
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 25USC973]

 
                            TITLE 25--INDIANS
 
                        CHAPTER 14--MISCELLANEOUS
 
    SUBCHAPTER XLVI--PONCA TRIBE OF NEBRASKA: TERMINATION OF FEDERAL 
                               SUPERVISION
 
Sec. 973. Distribution of assets


(a) Tribal assets; time limitation

    All property of the United States used for the benefit of the Ponca 
Tribe of Native Americans of Nebraska is declared to be a part of the 
assets of the tribe, and all of the tribe's assets shall be distributed 
in accordance with the provisions of this section. The distribution 
shall be completed within three years from September 5, 1962, or as soon 
thereafter as practicable.

(b) Designation of property for church, park, playground, or cemetery

    The tribe shall designate any part of the tribe's property that is 
to be set aside for church, park, playground, or cemetery purposes, and 
the Secretary is authorized to convey such property to trustees or 
agencies designated by the tribe for that purpose and approved by the 
Secretary.

(c) Homesites; market value; improvements

    Each member may select for homesite purposes and receive title to 
not to exceed five acres of tribal land that is being used for homesite 
purposes by such member. The member shall pay the current market value 
of the homesite selection excluding any improvements or repairs 
constructed by such member, his wife, children, or ancestor, as 
determined by the Secretary of the Interior.

(d) Sale of assets not selected; bidding

    All assets of the tribe that are not selected and conveyed to 
members shall be sold by competitive bid at not less than the current 
market value, and any member shall have the right to purchase property 
offered for sale for a price not less than the highest acceptable bid 
therefor. If more than one member exercises such right, the property 
shall be sold to the member exercising the right who offers the highest 
price.

(e) Proceeds and tribal funds for payment of tribal debts; distributive 
        share; set off; member purchases of tribal property

    The net proceeds of all sales of tribal property, and all other 
tribal funds, shall be used to pay, as authorized by the Secretary, any 
debts of the tribe. The remainder of such proceeds and funds shall be 
divided equally among the members whose names are on the final roll, or 
their heirs or legatees. Any debt owed by a member, heir, or legatee to 
the tribe or to the United States may be set off as authorized by the 
Secretary against the distributive share of such person. Any member of 
the tribe who purchases tribal property in accordance with this section 
may apply on the purchase price his share of the proceeds of all sales 
of tribal property, and the Secretary of the Interior shall adopt sales 
procedures that permit such action.

(Pub. L. 87-629, Sec. 3, Sept. 5, 1962, 76 Stat. 429.)

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 971 of this title.
