Realty

The Absentee Shawnee Tribe contracted the operation of the Real Property Management Program in 1989. The Absentee Shawnee Realty Department oversees and manages approximately 11,705 acres (total of surface only and both mineral and surface) and 3,499 acres (total of mineral interest only).

The function of this program is to provide planning, organization and direction within the framework of current law, regulation, policy and procedure as established by Congress, the Department of the Interior, the BIA, the Regional Director, and the Governor and Executive Committee of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe for the use, development and protection of trust and restricted lands under the jurisdiction of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe.

The Realty staff works directly with the Tribe and its members as well as other individual Indians owning trust or restricted property under the jurisdiction of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe.

The Absentee Shawnee Tribe’s Realty Department currently has two full time employees in the Realty Department and one full time employee in the Probate section. Our goals are the following:

The program will be responsible for the administration of the Tribe’s leasing program on trust and restricted lands, assuring accuracy and completeness of each, and provides realty reports for trust lands.

The program shall develop economical, viable land use program/plans for the purpose of obtaining, for Indian landowners, the greatest amount of return based on highest and best use of lands.

Program staff shall provide counseling services to individual Indians, tribal groups, and to attorneys of Indians within the Tribe’s service area to aid in resolution of issues and problems, through general advice and provision of data pertaining to transactions. Staff shall advise and assist clients in completing various documents including leases, bonds, application for sales, proof of heirship, and other related documents.

The Program is responsible for devising and maintaining real property records for the Absentee Shawnee Tribe, as well as various other files and records necessary and pertinent to the operation of the Realty Property Management Program.