Land returns
Land is coming back to Native nations through purchases, transfers and settlements. Each entry describes a return in the words of its sources.
Land returned
Land whose title or trust status changed hands. Settlements such as the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act are different in kind; each page explains what moved and to whom.
- 2026Mechoopda regain 450 acres in Big Chico Creek watershedMechoopda (Maidu), 450 acres
- 2026'O Rew Redwoods Gateway returned to Yurok TribeYurok, 125 acres
- 2026Pamunkey Indian Tribe buys the 13-acre Windsor Shades estatePamunkey, 13 acres
- 2025Houlton Band of Maliseet acquires land near Wilderness PinesHoulton Band of Maliseet Indians, 1,327 acres
- 2025Mi'kmaq Nation Bridgewater parcelMi'kmaq (Wabanaki), 3,400 acres
- 2025Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation regains land bordering YosemiteSouthern Sierra Miwuk, 900 acres
- 2025White Horse Hill returned to Spirit Lake NationSpirit Lake Nation (Dakota), 680 acres
- 2025Tule River Tribe reclaims 17,030 acres in Yowlumne HillsTule River Yokuts, 17,030 acres
- 2025WélmeltiɁ Preserve returned to Washoe TribeWashoe, 10,274 acres
- 2024Cheyenne River Youth Project buys land beside Bear ButteCheyenne River Sioux Tribe (Lakota), 40 acres
- 2022Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center buys Adirondack landHaudenosaunee, 600 acres
- 2022Monument Mountain (Peeskawso Peak) parcel to Stockbridge-MunseeStockbridge-Munsee Community (Mohican), 372 acres
- 2021Blues Beach transfer to Kai Poma (Pomo tribes)Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo; Round Valley Indian Tribes; Coyote Valley Band of Pomo, 136 acres (returned, deed pending)
- 2020National Bison Range restored to CSKTConfederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, 18,800 acres
- 2020Heron's Nest returned to the Duwamish TribeDuwamish (not federally recognized), 3.56 acres
- 2020Adler Ranch (Little Sur River) returned to Esselen TribeEsselen, 1,199 acres
- 2020Elliotsville Foundation returns 735 acres to Penobscot NationPenobscot (Wabanaki), 735 acres
- 2012Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations50+ Tribes, 3,000,000 acres (program ended)
- 2012Pe' Sla returned to the Oceti SakowinOceti Sakowin (Great Sioux Nation): Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, 1,942 acres
- 2002Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary and Yurok Tribal Community ForestYurok, 47,097 acres
- 2000Tuluwat (Duluwat) Island returned to the Wiyot TribeWiyot, 200 acres
- 1989Puyallup Tribe Land Claims SettlementPuyallup
- 1973Menominee restoration to reservation statusMenominee, 200,000 acres
- 1971Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA)Alaska Native peoples (corporate structure), 45,000,000 acres
- 1971NANA Regional Corporation land transfers (Alaska)Inupiat (NANA shareholders), 28,000 acres
- 1906Return of Blue Lake to Taos PuebloTaos Pueblo (Tiwa), 48,000 acres
- Santa Ynez Chumash Camp 4 trust landChumash (Santa Ynez Band), 1,427 acres
Campaigns, programs and claims
Work where the land has not changed hands, or not all of it.
- 2026California goal of 7.5 million acres under tribal stewardshipOngoing program, California tribes
- 2026Siletz Rocky Shores parcel near YachatsUnder way, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
- 2014Native Land Conservancy land holdingsOngoing program, Wampanoag and other southern New England Native communities
- 2012Sogorea Te' Land Trust land returns and Shuumi Land TaxOngoing program, Lisjan Ohlone
- 1970Oneida Indian Nation reacquisition and trust applicationsUnder way, Oneida (Haudenosaunee)
- 1948Fort Reno return campaign (Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes)Blocked, Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes
- 1921Hawaiian Home Lands (Hawaii, distinct legal context)Ongoing program, Native Hawaiians
- 1877Black Hills (He Sapa) claim and LANDBACK Mount Rushmore campaignClaim, not returned, Oceti Sakowin (Sioux Nation)
- California Tribal Nature-Based Solutions land return programOngoing program, California tribes
- Menominee Legend Lake buybacks (Wisconsin Supreme Court)Contested, Menominee
- Miccosukee Tribe land expansion bill (vetoed)Blocked, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida
- Real Rent DuwamishOngoing program, Duwamish
- Right Relationship Boulder Land GroupOngoing program, Arapaho and Cheyenne
- Tributary Land Returns (Wabanaki, Maine)Under way, Houlton Band of Maliseet; Mi'kmaq Nation; Passamaquoddy (Motahkomikuk, Sipayik); Penobscot
- Ute Indian Tribe and Utah trust land disputesContested, Ute Indian Tribe
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