Show I 1 11 1 I 1 Warning Given On Use of t IS ill tan all s With the approaching growing and crop season dent M L Schwartz of the Uintah and Ouray Agency Mon day reminded all local farmers ranchers and other operators in inthe inthe the area that use of trust In than dian lands without benefit of an approved lease is In violation of the United States Code of Fed Fed- Federal ed eral Regulations This applies whether the land landis landis is owned by one or a group of Indian people or by the Ute Indian Tribe Approval of leas leas leas- leases es has been delegated from the Secretary of the Interior to the Superintendent INDIVIDUAL enrolled In In- In Indians do not have authority to lease lands held in trust for them outside or independent of the Agency If there is such an agreement between Indian own ers ere and local operators whether er verbal or In writing it is absolutely of no effect and of of- of offers fers no protection whatsoever to the user He is without recourse in seeking assistance that prescribed bed regulations might afford him Anyone who is willfully and using Indian lands without having first con con- contacted the Agency office and andI I having been delivered a copy of an approved lease is a state of trespass Livestock improvements or crops found thereon are liable to confiscation and the owner t to prosecution because of the m Ill Ill- Illegal egal entry on to trust property Supt Schwartz said THE BUREAU as a trustee has the responsibility to see that the owner receives at least the minimum fair rental as deter mined by appraisal and that ir ir- ir irrigation operation and ante ance charges are paid and reo re- receipted This can only be assur ed when legal for forthe forthe the land use are made through real property management per It also assures that all own ers era of a particular tract and this often orten ranges from three or four to over 20 actually receive their rightful share of the rent rent- rental al al A lease will be written fol fol- following lowing receipt of an offer or orbid orbid bid from an interested party or after the terms have been negotiated and arranged do be half of the Indian owner with the prospective lessee If there are no restrictions on his funds it is possible that rentals may maybe maybe be paid directly to him if the approved Bureau lease s so pro vides the superintendent said If there are non Indian oper who are leasing or us us- us using ing lands assigned by the Ute Indian Tribe to an individual en rolled member such agreements are likewise of no no effect The lands are actually owned by the Ute Indian Tribe but butin butin in accordance with the Tribes Tribe's constitution and by laws are assigned for the members member's personal use It does not give him the right to ask or hire a anon non Indian non Indian to it for him UNLAWFUL combination or intimidation of bidders for pur pur- pur purchase chase of lands is punishable by fines up to 1000 or imprison imprison- imprisonment ment according to the United States Code It is also unlawful to induce an Indian to exe exe- exe execute cute a contract deed mortgage or other instrument of trust land or to offer any such in in- in instrument strument for recording in county records Mr Schwartz strongly reemphasizes to any user of Indian Indianland Indianland land that only through a bona bona- bonafide fide approved lease permit or right of way can he be assured of the protection of law for his investment in moneys paid out or labor extended There is considerable trust Indian acreage available for lease and interested parties are urged to contact Agency per per- personnel Longer term leases can be arranged where substantial improvements and development of the land warrant it he dis dis- dis dosed closed |