Tribal Land Return Projects 

Michelle Lee has been focused on land return for California tribes for nearly 30 years, and this focus has resulted in tens of thousands of acres being returned to Indigenous stewardship. While previously Indian tribes had limited access to grants for land acquisition, such as through NAHADSA and HUD funding, today the number and sources of funding for land acquisition is increasing. In addition, some landowners are choosing to gift land back to the original stewards.

As a result of the new funding sources, tribal governments are increasingly challenged to move quickly to take advantage of every opportunity to restore land to tribal stewardship. The Circle Law Group has advised tribal clients regarding complex land donations, multi-million-dollar grant applications and complex financing structures to bring lands back to tribal people. Land restoration is one of the key areas of The Circle’s work for existing tribal clients.