Chickasaw firm secures land consolidation contract
Chickasaw Nations Industries, the economic development corporation of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, has landed a contract for the Indian land consolidation program for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

CNI will hire up to 105 jobs nationwide. Employees will work in South Dakota, Wisconsin and New Mexico to help the BIA consolidate the Indian land base.

According to The Aberdeen American News, the contract is related to the $3.4 billion Cobell trust fund settlement. The deal hasn't been authorized by Congress but it sets aside $2 billion to buy fractionated interests from individual Indians and return the interests to tribal governments.

The BIA has an existing land consolidation program but funding has been reduced by Congress.

Get the Story:
36 new jobs coming to Hub City (The Aberdeen American News 1/21)

Relevant Documents:
Agreement | Press Release | Q&A | Audio

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