“Reform the legal mechanisms related to recapturing physical, cultural, and economic assets for Indian people and strengthening sovereignty of Indian land.”
Some of the most crippling systemic barriers to Indian land use and control—fractionated ownership, checkerboarding, abuse of the federal trust relationship—are due to the complex and unjust regulations, court rulings and laws involving Indian land. Some of the most shortsighted, racist and damaging federal Indian policies, such as the policy of allotment, were devised in the 1800s—a time when most people believed that Native Americans would either disappear or assimilate into American society. Many of these policies, and their devastating effects on Indian people, still remain today.
Funding Areas
Estate Planning and Probate
ILTF supports estate and land use planning initiatives addressing the growing problem of fractionated ownership on reservations throughout Indian Country. Funding opportunities include projects that address such issues as the probate process, land consolidation, will writing, gift conveyance, rights of way and leasing.
RFP Currently Closed
Federal Land Transfers
ILTF supports innovative initiatives designed to transfer lands back into Indian ownership and control. This includes lands currently identified for transfer or disposal as federally-owned excess and surplus land, as well as other federal lands that are important to the cultural, economic or political priorities of an Indian nation. This funding does not include the purchase of lands.
RFP Currently Closed
Landowner Association Development
ILTF provides funding for development of landowner associations that create a user-friendly environment to tribal members addressing issues such as consolidation, leasing, estate planning, or other uses of their allotted lands. In working with the tribe and BIA, associations are able to provide a forum to assist individual owners of an allotment with the information and skills necessary to make informed decisions concerning their allotments.
RFP Currently Closed
Legal Land Issue Reform
ILTF supports innovative projects that address issues surrounding laws and policies at the tribal, state or federal level of government that prevent Indian people and nations from owning and controlling their Native lands. These reform efforts should be led and managed by a single or group of Indian nations and may include collaborations with organizations such as a state Indian bar association, other expert organizations or individuals.
RFP Currently Closed
Tribe-hosted Information Sessions for Local, State and Federal Governments
ILTF supports Indian nations to host gatherings of local, state or federal elected leaders for discussions centered on Indian land tenure issues including advocacy directed at educating state and federal officials. The activities and goals should enhance or improve tribal sovereignty and make substantive progress towards resolving misunderstandings and conflicts.
RFP Currently Closed
Share an Idea
ILTF remains open to unique and innovative projects from the community that serve to enlighten our strategies (education, cultural awareness, economic opportunity and legal reform) and have a significant impact on land issues in Indian Country. Consideration is given to projects with a broad, positive and replicable impact for Indian nations, while at the same time respecting the differences among, and unique circumstances of, Indian communities.
Share an idea
