are restored to tribal trust ownership for uses benefiting the reservation community and tribal members.

Landowners with fractional interests at Bad River have until December 15, 2016 – to consider and return accepted offers in the pre-paid postage envelopes provided. 

Since the Program began making offers in December 2013, approximately $900 million has been paid to individual landowners and the equivalent of nearly 1.7 million acres of land has been transferred to tribal governments.

The Buy-Back Program’s implementation schedule includes 105 locations, which reflects more than 96 percent of all landowners with fractional interests and more than 98 percent of both the purchasable fractional interests and equivalent acres in Program-eligible areas. 

Offers are currently outstanding for landowners with fractional land interests at:

• Osage – November 4, 2016 deadline
• Lower Brule – November 14, 2016 deadline
• Turtle Mountain – December 5, 2016 deadline

Landowners can contact the Trust Beneficiary Call Center at 888-678-6836 or visit their local Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians (OST) to ask questions about their land or purchase offers, and learn about financial planning resources. 

More information and detailed frequently asked questions are available at https://www.doi.gov/buybackprogram/FAQ to help individuals make informed decisions about their land.

It is important that landowners think strategically about how to use the funds they receive from selling their land. Financial training, including budgeting, investing, and planning for the future, empowers beneficiaries to grow and sustain personal wealth. More information is available at: https://www.doi.gov/buybackprogram/landowners/informeddecisionmaking. 

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