S. 550, Public Law 119-114

The law creates a one-year path for the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma to seek compensation or relief over land covered by the 1805 Treaty of Grouseland, despite normal time limits.

What the law does ​

• Allows the United States Court of Federal Claims to decide the Tribe’s Treaty of Grouseland land claim.
• Removes statutes of limitations and delay-based defenses for that claim.
• Requires the Tribe to file within one year of enactment.
• Extinguishes all other current and future Illinois land claims by the Tribe and related persons.

Who it affects ​

• The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.
• Tribal members, descendants, and predecessors in interest with potential Illinois land claims.
• The United States Court of Federal Claims.

Breakdown ​

To provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes. ​

This law allows the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma to bring a claim in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims concerning Illinois land covered by the 1805 Treaty of Grouseland, even if time limits or delay-based defenses would otherwise block it. The Tribe must file within one year of the law’s enactment, and all other Illinois land claims by the Tribe and related persons are ended.

Key takeaways

• The U.S. Court of Federal Claims may decide the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma’s land claim under the 1805 Treaty of Grouseland.
• Statutes of limitations and defenses based on delay do not apply to this claim.
• The Tribe must file the claim within one year after enactment or the court’s special authority expires.
• All other current and future claims to Illinois land by the Tribe, its members, descendants, or predecessors in interest are extinguished.