Washington : Government Printing Office
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| Public Law 90-424 | Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Mont. Minerals grant. |
| Public Law 90-424 | 70 Stat. 774. 25 U S C 396a-396g. |
| Public Law 90-424 | 425 |
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 3 of the
Act of June 3, 1926 (44 Stat. 690), as amended by the Act of July 24, 1947 (61 Stat. 418), and the Act of September 22, 1961 (75 Stat. 586), is hereby amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 3. (a) The coal or other minerals, including oil, gas, and other natural deposits, on said reservation are hereby reserved in perpetuity for the benefit of the tribe and may be leased with the consent of the Indian council for mining purposes in accordance with the provisions of mn3 the Act of May 11, 1938 (52 Stat. 347; 25 U.S.C. 396a-f), under such rules, regulations, and conditions as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe.
"(b) The unallotted lands of said tribe of Indians shall be held in common, subject to the control and management thereof as Congress may deem expedient for the benefit of said Indians."
The Northern Cheyenne Tribe is authorized to commence in the United States District Court for the District of Montana an action against the allottees who received allotments pursuant to the Act of June 3, 1926, as amended, their heirs or devisees, either individually or as a class, to determine whether under the provisions of the Act of June 3, 1926, as amended, the allottees, their heirs or devisees, have received a vested property right in the minerals which is protected by the fifth amendment. The United States District Court for the District of Montana shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine the action and an appeal from its judgment may be taken as provided by law. If the court determines that the allottees, their heirs or devisees, have a vested interest in the minerals which is protected by the fifth amendment, or if the tribe does not commence an action as here authorized within two years from the date of this Act, the first section of this Act shall cease to have any force or effect, and the provisions of section 3 of the Act of June 3, 1926, as amended by the Acts of July 24, 1947, and September 21,1961, shall thereupon be carried out as fully as if section 3 had not been amended by this Act.
Approved, July 24, 1968.
