Investment of Funds Appropriated to the Alaska Native Fund

A decision was requested as to whether the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to distribute to the Alaska Native Regional Corporation interest earned between October 1, 1976, and June 30, 1977, on an investment of moneys appropriated for transfer to the Alaska Native Fund. Moneys appropriated to liquidate claims of Alaska natives are not Indian tribal trust funds until they are actually transferred to the Fund, which can take place no earlier than July 1 of each fiscal year. Thus, the Department has no authority to invest the funds, and the moneys should be returned to the Treasury.