SHAWNEE, Okla. – The Citizen Potawatomi Nation now has greater control over its trust land thanks to a new pact with the federal government.

On Nov. 25, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, Citizen Potawatomi Nation Chairman John Barrett and Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn signed off on an agreement under the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership Act that gives the Shawnee-based tribe sole leasing authority of its trust land.

“It’s been a great concern of ours over the years that we haven’t been able to fully leverage our investments in brick and mortar assets,” Barrett said. “This is a huge step forward.”

Enacted in July 2012, the HEARTH Act restores the authority of federally recognized tribes to develop and implement their own laws governing the long-term leasing of Indian lands for residential, business and other purposes. Upon one-time approval of tribal regulations by the Department of the Interior, tribes have the authority to process land leases without seeking additional permission from the Bureau of Indian Affairs for each individual application.

The Citizen Potawatomi Nation is the sixth tribe in the country and the first in Oklahoma to sign off on a HEARTH Act agreement. Other tribes with similar pacts include the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, the Sandia Pueblo, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, the Ak-Chin Indian Community and the Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians.

“This gets the federal government out of tribes’ way,” Washburn said. “If someone wants to lease tribal land for a house or a commercial development, the BIA would have to approve it even if the tribe is on board. Frankly, in these tight financial times, we’re short staffed and sometimes, commercial developers have had to walk away and invest elsewhere.

“With this approved tribal ordinance, there’s no more waiting around on the BIA.”

The tribe already has a business lined up to take advantage of the new ordinance. BDC Arms and Ammunition, owned by Citizen Potawatomi Nation citizen Jack Barrett, is moving its gun range and outdoor sporting goods store near the tribe’s complex on South Gordon Cooper Drive.

“We have tribal members across the country wanting to come home and do business here,” Citizen Potawatomi Nation Vice Chairman Linda Capps said. “This will help make that possible. We want our members to benefit from this as well and we think they will.”

The Citizen Potawatomi Nation has about 30,000 enrolled citizens and roughly one-third live in Oklahoma.

Citizen Potawatomi Nation Chairman John Barrett signs off on a HEARTH Act agreement Nov. 25 in Shawnee, Okla.