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and Order Code of the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe, Nevada
Code last amended: 2008 Chapter 12. Range Protection The legislative history of this chapter is identical to chapter 13 with the exception that this chapter was originally enacted as chapter 10. Uncontrolled and unauthorized grazing of tribal lands by non-Indians and non-member Indians has caused significant loss of income to the Fort McDermitt Tribe and its members by loss of services normally funded by such income in 1988. The loss of income is directly related and connected to the uncontrolled grazing on the Hog John Ranch lands within Fort McDermitt Indian Country by lessees of the Tribe not monitored closely by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and by lessees of the Bureau of Land Management. For example, on Monday, May 16, 1988, Kathy Ryan, Range Conservationist, Western Nevada Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs, counted SEVENTY-THREE (73) head of cattle on the Hog John Ranch from both the Happy Creek Ranch and the Sod House Allotment lessee. These cattle were eating and destroying the forage and water located on tribal land. Since January 1, 1988, the Tribe has not executed a lease with anyone to utilize the Hog John Ranch, therefore whomever owns the cattle is trespassing tribal land. The Fort McDermitt Tribe and its members have many needy organizations that serve the tribal membership that can use beef for public feeds and other needy public uses. Given the needs of our people and the organizations serving them and the need to protect our tribal lands, the Tribal Council adopts this Range Protection code provision. It shall be unlawful for any nonmember to allow his branded stock or branded stock under his control to be on, pass over, or graze upon tribal land without the permission of the Tribal Council of the Fort McDermitt Tribe or its delegated official or entity. All stock trespassing shall be seized by the tribe and dealt with according to this chapter. No trespass of branded stock or unbranded stock "mothering-up" to a branded animal on tribal lands will take place without advance notice having been posted. Notice of the trespass shall be posted for 20 consecutive days at the United States Post Office, McDermitt, Nevada, and at conspicuous places about the City of McDermitt, Nevada and McDermitt, Oregon. The Tribe may also, by written notice or telephone call, notify the known owners of the stock of such notice. The Fort McDermitt Tribe through its Tribal Council or delegated official or entity may trespass such animals and round them up and heard or transport them to a facility to care for the animals until their owners can secure them at cost plus a fee of $25 per head for cattle and horses and $10 each for domestic sheep and goats. When branded stock or unbranded stock "mothering-up" to branded stock is seized according to the authority contained in this chapter, notice of the seizure shall be posted about the Fort McDermitt and McDermitt communities in conspicuous places including the United States Post Office, McDermitt, Nevada. The notice shall advise the public the date it was first posted, a description of the stock and any and all visible identifying marks and brands as well as the color or colors of the stock and its type and sex. The notice shall also advise the public that 15 days from the date the notice is first posted that the trespassed stock shall be auctioned to the highest bidder unless the owner satisfies the Tribe of his ownership and pays all costs and a fee of $25 per head for cattle and horses and $10 per head for sheep, goats and the like. All fees and costs shall be paid to the "Fort McDermitt Tribe" Any unbranded stock of any nonmember, which is not mothering-up to a cow bearing a brand recognized by the Fort McDermitt Tribe, found within the exterior boundaries of Fort McDermitt Indian Country is hereby declared tribal property and shall be delivered to the Tribal Council as soon as is possible or held after notice to the Tribal Council until the Tribal Council can decide the disposition of such stock. All unbranded stock shall be held for 15 days. The only use unbranded stock may be put to is public use. The Tribal Court of the Fort McDermitt Tribe shall hear motions or petitions for ex parte hearings regarding the ability of the Tribe to auction seized branded or unbranded stock "mothering-up" to branded stock or the Tribe's public use of unbranded stock declared the property of the Tribe. If the Tribal Court is satisfied that the moving party or petitioner is the owner of the stock in question, the court will order the return of the stock, and the bond posted with the motion or petition, after the collection of costs and fees as provided in section 4 of this chapter. Back to Top |