S. 105: Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act

This bill, titled the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act, aims to establish specific land near Wounded Knee, South Dakota, as "restricted fee status" for the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Here’s what the bill would do in simpler terms:

Key Objectives

• Directs the Secretary of the Interior to take necessary actions to designate approximately 40 acres of land as tribal land held in restricted fee status.
• Ensures the land will remain under the jurisdiction of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
• Prevents the land from being transferred without Congressional consent and prohibits state or local taxation on it.
• Establishes that the land will be used in accordance with a prior covenant agreed upon by the two tribes.

Definitions

• Restricted Fee Status: This status means that the land will continue to be owned by the tribes, will be part of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and is subject to their civil and criminal jurisdiction.
• Tribal Land: Refers to the specified 40 acres at the Wounded Knee site, including the surface and subsurface, as well as any structures or property on it.
• Tribes: The bill specifically refers to the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, both of which are recognized entities under the Great Sioux Nation.

Actions Required by the Secretary of the Interior

The Secretary must complete the following within one year of the bill's enactment:

• Finalize all necessary documentation and corrections for the survey and legal description to ensure the land is held in restricted fee status.
• Assign relevant rights or agreements related to utilities and services affecting the Tribal land.

Conditions Governing the Land

• The land will remain subject to federal laws concerning Indian lands and protections against transfer or sale.
• The land use will adhere to the stipulations of the previously agreed-upon covenant between the tribes.
• Any existing private or municipal agreements or encumbrances associated with the land as of the bill's enactment will still apply.
• The land cannot be used for gaming under existing federal laws governing Indian gaming activities.

Overall Impact

The overall goal of the bill is to protect and memorialize the Wounded Knee site, ensuring that it remains under the control of the tribes and is used in a manner that honors its historical significance.

Relevant Companies

None found