[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 200 (Thursday, December 22, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H10009-H10010]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
KATIMIIN AND AMEEKYAARAAM SACRED LANDS ACT
Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S. 4439) to take certain Federal land located in Siskiyou County,
California, and Humboldt County, California, into trust for the benefit
of the Karuk Tribe, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 4439
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Katimiin and Ameekyaaraam
Sacred Lands Act''.
SEC. 2. LAND HELD IN TRUST FOR THE KARUK TRIBE.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) the Katimiin and Ameekyaaraam land is located in the
ancestral territory of the Karuk Tribe; and
(2) the Karuk Tribe has historically used, and has an
ongoing relationship with, the Katimiin and Ameekyaaraam
land.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Katimiin and ameekyaaraam land.--The term ``Katimiin
and Ameekyaaraam land'' means the approximately 1,031 acres
of Federal land, including improvements and appurtenances to
the Federal land, located in Siskiyou County, California, and
Humboldt County, California, and generally depicted as
``Proposed Area'' on the map of the Forest Service entitled
``Katimiin Area Boundary Proposal'' and dated August 9, 2021.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(c) Administrative Transfer.--Administrative jurisdiction
of the Katimiin and Ameekyaaraam land is hereby transferred
from the Secretary of Agriculture to the Secretary, subject
to the condition that the Chief of the Forest Service shall
continue to manage the component of the National Wild and
Scenic Rivers System that flows through the Katimiin and
Ameekyaaraam land.
(d) Land Held in Trust.--The Katimiin and Ameekyaaraam land
is hereby taken into trust by the Secretary for the benefit
of the Karuk Tribe, subject to--
(1) valid existing rights, contracts, and management
agreements relating to easements and rights-of-way; and
(2) continued access by the Chief of the Forest Service for
the purpose of managing the component of the National Wild
and Scenic Rivers System that flows through the Katimiin and
Ameekyaaraam land.
(e) Survey.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall
provide to the Secretary a complete survey of the land taken
into trust under subsection (d).
(f) Use of Land.--
(1) In general.--Land taken into trust under subsection (d)
may be used for traditional and customary uses for the
benefit of the Karuk Tribe.
(2) Gaming.--Class II and class III gaming under the Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) shall not be
allowed on the land taken into trust under subsection (d).
(g) Wild and Scenic Rivers Management.--
(1) In general.--Nothing in this section affects the status
or administration of any component of the National Wild and
Scenic Rivers System, including any component that flows
through the land taken into trust under subsection (d).
(2) Memorandum of understanding.--The Secretary of
Agriculture shall enter into a memorandum of understanding
with the Karuk Tribe, consistent with the obligations of the
Secretary of Agriculture under subsection (c), to establish
mutual goals for the protection and enhancement of the river
values of any component of the National Wild and Scenic
Rivers System that flows through the land taken into trust
under subsection (d).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Tonko) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
[[Page H10010]]
I rise in support of S. 4439, the Katimiin and Ameekyaaraam Sacred
Lands Act sponsored by Senator Alex Padilla and led here in the House
by Representative Jared Huffman.
The Karuk Tribe's ancestral territory encompasses over 1 million
acres in northern California and southern Oregon with about 900 acres
currently held in trust for the Tribe.
The lands known as Katimiin and Ameekyaaraam are ceremonial areas and
village sites located at the Karuk Tribe's center of the world. These
sites host the final series of the Tribe's Pikyavish World Renewal
ceremonies.
The Ameekyaaraam is located downriver from the Katimiin and serves as
the site of the Jump Dance and First Salmon ceremonies and the
historical location of pre-contact inter-Tribal fish harvesting.
These sites remain essential to the Tribe's intergenerational
cultural and environmental teachings.
Unfortunately, the Tribe's access to these sacred sites is not always
guaranteed. In recent years, Tribal members have even been interrupted
by members of the public during private components of their ceremonies.
S. 4439 will resolve this access issue by placing approximately 1,031
acres of Federal land located in Siskiyou and Humboldt Counties in
trust for the Tribe.
The bill contains gaming prohibitions and confirms the U.S. Forest
Service's authority over managing the wild and scenic rivers located on
this parcel.
I thank Senator Padilla and Representative Huffman for championing
this important bill.
Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, S. 4439 would place into trust approximately 1,031
acres of U.S. Forest Service land where the Salmon River meets the
Klamath River in Siskiyou and Humboldt Counties in California for the
Karuk Tribe.
{time} 1100
This bill would require that the land be taken into trust for
traditional and customary uses for the benefit of the Tribe. This bill
would prohibit gaming on the land and would require that the land held
in trust shall not affect the status or administration of this section
of the Klamath River as a wild and scenic river. The trust land is also
subject to valid existing rights, contracts, and management agreements
relating to easements and rights-of-way.
The Karuk Tribe is one of the largest Tribes in northern California
with approximately 3,300 enrolled Tribal members. Its people have lived
in northwestern California for thousands of years. The land being
placed into trust for the Tribe is considered, as Mr. Tonko stated, the
center of the world of their religion, and it is used for their annual
world renewal ceremonies.
The Tribe has a special use permit with the Forest Service to access
these lands for their ceremonies and closes the river during certain
times in the summer to facilitate them. However, there have been public
disruptions during the ceremonies from some unknowing individuals
rafting the river.
This bill would ensure the Tribe is able to continue its religious
practices and continue teaching future generations of the Karuk people
the Tribe's culture and customs.
Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge adoption of the
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge my
colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of
my time.
Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 4439 the Katimiin
and Ameekyaaraam Sacred Lands Act. I was proud to partner with Sen.
Padilla and introduce the House companion, H.R. 6032. This bill will
place 1,031 acres federal lands located in Humboldt and Siskiyou
counties into trust for the Karuk Tribe. Natural resource stewardship
of land, wildlife, plants, and water is at the core of the Karuk
people's culture and identity. Yet 95 percent of their aboriginal
territory is currently under federal management, undermining the
tribe's ability to exercise traditional practices that have been passed
down since time immemorial.
These lands, known as Katimiin and Ameekyaaraam, are ceremonial areas
and village sites located at the Karuk Tribe's ``center of the world.''
These areas are where the final series of the Tribes' annual Pik-ya-
yish World Renewal ceremonies take place. Ameekyaaraam is located
downriver from Katimiin and serves as the site of the Jump Dance and
First Salmon ceremonies and is the historical location of pre-contact
intertribal fish harvesting. While arrangements with the Forest Service
have allowed the Karuk Tribe to use these areas for their ceremonies,
their access is not always guaranteed, and privacy from the public
remains an issue. This legislation returns this sacred ground to the
Karuk Tribe, correcting a historic injustice.
I've had the immense privilege and honor of visiting this area--these
lands are not only majestic, they are central to Karuk history,
religion, culture, and identity. Placing them in trust ensures that the
Karuk way of life can endure for future generations.
Under this bill, only Forest Service lands will transfer to the
tribe; all private lands, allotments and existing rights associated
with those will be excluded. The language includes Class I, II, and III
gaming prohibitions, and confirms the U.S. Forest Service's authority
over managing the Wild and Scenic Rivers located on this parcel of
land. We've received widespread support from the local government,
private landowners and businesses, neighboring tribes, and
environmental organizations. To date, there has been no opposition to
this legislation.
Senators Padilla and Feinstein have been wonderful partners in
advancing this bill in the Senate, and the Karuk Tribe has worked with
our offices tirelessly. It is my honor to advance this legislation that
gives land back to the Karuk Tribe, and I urge my colleagues to vote
Yea and get this bill to the President's desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, S. 4439.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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