The Bureau of Indian Affairs says the Santa Fe Indian School doesn't have to comply with federal historic preservation laws.

The school campus is held in trust for the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico. The tribes have razed more than a dozen buildings, some dating to the late 1800s and early 1900s.

But since the site was federal property before being transferred to the tribes, the BIA says the tribes can do whatever they want with it. "The Pueblos are the beneficial owners of the land held in trust by the United States and they can use the land according to their needs without intervention from the federal government," the BIA said in a letter to a state historic preservation official.

The buildings that were demolished were in poor condition and some of them were condemned and not being used. The tribes received federal funds to build a new campus.

Get the Story:
Official: SFIS razing outside of BIA's control (The Santa Fe New Mexican 9/20)

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