An act to provide for the use and distribution of funds to the Wyandot Tribe of Indians in docket 139 before the Indian Claims Commission and docket 141 before the United States Court of Claims, and for other purposes.
PL 97-371 (H.R.6403), enacted 12/20/1982

PUBLIC LAW 97-371—DEC. 20, 1982 
96 STAT. 1813 
Public Law 97-371 
97th Congress 
An Act 
To provide for the use and distribution of funds to the Wyandot Tribe of Indians in 
docket 139 before the Indian Claims Commission and docket 141 before the United 
States Court of Claims, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That, notwithstand-
ing any other provision of law, the funds appropriated on October 
31, 1978, and March 2, 1979, in accordance with section 1302 of the 
Supplemental Appropriation Act (31 U.S.C. 724A), in satisfaction of 
judgments granted to the Wyandot (hereinafter "Wyandotte") Tribe 
in docket 139 by the Indian Claims Commission and in docket 141 by 
the United States Court of Claims, less attorney fees and litigation 
expenses, including all interest and investment income accrued, 
shall be used and distributed as herein provided. 
SEC. 2, The Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter "Secretary") 
shall divide the funds between the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma 
and the absentee Wyandotte descendants as follows: 
308/510ths to the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma; and 
202/510ths to the absentee Wyandotte descendants. 
SEC. 3. The Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma's share shall be distrib-
uted as follows: 
(a) A roll shall be prepared, in accordance with the procedures 
enacted by the tribal government body and approved by the 
Secretary, of all members of the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma 
who were born on or prior to and living on the date of this Act. 
Subsequent to the preparation of this roll, the Secretary shall 
make a per capita distribution of 80 per centum of the Wyan-
dotte Tribe of Oklahoma's share of the funds, in a sum as equal 
as possible, to all persons listed on this roll. Any amount 
remaining after the per capita payment shall be utilized as 
provided in section 30t)X2)(iii) of this Act. 
(b) The remaining 20 per centum shall be utilized as follows: 
(1) A sum of $100,000 shall be utilized to purchase land 
for the tribe to be held in trust status by the Secretary. 
(2) The balance shall be invested by the Secretary, pursu-
ant to the Act of June 24,1938 (25 U.S.C. 162a). The interest 
and investment income accrued shall be immediately avail-
able to the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma upon the 
approval of the Secretary of the tribe's plan of operation 
and budget as set forth in Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma 
Resolution Numbered 9479, adopted September 4, 1979, as 
follows: 
(i) 33% per centum shall be utilized toward the 
upkeep and maintenance of the Wyandotte Cultural 
Center and other sites as may in the future be devel-
oped by the tribe. 
(ii) 33 V
a per centum shall be utilized for the upkeep 
and maintenance of the Wyandotte Tribal Cemetery at 
Wyandotte, Oklahoma. 
Dec. 20, 1982 
[H.R. 6403] 
Wyandot Tribe 
of Indians of 
Oklahoma. 
Distribution and 
use of funds. 
Ante, p. 917. 
31 u s e 1304. 
Ante, p. 1062. 
39 u s e 409. 
Ancestry roll. 
96 STAT. 1814 
PUBLIC LAW 97-371—DEC. 20,1982 
Ancestry roll. 
Per capita 
payments. 
Tax exemption. 
42 u s e 1305. 
Rules and 
regulations. 
(iii) 33 V
a per centum shall be placed in the custody of 
the secretary/treasurer of the tribe and, with the 
approval of the Business Committee of the Wyandotte 
Tribe of Oklahoma, utilized for the administration of 
the tribe: Provided, That none of these funds be 
expended for salaries. 
SEC. 4. A roll shall be prepared by the Secretary of persons: not 
members of the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma, on, or lineally 
descended from persons on, the "Census of Absentee or Citizen 
Wyandotte Indians" compiled by Joel T. Olive, dated November 18, 
1896, as corrected in circular of October 28,1904, by W. A. Richards, 
Commissioner of the General Land Office; and born on or prior to 
and living on the date of this Act. The Secretary's determination 
concerning eligibility for inclusion on this roll shall be final. Subse-
quent to the preparation of this roll, the Secretary shall make a per 
capita distribution, of the absentee Wyandotte's shares, in a sum as 
equal as possible, to all persons listed on this roll. 
SEC. 5. The per capita shares of living competent adults shall be 
paid directly to them. Per capita shares of deceased individual 
beneficiaries shall be determined as distributed pursuant to regula-
tions prescribed by the Secretary. Per capita shares of legal incom-
petents and per capita shares of individuals under age eighteen 
shall be paid in accordance with such procedures, including the 
establishment of trusts, as the Secretary determines to be necessary 
to protect the interests of such individuals. 
SEC. 6. None of the funds distributed under this Act shall be 
subject to Federal or State income taxes or be considered income or 
resources in determining eligibility for or the amount of assistance 
under the Social Security Act. 
SEC. 7. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to prescribe 
rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
Approved December 20, 1982. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 6403: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 97-819 (Coram, on Interior and Insular Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 128 (1982): 
Sept. 29, considered and passed House. 
Dec. 8, considered and passed Senate.