Issues Relating to Leases on Native American Reservations
Issues Relating to Leases on Native American Reservations Issues Relating to Leases on Native American Reservations
Speaker 17: Don J. Miner of Fennemore Craig P.C. Page 8 a. 25 U.S.C. § 415(a) regulates leases for general business purposes, such as commercial development. This section applies
Speaker 17: Don J. Miner of Fennemore Craig P.C. Page 9 Indian Tribe of Oklahoma, 532 U.S. 411 (2001). Some tribes, such as the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Community, have lobbied for and obtained a congressional amendment
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Speaker 17: D<strong>on</strong> J. Miner of Fennemore Craig P.C. Page 8<br />
a. 25 U.S.C. § 415(a) regulates leases for general<br />
business purposes, such as commercial development. This secti<strong>on</strong> applies <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> "[a]ny<br />
restricted <strong>Native</strong> <strong>American</strong> lands, whether tribally, or individually owned…" and<br />
provides that restricted land may be leased by the Indian owners for "public,<br />
religious, educati<strong>on</strong>al, recreati<strong>on</strong>al, residential, or business purposes.." for limited<br />
durati<strong>on</strong>s of time. The durati<strong>on</strong> of such leases is generally limited <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> a maximum of<br />
50 years. Id.<br />
(i)<br />
Initial lease term "not <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> exceed 25 years". Id.<br />
(ii) Lease may include provisi<strong>on</strong>s authorizing renewal<br />
for "<strong>on</strong>e additi<strong>on</strong>al term not <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> exceed 25 years". Id (emphasis added).<br />
(iii) Specific tribes are exempt from the 25 year<br />
restricti<strong>on</strong> and may enter in<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> leases for a term "not <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> exceed 99 years" (e.g. Salt River,<br />
Pima- Maricopa, San Carlos Apache Reservati<strong>on</strong>, Yavapai-Prescott, Gila River<br />
Reservati<strong>on</strong>). Id.<br />
(iv) With respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> lands for which the lease term may<br />
extend for up <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> 99 years, however, if the initial lease term extends for more than 74<br />
years, it may not be renewed. Id.<br />
3. Tribal Sovereignty & Dispute Resoluti<strong>on</strong><br />
a. Waiver of Immunity Required: Tribes possess<br />
comm<strong>on</strong> law immunity from suit similar <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> that traditi<strong>on</strong>ally enjoyed by sovereign<br />
powers. Santa Clara Pueblo v. Martinez, 436 U.S. 49, 58 (1978). Absent an<br />
express and unequivocal waiver of immunity by the tribe or C<strong>on</strong>gress, a <strong>Native</strong><br />
<strong>American</strong> Indian tribe cannot be sued in federal, state or tribal courts. Id. Under<br />
certain circumstances, a <strong>Native</strong> <strong>American</strong> tribe may be deemed <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> have waived its<br />
sovereign immunity from suit in state courts by both agreeing in a lease or<br />
agreement <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> submit certain claims <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> arbitrati<strong>on</strong> and also by including a choice of<br />
law provisi<strong>on</strong> designating which court shall have jurisdicti<strong>on</strong> over the proceedings<br />
and enforcement of the award. C & L Enterprises v. Citizen Band Potawa<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>mi<br />
Law Seminars Internati<strong>on</strong>al | Commercial Real Estate <str<strong>on</strong>g>Leases</str<strong>on</strong>g> | 4/24/07<br />
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