Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell was in Oklahoma on Monday to sign an agreement with the Citizen Potawatomi Nation to approve leasing regulations for the tribe.
Jewell was joined by Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn and U.S. Rep. Tom Cole to sign the agreement that allows the tribe greater control in leasing their trust lands.
The Citizen Potawatomi Nation is the sixth tribe to take advantage of a new law called the HEARTH Act that gives tribes the ability to create regulations for long-term leasing of Indian lands.
Jewell says the Act will help spur economic and residential development in Indian Country, which will help create jobs and housing. She also hopes tribes use the new regulations for wind and geothermal energy projects.