Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025

This bill would settle a long-running land issue at the L’Anse Indian Reservation in Michigan. It would pay the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community $33.9 million for reservation lands the United States took without paying the Community long ago, and the Community would end its claims to those specific lands so current owners have clear, secure property ownership . The goal is to bring justice to the Community and certainty to local landowners without long, costly court fights.

The Department of the Interior would transfer the funds. The Community could use the money for government services, economic development, natural resource protection, or buying land, but not for gaming. The bill also does not create any new gaming land. Claims are settled on the day the payment is received, and funding is authorized for fiscal year 2026 .

• Who is affected: Keweenaw Bay Indian Community; current landowners within the L’Anse Reservation in Baraga County, Michigan; Department of the Interior .
• What changes: $33.9 million payment; Community ends claims to those lands; current owners get clear property ownership; funds can support services, development, resource protection, and land purchases; no gaming uses or new gaming land .
• When: Payment happens once funding is available; claims end the day payment is received; funds are authorized for FY2026 .