New Report Now Available
Exercising Sovereignty and Expanding Economic Opportunity Through Tribal Land Management:
A Study Addressing the Range of Options to Expedite Land Title Processing on Indian Lands
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Policy Research Center, through a joint project with First Nations Development Institute, and funded by NeighborWorks America and Stewart Title, recently released a report entitled, Exercising Sovereignty and Expanding Economic Opportunity Through Tribal Land Management. The new report provides first-of-its-kind analysis of the experience of tribes seeking to expedite the processing of land title on Indian lands including an examination of the significant obstacles to homeownership strategies for Native communities, the experiences of five tribes that are managing aspects of the land title process in their communities, findings from a site visit and in-depth interview at BIA regional offices, and conclusions and specific recommendations about the future of land title processing on Indian lands. The data in the report supports a number of conclusions:
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Tribal Land Title and Records Offices (LTROs) have had positive impacts on their communities.
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The BIA does not provide tribal LTROs with sufficient funds for setup and operation.
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Tribes that lack the resources to pay for the LTRO transition need alternative ways to manage LTRO functions.
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Creative alternatives for establishing tribal LTROs may exist and should be developed.
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Related policies can expedite the ultimate goal of expanded tribal homeownership.
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The BIA needs to clarify and standardize their land management processes.
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Additional tribal LTRO pilot sites will likely enhance existing and future policy.
