New proposed regulations governing the preparation of a Yurok Indian voting list are being published in the Federal Register, the Bureau of Indian Affairs announced today.
The establishment of qualifications and standards for such a voting list is the first step toward the election of an interim governing committee and subsequent organization of the Yurok Tribe.
Proposed criteria were originally published December 28, 1918. Comments received in response to this publication, however indicated the need for further explanations about the use of the voting list and other modifications.
The Federal Register notice states that the qualifications here being considered are not standards for membership in the Yurok Tribe… such (tribal) membership, instead, will depend upon meeting the membership criteria set out on a duly adopted and approved Yurok tribal constitution."
The notice also describes as a "misunderstanding" any interpretation of the efforts to help organize a tribal government for the Yuroks as interference in the court case entitled Short. Et al. v. United States.
Written comments on the proposed regulations should be submitted within 30 days of publication to the Director of Indian Services. Bureau of Indian Affairs, 19th and G Streets, N.W., Washington, D"C. 20240.
Several public meetings for discussion of the regulft1ons will be scheduled on the Hoopa Valley Reservation and vicinity. Notices of these meetings will be published in local media and posted in public places at least five days before the meetings.
