FINDINGS; PURPOSE.

SEC. 102. FINDINGS; PURPOSE. (a) Findings.— Congress finds the following: (1) Judgments were rendered in the Indian Claims Commission in dockets numbered 18–E, 58, and 364 in favor of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan and in docket numbered 18–R in favor of the Sault Ste. Marie Band of Chippewa Indians. (2) The funds Congress appropriated to pay these judgments have been held by the Department of the Interior for the beneficiaries pending a division of the funds among the beneficiaries in a manner acceptable to the tribes and descendency group and pending development of plans for the use and distribution of the respective tribes’ share. (3) The 1836 treaty negotiations show that the United States concluded negotiations with the Chippewa concerning the cession of the upper peninsula and with the Ottawa with respect to the lower peninsula. (4) A number of sites in both areas were used by both the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. The Ottawa and Chippewa Indians were intermarried and there were villages composed of members of both tribes. (b) Purpose.— It is the purpose of this title to provide for the fair and equitable division of the judgment funds among the beneficiaries and to provide the opportunity for the tribes to develop plans for the use or distribution of their share of the funds.