Twenty descendants of Porno Indians who live on the Cloverdale Rancheria in Sonoma County, California, began a new chapter in their lives recently when the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs terminated trusteeship over their lands. The termination, approved by the Indians and involving 27.5 acres of small land parcels, was the 22nd such action taken by the Bureau under the California Rancheria Act of 1958. The act provides for distribution of rancheria assets to the Indian owners and an end to Federal services. The Cloverdale Indians now have the same status as other California citizens who are taxpaying property-owners.
SENECAS PLAN NEW INDUSTRYA recent agreement between the Seneca Nation of Indians and a newly-formed organization known as the First Seneca Corporation calls for the establishment of a factory on the Cattaraugus Reservation in New York State. The plant will manufacture decorative pillows and similar items.
The Corporation is financed principally by the Seneca Nation, which has agreed to furnish working capital and funds for construction of a 60,000 square foot factory building, machinery and equipment. The Senecas will invest approximately $800,000 in the venture. Lease terms provide for amortization of the investment over the period of the long-term lease. Tribal officials expects the new industry to provide jobs for 300 tribal members and to effectively clear up reservation unemployment.
APACHES VIEW TREE LIGHTING CEREMONYWhen President Johnson threw the switch that lighted the 1965 National Community Christmas Tree in Washington, D. C. on December 17, five Apaches were with him. The White Mountain Apache Tribe were the donors of the Nation's Christmas Tree, the largest ever to grace the grassy ellipse behind the White House. The tribal delegation to the tree-lighting ceremony were Lester Oliver, Tribal chairman; Fred Banashley, vice chairman; Mary Endfield, tribal secretary; Mary V. Riley and Nelson Lupe, Sr., council members.
SPORTING GOODS FIRM TO LOCATE AT SISSETONA leading manufacturer of sporting equipment, Herter's Inc., of Waseca, Minnesota, has announced plans to establish a new manufacturing facility at Sisseton, South Dakota, the principal community on the Sisseton Indian Reservation. The new company, to be known as Swiss Precision Industrial Armament Corporation, will produce 12-gauge shotgun shells and employ about 40 men in a two-shift operation. Many of the employees will be Sioux Indians from the Reservation. Production is expected to begin by March 1966.
Assisting in the establishment of the plant are the Sisseton Development Corporation, the South Dakota economic development agency, and the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Sisseton Development Corporation will cooperate with the manufacturer in constructing three steel buildings on a 30-acre industrial site about one-half mile east of the community. Cost of the buildings is estimated at $150,000.
UINTAH AND OURAY DEDICATE NEW HOMESThe first three homes completed under a mutual-help housing program on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in Utah were dedicated in formal ceremonies recently. The homes are part of a ten-house project which the Uintah and Ouray Tribal Housing Authority expects will be completed shortly. The Authority is planning to undertake construction of an additional 15 mutual-help houses in the spring.
Mutual help housing is a cooperative program developed by the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Public Housing Administration. Indian families contribute their labor on home construction in lieu of cash down payments. The Public Housing Administration advances funds for materials and necessary skilled labor.
PILOT TRAINING PROJECT FOR NAVAJOSThe Bureau of Indian Affairs and BVD Company of New York City are launching a pilot training program for 30 Navajos at Winslow, Arizona which could result in the eventual employment of approximately 1,000 Navajo Indians.
If the project is successful, BVD is slated to build a new plant on the Navajo Reservation in or near Tuba City, Arizona. Long-range plans call for establishment of two additional plants elsewhere on the reservation, depending upon the success of the pilot project.
INTERLOCUTORY ORDER ENTERED IN CREEK CLAIMS CASEThe Indian Claims Commission has issued an Interlocutory Order granting the sum of $1,037,414, less offsets, to the Creek Nation of Oklahoma (Docket No. 276). The Commission found that 2,037,414 acres of Creek land in Oklahoma was worth $1 an acre when ceded to the United States on August 7, 1856, and that $1 million has been paid for it. The Creek Nation must await the Commission's further action to determine offset deductions and the granting of a final award before funds will be appropriated by Congress.
ROAD PROJECTS ON COLORADO RIVER INDIAN RESERVATIONThe Department of the Interior recently announced the award of a $393,633 contract to the Fisher Contracting Company of Phoenix for reshaping, surfacing and plant mix paving of more than twenty miles of road on the Colorado River Indian Reservation in Arizona. Eight other bids ranging from $406,776.85 to $610,726.50 were received.
COCHITI PUEBLO AGREES TO DAM PROJECTThe Cochiti Indian pueblo of New Mexico has approved a 50 million dollar project which will flood 4,000 acres of pueblo land through construction of a 5.3-mile earth-filled dam on the Rio Grande River.
The Indians have signed an easement with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and received $145,200 for granting the authority to flood the land.
Construction of Cochiti Dam, to be the second largest of its kind west of the Mississippi, is expected to provide a monthly payroll of about $500,000 and jobs for nearly 1,000 people in the area.
