To Sell or Not To Sell

[smacmill]

So, I'm going to bring up a sensitive subject. The Land Buy Back Program has begun as part of the Cobell Indian Land Trust Settlement. The goal is to voluntarily consolidate highly fractionated reservation lands, returning the lands to the tribes. They are going tribe by tribe and have not come to my tribe yet.
My question: is there any consensus feelings amongst Native Americans on this subject?
My situation: I do not live in the state where I own fractionated land, and I don't think I'll ever make use of that land personally. BUT my heart strings are hesitant to let go of that vestige of our family's history. Frankly, since I don't live in that region, my tribe won't talk to me to give their opinion.
In my tribe's history, as soon as the government ok'd the Indians to sell their land allotments, many of them did because they were so poor at the time. My great grandmother didn't sell and lived on her allotment for the rest of her life, hence the land has been splitting and splitting again over the generations since 1939.
Anyone have an opinion on this? I sure could benefit from hearing other voices on this.

[smacmill]

Well, no one ever gave input on the Cobell land buy back program. Is it a no-no to speak of such things? The program is in full throttle now and I must make up my mind. Either way, I thank my great grandmother who endured the terrible cultural transitions of the late 19th century.

[dontalkingbear]

I have several relatives that had allotments. My interests were many and I have elected to sell most, surface rights only. I do not live near any of the properties and believed to never benefit from them. I do understand the heart strings and also feel them.

[cinye78]

Here at Spirit Lake some members had small pieces hardly enough to put a house on so they sold their little piece.
The land can only be sold to the Tribe not to non-Indians.

[swa562]

Many moons ago the land was either bought, stolen, or killed for. Some of the best hunting grounds and forests were taken. This happened during a time when the people didn't have a grocery store. They had to hunt for food and their clothing. Later the land was sought for gold and silver. The people are always thrown around with the help of tribal leaders. You think they won't talk to you, you are right. Most of these tribal leaders have a weird way of thinking. My family owned Holy land to the Indians. We sold it and bought other properties. One time, the government moved many Indians and put them in the desert. Then they wanted the gold and wanted to move them out. They put Indians in the rocks and boulders then the buyers decided the weather was very good and it was a very nice place to live. They kicked the Indians out again and put housing for the rich there. In fact, Santa Barbara, California was Indian land and they moved the Indians to an Indian community and built resorts by the beach. You can see how it works.

[swa562]

In Santa Barbara, they have a resort and a small hallway of Indian artifacts hanging on the walls for the tourists to look at. They tell a story about the Indians who lived there at one time. Now they live in the trailer park about a few miles inland with a casino. I don't know how the money is divided but I see their trailer park as I drive by. I don't think they even have a grocery store. I did see a gas station. Santa Barbara is a nice uptown area. It is a nice place to live. Nice ocean and good fishing and a place for people with money. There is a difference in living in a beach town than a trailer park.