WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, Nov. 1, U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior Michael L. Connor and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Lawrence Roberts will hold a press conference call to discuss the work accomplished by the Obama administration to strengthen tribal sovereignty, reduce fractionation and provide new opportunities to Native American communities through the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Buy-Back Program).
The Buy-Back Program 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. The Buy-Back Program’s annual Status Reports detail the accomplishments to date and strategies for ongoing implementation. Since 2013, the Buy-Back Program has paid approximately $900 million to individual landowners and restored the equivalent of nearly 1.7 million acres of land to tribal governments.
WHO:
Michael L. Connor, U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior
Lawrence Roberts, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs
WHAT:
Press conference call on the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations
WHEN:
Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. ET
MEDIA:
Credentialed members of the media can participate by calling 1-888-469-1348 and providing the passcode INTERIOR.
Source: Department of Interior
