WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of the Interior issued the following statement today regarding the February 24, 2009 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar, in which the Court said that land could not be taken into trust for the Narragansett Tribe of Rhode Island under Section 5 of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 because the Tribe was not under the jurisdiction of the United States in 1934.
“Secretary Salazar is very disappointed by the Court's ruling," said Interior spokesman Matt Lee-Ashley. "Our attorneys are in the process of evaluating the decision. The Department is committed to supporting the ability of all federally recognized tribes to have lands acquired in trust."