Post by Okwes on Feb 23, 2007 22:50:46 GMT -5
Jicarilla Nation gains 32,000 acres
New Mexico Business Weekly
The U.S. Department of the Interior has transferred the Chama Ranch, 32,000 acres in northern New Mexico, into federal trust status on behalf of the Jicarilla Apache Nation.
The land is within the confirmed aboriginal territory of the Jicarilla Nation, which purchased it from a federal bankruptcy trustee in 1995 in order to reclaim part of its original land base and to expand its big game hunting and sport fishing program.
Levi Pesata, president of the Jicarillas, said the expansion of the hunting and fishing program will allow the tribe to diversify economically.
The trust acquisition was analyzed four times -- twice by the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Southwest Region and twice by the Interior Board of Indian Appeals. Rio Arriba County had objected to the deal, citing a loss of revenue because of the removal of the land from the local tax rolls. The Interior Department determined that the acquisition would not have an adverse tax impact on the state of New Mexico, Rio Arriba County or any other local authority.
New Mexico Business Weekly
The U.S. Department of the Interior has transferred the Chama Ranch, 32,000 acres in northern New Mexico, into federal trust status on behalf of the Jicarilla Apache Nation.
The land is within the confirmed aboriginal territory of the Jicarilla Nation, which purchased it from a federal bankruptcy trustee in 1995 in order to reclaim part of its original land base and to expand its big game hunting and sport fishing program.
Levi Pesata, president of the Jicarillas, said the expansion of the hunting and fishing program will allow the tribe to diversify economically.
The trust acquisition was analyzed four times -- twice by the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Southwest Region and twice by the Interior Board of Indian Appeals. Rio Arriba County had objected to the deal, citing a loss of revenue because of the removal of the land from the local tax rolls. The Interior Department determined that the acquisition would not have an adverse tax impact on the state of New Mexico, Rio Arriba County or any other local authority.