H.R. 2827: To provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes.

This bill is designed to address and settle specific land disputes involving the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, particularly relating to land in Illinois. The key components of the bill are as follows:

Settlement of Claims

• Jurisdiction Conferred: The bill grants the United States Court of Federal Claims the authority to hear a land claim from the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma based on their treaty from 1805, known as the Treaty of Grouseland. This jurisdiction is unique in that it allows the court to consider the claim without being limited by any statutes of limitations, meaning that the timing of when the claim is brought does not affect its consideration.
• Expiration of Jurisdiction: The special jurisdiction established by this bill will only remain in effect for up to one year after the bill's enactment unless the Miami Tribe files a land claim within that timeframe. If no claim is filed, the court's jurisdiction will expire.

Extinguishment of Other Claims

The bill also specifies that, aside from any claim filed under the previously mentioned jurisdiction, all other land claims—past or future—by the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, its members, descendants, or any historical claimants to the Miami Tribe, regarding land in Illinois, are to be considered extinguished. This means that once the one-year period has passed, there will be no further claims permitted related to this land.

Purpose

The main goal of this legislation is to provide a clear legal framework for resolving these land disputes and to potentially settle long-standing issues regarding land ownership and claims, offering certainty for both the Miami Tribe and the relevant state and local governments.

Relevant Companies

None found.