Copyright © 2006 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved
News from the Cherokee Nation, OK
Copyright © 2006 CNO
TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – Cherokee Nation’s Real Estate Services and Natural Resources departments held a public bid opening recently to begin a new five-year cycle of agricultural leasing of lands held by the Cherokee Nation in trust or fee status. The tribe will receive approximately $1.5 million, all of which goes into its general fund, through land leases over the next five years in the new cycle that begins January 1, 2007.
Representatives of the Cherokee Nation’s Real Estate Services and Natural Resources departments. (L to R) Standing are Butch Garner and Joel Bean. Sitting are Sue Switzer and Linda Donelson. 
“Leasing tribal land has multiple benefits for the Cherokee Nation,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “First, the land is owned by the tribe, and any money that accrues from its use directly benefits tribal citizens since lease monies go into the tribe’s general fund. Second, tribal citizens can bid for the right to use the land for agricultural purposes, which helps them earn a living. So either way, the lease process works to benefit all Cherokee citizens and helps us remain good stewards of our own land.”
As a result of this year’s bidding process, the Cherokee Nation leased 16,561.25 acres, divided into 90 units of land, in Adair, Cherokee, Craig, Delaware, Mayes, Muskogee and Sequoyah counties. Available land units ranged in size from six acres to 1,122 acres, with an average unit size of about 170 acres.
“We had an exceptional turnout for the reading of the bids. Bidders were complimentary of the bid process,” said Linda Donelson, Director of Real Estate Services.
The new bid cycle began with the mailing of bid packets to those individuals who already lease property from the Cherokee Nation or those who have asked to be put on the bid list within the last five years. Public notices were also published in newspapers and posted in sale barns in those areas in which land was up for bid.
Successful bidders were notified by letter of their success and must pay an administrative lease fee by April 6 to acknowledge acceptance of their successful bid with Cherokee Nation. The first annual lease payment must be paid by December 1, 2006, with the new lease cycle beginning January 1, 2007.
The total amount of all bids placed for the first year in this new five-year cycle is anticipated to be over $302,000, a 30 percent increase over the bidding held five years ago. The five-year total equals the $1.5 million that will go into the tribe’s general fund.
Butch Garner of Cherokee Nation Natural Resources attributed this year’s financial increase to a number of factors, including better promotion and advertising of the lease bidding process on the part of the Cherokee Nation, which in turn led to increased competition among area ranchers and farmers.
In addition, Garner said that the Cherokee Nation continually improves the lands it leases, such as repairing or replacing fences, keeping ponds in good repair and spraying all grazing units through the Noxious Weeds Program to kill weeds, which increases the quality and quantity of grasses.
With this new lease cycle, some new rules will be in place. Lessees cannot use chicken litter anywhere on their units. They must also remove all animal carcasses from their units within five days of discovery, all hay string from large bales when feeding, any unusable feed and mineral troughs and all farming equipment when hay season is over.
“Take care of the land, and it will take care of you,” said Garner, adding that those leasing the units should desire to be good stewards of the land.
Tribal lands are leased to area farmers and ranchers to generate the maximum possible return for the Cherokee Nation. Leasing also gives the greatest number of tribal citizens the opportunity to pursue agricultural occupations.
The Cherokee Nation’s next public bid opening occurs at the end of 2007, when the tribe’s Chilocco lands will be up for lease again.
Tribal lands put up for lease have been acquired by the Cherokee Nation through donations, court cases, purchases and federal acts, including the IRA Resettlement Act of 1934; Title II of the National Industrial Recovery Act of June 16, 1933; the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of April 8, 1935; and Section 55 of the Act of August 24, 1935.
For more information on Cherokee Nation land leases and the bidding process, call Linda Donelson, Director of Real Estate Services, phone: 918-453-5236; or Angela Drewes, Director of Natural Resources, phone: 918-453-5340.
| Related Cherokee Nation contact information: |
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Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org
Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager |
Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org
Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation |