Indian Claims Commission

United States government

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June 29, 2026

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The Indian Claims Commission (ICC) was a United States government body established by an act of Congress on August 13, 1946. Its purpose was to receive and adjudicate petitions for land claims against the United States from Native American nations. Many of these claims stemmed from land that had been taken in contravention of treaty agreements or without fair trade. The commission's work resulted in significant financial compensation for various tribes, including the Cherokee, Muscogee, Seminole, and Ute nations. The ICC played a role in the broader context of Native American reorganization and the assertion of tribal sovereignty through legal means.1

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Native American
Reorganization
A special Indian Claims Commission, created by an act of Congress on August 13, 1946, received petitions for land claims against the United States. Many land claims resulted in significant compensation, including nearly $14,800,000 to the Cherokee nation, $10,250,000 to the Muscogee tribe, $12,300,000 to the Seminoles,…
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A special Indian Claims Commission, created by an act of Congress on August 13, 1946, received petitions for land claims against the United States. Many land claims resulted in significant compensation, including nearly $14,800,000 to the Cherokee nation, $10,250,000 to the Muscogee tribe, $12,300,000 to the Seminoles,…
Read More