PRIA Logo™
Take the PRIA Score
Title 25 — IndiansRelease 119-73

§229 Injuries to property by Indians

Title 25 › Chapter CHAPTER 6— - GOVERNMENT OF INDIAN COUNTRY AND RESERVATIONS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERALLY › § 229

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

If a Native American from a tribe at peace with the United States steals or damages someone's property inside Indian country, or goes into a State or Territory and there steals or destroys a horse or other property of a U.S. citizen, the victim (or their representative) can ask the proper Indian affairs official to help. That official must, after getting the needed papers and proof and following the President's instructions, ask the person's tribe to pay or make amends. If the tribe does not respond or refuses within a reasonable time, and not more than 12 months, the official must report what happened to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs so the President can decide what further steps to take.

Full Legal Text

Title 25, §229

Indians — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

If any Indian, belonging to any tribe in amity with the United States, shall, within the Indian country, take or destroy the property of any person lawfully within such country, or shall pass from Indian country into any State or Territory inhabited by citizens of the United States, and there take, steal, or destroy, any horse, or other property belonging to any citizen or inhabitant of the United States, such citizen or inhabitant, his representative, attorney, or agent, may make application to the proper superintendent, agent, or subagent, who, upon being furnished with the necessary documents and proofs, shall, under the direction of the President, make application to the nation or tribe to which such Indian shall belong, for satisfaction; and if such nation or tribe shall neglect or refuse to make satisfaction, in a reasonable time not exceeding twelve months, such superintendent, agent, or subagent shall make return of his doings to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, that such further steps may be taken as shall be proper, in the opinion of the President, to obtain satisfaction for the injury.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification R.S. § 2156 derived from acts June 30, 1834, ch. 161, § 17, 4 Stat. 731; Feb. 28, 1859, ch. 66, § 8, 11 Stat. 401.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Indian AgentsThe services of Indian agents have been dispensed with. See note set out under section 64 of this title.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

For

Transfer of Functions

of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Interior, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Interior, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1262, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

25 U.S.C. § 229

Title 25 — Indians

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73