§ 677a TITLE 25—INDIANS Page 272

SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS

This section is referred to in section 676b of this title.

§ 677a. Definitions

For the purposes of this subchapter—

(a) ‘‘Tribe’’ means the Ute Indian Tribe of the

Uintah and Ouray Reservation, Utah.

(b) ‘‘Full-blood’’ means a member of the tribe

who possesses one-half degree of Ute Indian

blood and a total of Indian blood in excess of

one-half, excepting those who become mixedbloods by choice under the provisions of section

677c of this title.

(c) ‘‘Mixed-blood’’ means a member of the

tribe who does not possess sufficient Indian or

Ute Indian blood to fall within the full-blood

class as herein defined, and those who become

mixed-bloods by choice under the provisions of

section 677c of this title.

(d) ‘‘Secretary’’ means Secretary of the Interior.

(e) ‘‘Superintendent’’ means the Superintendent of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, Utah.

(f) ‘‘Asset’’ means any property of the tribe,

real, personal or mixed, whether held by the

tribe or by the United States in trust for the

tribe, or subject to a restriction against alienation imposed by the United States.

(g) ‘‘Adult’’ means a member of the tribe who

has attained the age of twenty-one years.

(Aug. 27, 1954, ch. 1009, §2, 68 Stat. 868.)

§ 677b. Method of determining Ute Indian blood

For the purposes of this subchapter Ute Indian

blood shall be determined in accordance with

the constitution and bylaws of the tribe and all

tribal ordinances in force and effect on August

27, 1954.

(Aug. 27, 1954, ch. 1009, §3, 68 Stat. 868.)

§ 677c. Transfer of members from full-blood roll

to mixed-blood group; time; certification by

Secretary

Any member of the tribe whose name appears

on the proposed roll of full-blood members as

provided in section 677g of this title and any person whose name is added to such proposed roll as

the result of an appeal to the Secretary may

apply to the Superintendent to become identified with and a part of the mixed-blood group:

Provided, That such application is made within

thirty days subsequent to the publication of

such proposed roll or in the event of an appeal

within thirty days subsequent to notification of

the decision on said appeal: And provided further,

That before such transfer is made upon the official rolls the Secretary shall first certify that,

in his opinion, such change in status is not detrimental to the best interest of the person seeking such change.

(Aug. 27, 1954, ch. 1009, §4, 68 Stat. 868.)

SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS

This section is referred to in sections 677a, 677g of

this title.

§ 677d. Restriction of tribe to full-blood members

after publication of final rolls; non-interest

of mixed-blood members; new membership

Effective on the date of publication of the

final rolls as provided in section 677g of this

title the tribe shall thereafter consist exclusively of full-blood members. Mixed-blood members shall have no interest therein except as

otherwise provided in this subchapter. New

membership in the tribe shall thereafter be controlled and determined by the constitution and

bylaws of the tribe and ordinances enacted

thereunder.

(Aug. 27, 1954, ch. 1009, §5, 68 Stat. 868; Aug. 2,

1956, ch. 880, §1, 70 Stat. 936.)

AMENDMENTS

1956—Act Aug. 2, 1956, provided for control and determination of new membership in the tribe in accordance

with the constitution and bylaws of the tribe and ordinances enacted thereunder.

§ 677e. Organization of mixed-blood members;

constitution and bylaws; representatives; actions in absence of organization

The mixed-blood members of the tribe, including those residing on and off the reservation,

shall have the right to organize for their common welfare, and may adopt an appropriate constitution and bylaws which shall become effective when ratified by a majority vote of the

adult mixed-blood members of the tribe at a special election authorized and called by the Secretary under such rules and regulations as he

may prescribe. Such constitution may provide

for the selection of authorized representatives

who shall have power to take any action that is

required by this subchapter to be taken by the

mixed-blood members as a group: Provided, That

nothing herein contained shall be construed as

requiring said mixed-blood Indians to so organize if such organization is by them deemed unnecessary. In the event no such approved organization is effected, any action taken by the adult

mixed-blood members, by majority vote, whether in public meeting or by referendum, but in either event, after such notice as may be prescribed by the Secretary, shall be binding upon

said mixed-blood members of the tribe for the

purposes of this subchapter.

(Aug. 27, 1954, ch. 1009, §6, 68 Stat. 868.)

§ 677f. Employment of legal counsel for mixedblood members; fees

The mixed-blood members of the tribe as a

group may employ legal counsel to accomplish

the legal work required on behalf of said group

under the terms of this subchapter, and for any

other purpose by them deemed necessary or desirable; the choice of counsel and fixing of fees

to be subject to the approval of the Secretary

until Federal supervision over all of the members of said group and their property is terminated in the manner provided in section 677o of

this title.

(Aug. 27, 1954, ch. 1009, §7, 68 Stat. 869.)

§ 677g. Membership rolls of full-blood and mixedblood members; preparation and initial publication; appeal from inclusion or omission

from rolls; finality of determination; final

publication; inheritable interest; future membership

The tribe shall have a period of thirty days

from August 27, 1954 in which to prepare and