Umatilla tribe gets 4,000 acres in buy-back program

PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) – The Umatilla tribal government in eastern Oregon has already purchased more than 4,000 acres of fractionated land as part of the federal government’s efforts to buy back and consolidate Native American land holdings splintered by 19th century acts of Congress.

The East Oregonian reports the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation has spent $4.16 million buying up “fractionated” tracts.

The tracts were “fractionated” after being allotted to individual tribal members. Legislation required ownership to be divided equally among heirs, meaning ever larger numbers of people owned ever smaller shares of the property as generations passed.

Land bought back by the tribes can be used for housing, cemeteries, farming, wildlife areas or other benefits across the reservation.

The second wave of appraisals is expected to be approved next year.