What is the Indian Land Consolidation Act?
The Indian Land Consolidation Act (ILCA) is a United States law (Public Law 100-580) passed in 1988. It was created to help Native American tribes in the United States maintain and improve their land bases. The act works by allowing Native American tribes to acquire trust land from individuals, tribes, or organizations who no longer wish to own them. Once acquired, the land is then held in trust by the US government for the benefit of the acquiring tribe. Under the ILCA, the US government ultimately retains the title to all land acquired for consolidation. Rather, land acquisitions are held in trust by the federal government and managed by the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs. Title to the land lies with the government, but the tribe holds the right to use and benefit from the land, as well as to make decisions on how it will be managed and developed. The ILCA was designed to improve tribal access to land resources, help Native American tribes maintain a sustainable land base, and promote economic and social development. The act also seeks to protect Native American tribes’ right to access and use natural resources, while providing a larger economic or cultural base from which to expand. Though the ILCA has been criticized for its limited scope, its overall goal of helping Native American tribes maintain and improve their land base remains intact. In Utah, the ILCA has been used to help various tribes retain ownership of ancestral lands, as well as to acquire additional land for cultural and economic development.
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