What is the Indian Land Consolidation Act?

The Indian Land Consolidation Act (ILCA) is a law passed in New York State in 1983, that seeks to allow Native American tribes to purchase and exchange land for the purpose of consolidating tribal land holdings. The law addresses the historically fragmented nature of Native American land ownership in New York and seeks to facilitate the economic development of those lands. The legislation allows for the sale or exchange of tribal trust lands, fee lands, or tribal-owned lands that may have been acquired through the Indian Claims Commission or other federal laws. The Act also allows tribal councils and the Department of the Interior to enter into agreements to purchase, exchange, or redistribute lands within a tribal reservation if it is deemed to be in the best interests of the tribe and its members. The ILCA also provides the tribes with a mechanism to assess the fair market value of the tribal lands to be sold or exchanged, and requires the Secretary of the Interior to approve all transactions before they can take place. The primary purpose of the ILCA is to help Native Americans strengthen their land base and create more land for economic development, as well as provide housing and other essential services. In addition to strengthening the tribes’ economy, the ILCA also provides the opportunity for members of the tribes to reclaim and protect their ancestral homelands.

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