The North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act (Act) stands to benefit both the State of North Dakota and the Native American Tribes within the state. Through a series of treaties—including the Fort Laramie Treaties of 1851 and 1868—the United States guaranteed Native American tribes defined territories, protection, and economic support. Although these treaties emphasized tribal land rights, subsequent federal policies such as the General Allotment (Dawes) Act, land sales, and major infrastructure projects significantly reduced tribal landholdings and altered many original commitments.
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