Whereas, in 1883 Fort Reno was carved out of this reservation by executive order of President Chester A. Arthur for "military purposes exclusively" with the understanding that the tribes would get the land back when and if it was no longer needed for military purposes; and
Whereas, in 1890 the Dawes Act disbanded the Cheyenne and Arapaho Reservation and opened millions of acres to white settlement, but Fort Reno remained a military reserve; and
Whereas, in 1949 the army ceased any further military use of the Fort Reno property, and for 47 years now the tribes have been seeking return of the Fort Reno lands; and
Whereas, the 103rd Congress stated in 1995 that the United States Department of Agriculture research station now located on the Fort Reno property be defunded and closed as a part of Congress' plan to reduce the federal budget; and
Whereas, this USDA research station no longer serves a purpose other than providing subsidies to selected local farmers and is being advocated to remain open by Congressman Frank Lucas (R) of Cheyenne, Oklahoma; and
Whereas, according to the Federal Surplus Property and Administrative Services Act of 1976, property declared "excess" within the original Reservation boundary of the tribe where the property was situated was to be returned to the Department of Interior for the tribes in trust;
Therefore, be it resolved, that the 1996 General Conference of The United Methodist Church hereby supports the efforts of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma in having the Fort Reno, Oklahoma lands returned to them either through executive order of the President or through the provisions of the Federal Surplus Property and Administrative Services Act.
Be it further resolved, that the 1996 General Conference of The United Methodist Church, through the Council of Bishops and the General Board of Church and Society, urge members of Congress to declare the USDA station closed and the Fort Reno property declared "excess" and to authorize the return of the Fort Reno lands to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma through the provisions of the Federal Surplus Property and Administrative Services Act.
Be it also resolved, that if it is more expedient for an executive order to be issued by the President of the United States in order to return these lands to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, that this route be pursued.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 22486-CS-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference