I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 286 
To extend the Federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa 
Indians of Montana, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 12, 2015 
Mr. ZINKE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To extend the Federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe 
of Chippewa Indians of Montana, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Little Shell Tribe of 
Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians 
is a political successor to signatories of the Pembina 
Treaty of 1863, under which a large area of land in 
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the State of North Dakota was ceded to the United 
States; 
(2) the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa of 
North Dakota and the Chippewa-Cree Tribe of the 
Rocky Boy’s Reservation of Montana, which also are 
political successors to the signatories of the Pembina 
Treaty of 1863, have been recognized by the Federal 
Government as distinct Indian tribes; 
(3) the members of the Little Shell Tribe con-
tinue to live in the State of Montana, as their ances-
tors have for more than 100 years since ceding land 
in the State of North Dakota as described in para-
graph (1); 
(4) in the 1930s and 1940s, the Tribe repeat-
edly petitioned the Federal Government for reorga-
nization under the Act of June 18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 
461 et seq.) (commonly known as the ‘‘Indian Reor-
ganization Act’’); 
(5) Federal agents who visited the Tribe and 
Commissioner of Indian Affairs John Collier at-
tested to the responsibility of the Federal Govern-
ment for the Tribe and members of the Tribe, con-
cluding that members of the Tribe are eligible for, 
and should be provided with, trust land, making the 
Tribe eligible for reorganization under the Act of 
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June 18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 461 et seq.) (commonly 
known as the ‘‘Indian Reorganization Act’’); 
(6) due to a lack of Federal appropriations dur-
ing the Depression, the Bureau of Indian Affairs 
lacked adequate financial resources to purchase land 
for the Tribe, and the members of the Tribe were 
denied the opportunity to reorganize; 
(7) in spite of the failure of the Federal Gov-
ernment to appropriate adequate funding to secure 
land for the Tribe as required for reorganization 
under the Act of June 18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 461 et 
seq.) (commonly known as the ‘‘Indian Reorganiza-
tion Act’’), the Tribe continued to exist as a sepa-
rate community, with leaders exhibiting clear polit-
ical authority; 
(8) the Tribe, together with the Turtle Moun-
tain Band of Chippewa of North Dakota and the 
Chippewa-Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy’s Reserva-
tion of Montana, filed 2 lawsuits under the Act of 
August 13, 1946 (60 Stat. 1049) (commonly known 
as the ‘‘Indian Claims Commission Act’’), to petition 
for additional compensation for land ceded to the 
United States under the Pembina Treaty of 1863 
and the McCumber Agreement of 1892; 
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(9) in 1971 and 1982, pursuant to Acts of Con-
gress, the tribes received awards for the claims de-
scribed in paragraph (8); 
(10) in 1978, the Tribe submitted to the Bu-
reau of Indian Affairs a petition for Federal recogni-
tion, which is still pending as of the date of enact-
ment of this Act; and 
(11) the Federal Government, the State of 
Montana, and the other federally recognized Indian 
tribes of the State have had continuous dealings 
with the recognized political leaders of the Tribe 
since the 1930s. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) MEMBER.—The term ‘‘member’’ means an 
individual who is enrolled in the Tribe pursuant to 
section 7. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(3) TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Tribe’’ means the Lit-
tle Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana. 
SEC. 4. FEDERAL RECOGNITION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Federal recognition is extended to 
the Tribe. 
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(b) EFFECT OF FEDERAL LAWS.—Except as other-
wise provided in this Act, all Federal laws (including regu-
lations) of general application to Indians and Indian 
tribes, including the Act of June 18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 461 
et seq.) (commonly known as the ‘‘Indian Reorganization 
Act’’), shall apply to the Tribe and members. 
SEC. 5. FEDERAL SERVICES AND BENEFITS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Tribe and each member shall be eligi-
ble for all services and benefits provided by the United 
States to Indians and federally recognized Indian tribes, 
without regard to— 
(1) the existence of a reservation for the Tribe; 
or 
(2) the location of the residence of any member 
on or near an Indian reservation. 
(b) SERVICE AREA.—For purposes of the delivery of 
services and benefits to members, the service area of the 
Tribe shall be considered to be the area comprised of 
Blaine, Cascade, Glacier, and Hill Counties in the State 
of Montana. 
SEC. 6. REAFFIRMATION OF RIGHTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act diminishes 
any right or privilege of the Tribe or any member that 
existed before the date of enactment of this Act. 
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