What is the Indian Claims Commission?
The Indian Claims Commission (ICC) is a federal agency established by Congress in 1946 to provide American Indians with a way to settle disputes over land claims with the United States government. The ICC is tasked with determining whether Native American tribes have valid claims to land and awards compensation to tribes for lands taken by the government. The Commission works to ensure that tribal governments receive fair compensation for lands taken, either through negotiated settlements or through court-awarded damage awards. The ICC also hears evidence regarding historical wrongs and injustices committed against Native American tribes by the United States government, and has the authority to recommend remedies for those wrongs. In Oklahoma, the Indian Claims Commission is especially important, as the state has a large Native American population. In fact, the Oklahoma Indian Claims Settlement Act was passed in 1973 as a result of the action of the Indian Claims Commission. This act created a system of compensation for tribes located within the state who had lost land due to the actions of the United States government. Tribal nations are still actively pursuing claims with the Indian Claims Commission today. In Oklahoma, tribes continue to press for compensation for lands taken, as well as for other wrongs and injustices that the United States government has committed. As a result, the ICC continues to serve as an important source of justice for Native American tribes in Oklahoma.
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