Arianne Brown is a reporter covering southern Utah communities, with a focus on heart-warming stories and local happenings. She has been a reporter for 14 years.
IVINS, Washington County — Utah Sen. John Curtis has paused a congressional bill that would allow the Shivwits Band of Paiute the ability to enter into long-term land lease agreements with businesses for up to 99 years.
The Shivwits Band of Paiutes Jurisdictional Clarity Act, sponsored by Rep. Celeste Maloy and co-sponsored by Reps. Mike Kennedy and Burgess Owens, would also grant Utah state courts jurisdiction over civil disputes that arise on the band's trust lands that are leased in those agreements. The near-century-long lease would be a large extension of time, with federal law generally capping tribal land leases at 25 years.A spokesperson for Sen. Curtis said in a statement provided to KSL that the bill was put on pause "due to concerns raised with the senator and our office.""We are exercising due diligence to ensure we consider the issues from all perspectives before moving forward with the Shivwits Band of Paiutes Jurisdictional Clarity Act," the statement read. "The bill maintains the support of the Shivwits Band of Paiutes and the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah. Our commitment to supporting their sovereignty and autonomy remains unchanged."The issue of sovereignty has been raised by several members of the 300-plus-member band, with varied perspectives even within the band itself. And with a recent partnership with Black Desert Resort to build a resort on roughly 1,250 acres of reservation land, the voices within the band have become even more divided. The band council voted in favor of the bill, saying in a statement to KSL that it didn't take this decision lightly."As a sovereign tribal nation, the Shivwits Band has both the responsibility and the authority to make decisions that protect our land, our people, and our future," members of the band council wrote. "That responsibility guides every major decision the council makes."This partnership is about creating opportunity while maintaining stewardship of our culture and our homeland. Our goal is to ensure that the band continues to grow stronger, more self-sufficient, and better positioned to provide for future generations."Patrick Manning, managing partner and developer of Black Desert Resort in Ivins, told KSL that from the beginning of the project, the focus has been on "responsible development that can create long-term economic opportunity while respecting cultural values and the land.""That includes job creation, workforce
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