Public Law 92–557

That the funds appropriated by the Act of January 8, 1971 (84 Stat. 1981), to pay a judgment to the Assiniboine Tribes of the Fort Peck and Fort Belknap Reservations, Montana, in Indian Claims Commission docket numbered 279–A, together with interest thereon, after payment of attorney fees and litigation expenses, shall be divided by the Secretary of the Interior on the basis of 50 per centum to the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort Peck Reservation and 50 per centum to the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort Belknap Reservation.

Sec. 2.

The share of the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort Peek Reservation,

Per capita shares, eligibility.

after deducting $50,000 to be used as provided in section 3 of this Act, and after deducting the estimated costs of distribution and all other appropriate expenses, shall be distributed per capita to each person born on or before, and living on, the date of this Act who is a citizen of the United States, is duly enrolled on the approved roll of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation, and is of Assiniboine lineal descent: Provided, That persons in the following categories shall not be eligible to receive a per capita payment: (a) persons who possess a greater degree of Fort Peck Sioux blood than Fort Peck Assiniboine blood, (b) persons who possess equal degrees of Fort Peek Assiniboine and Fort Peck Sioux blood and who elect to be enrolled as Sioux, and (c) persons who participated, or were eligible to participate, in the distribution of funds under the provisions of the Act of June 19, 1970 (84 Stat. 313), for the disposition of the judgment

25 USC 1201–1205.

of the Sioux Tribe of the Fort Peck Reservation hr docket numbered 279–A.

Sec. 3.

Upon agreement, by the Fort Peck Assiniboine Tribe and the

Certain salaries and expenses, payment.

Fort Peck Sioux Tribe on the amount each agrees to contribute from the award to each tribe in Indian Claims Commission docket numbered 279–A, the agreed contribution of the Fort Peck Assiniboine Tribe shall be withdrawn from the $50,000, and interest thereon, with-held from per capita distribution pursuant to section 2 of this Act, and shall be credited to the joint account for expenditure pursuant to the Act of June 29, 1954 (68 Stat. 329): Provided, That upon request, of the Fort Peck Assiniboine Tribe the Secretary of the Interior in his discretion may distribute all or part of the aforesaid $50,000 and interest thereon per capita to each person eligible under section 2 of this Act.

Sec. 4.

The share of the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort Belknap Reservation,

Per capita shares, eiiglbility.

after deducting $100,000 to be used as provided in section 5, and after deducting the estimated costs of distribution and all other appropriate expenses, shall be distributed per capita to each person born on or before, and living on the date of this Act who is a citizen of the United States, is duly enrolled on the approved roll of the organized Fort Belknap Community, and is of Assiniboine lineal descent: Provided, That persons in the following categories shall not be eligible to receive a per capita payment: (a) persons who possess a greater degree of Gros Ventre, blood than Assiniboine blood, (b) persons who possess equal degrees of Fort Belknap Assiniboine and Fort Peck Gros Ventre blood and who elect to be enrolled as Gros Ventre, and (c) per-sons who participated, or were eligible to participate, in the

Ante, p. 64.

distribution of funds under the Act of March 18, 1972 (Public Law 92–254), for the disposition of the judgment of the Blackfeet Tribe and the Gros Ventre Tribe hi Indian Claims Commission docket numbered 279–A.

Sec. 5.

The $100,000 withheld from distribution under section 4, and interest thereon, may be used for any purpose authorized by the Assiniboine Treaty Committee of the Fort Belknap Assiniboine Tribe and approved by the Secretary of the Interior, including contributions to Reservation community projects and further per capita distribution.

Sec. 6.

The per capita shares shall be determined on the basis of the number of persons eligible for per capitas and the number of persons rejected for per capitas who have taken a timely appeal. The shares of those persons whose appeals are denied shall revert to the tribe from whose share the per capita would have been paid, to be expended for any purpose designated by such tribe and approved by the Secretary.

Sec. 7.

None of the funds distributed per capita under the provisions

Minors, protection of interests.

of this Act shall be subject to Federal or State income taxes. Sums pay-able to persons under eighteen years of age or under legal disability shall be paid in accordance with such procedures, including the establishment of trusts, as the Secretary determines will protect the best interests of such persons.

Sec. 8.

The Secretary is authorized to prescribe rules and regulations to effect the provisions of this Act, including the establishment of deadlines.