United States v. Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma

The United States appeals (a) from the final judgment and order of the Indian Claims Commission dated August 25, 1971.1 in Dockets 30, 30-A, 48 and 48-A, awarding compensation under Section 2, Clause 4, of the Indian Claims Commission Act (60 Stat. 1049) for the forcible taking by the United States of certain lands in southwestern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona to which appellees held aboriginal title and (b) from the order of the Commission dated June 9, 1971.2 denying the Government’s motion to consolidate the four dockets with Docket 182.

This appeal presents three issues: (1) Whether…