§ 1771. — Congressional findings and declaration of policy.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 25USC1771]
TITLE 25--INDIANS
CHAPTER 19--INDIAN LAND CLAIMS SETTLEMENTS
SUBCHAPTER V--MASSACHUSETTS INDIAN LAND CLAIMS SETTLEMENT
Sec. 1771. Congressional findings and declaration of policy
The Congress hereby finds and declares that--
(1) there is pending before the United States District Court for
the District of Massachusetts a lawsuit that involves Indian claims
to certain public lands within the town of Gay Head, Massachusetts;
(2) the pendency of this lawsuit has resulted in severe economic
hardships for the residents of the town of Gay Head by clouding the
titles to much of the land in the town, including land not involved
in the lawsuit;
(3) the Congress shares with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
and the parties to the lawsuit a desire to remove all clouds on
titles resulting from such Indian land claim; \1\
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\1\ So in original. Probably should be ``claims;''.
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(4) the parties to the lawsuit and others interested in
settlement of Indian land claims within the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts executed a Settlement Agreement which, to become
effective, requires implementing legislation by the Congress of the
United States and the General Court of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts;
(5) the town of Gay Head has agreed to contribute approximately
50 percent of the land involved in this settlement;
(6) the State of Massachusetts has agreed to provide up to
$2,250,000 to be used for the purchase of land to be held in trust
by the Secretary for the use and benefit of the Wampanoag Tribal
Council of Gay Head, Inc.; and
(7) the Secretary has acknowledged the existence of the
Wampanoag Tribal Council of Gay Head, Inc. as an Indian tribe and
Congress hereby ratifies and confirms that existence as an Indian
tribe with a government to government relationship with the United
States.
(Pub. L. 100-95, Sec. 2, Aug. 18, 1987, 101 Stat. 704.)
Effective Date
Section 11 of Pub. L. 100-95 provided that:
``(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), this Act
[enacting this subchapter] shall take effect upon the date of enactment
[Aug. 18, 1987].
``(b) Exception.--Section 4 [25 U.S.C. 1771b] shall take effect upon
the date on which the title of all of the private settlement lands
provided for in this Act to the Wampanoag Tribal Council of Gay Head,
Inc. is transferred. The fact of such transfer, and the date thereof,
shall be certified and recorded by the Secretary of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.''
Short Title
Section 1 of Pub. L. 100-95 provided that: ``This Act [enacting this
subchapter] may be cited as the `Wampanoag Tribal Council of Gay Head,
Inc., Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1987'.''
