Commissioner Robert L. Bennett of the Bureau of Indian Affairs announced today plans for a series of regional meetings with Indian tribal leaders to discuss proposals for legislation and other matters of general interest to the Indian people.
Commissioner Bennett said the nine meetings would "help us to prepare and present to the Congress proposals that represent the best of Indian thinking on how to attack Indian problems.
"We need to take advantage of the favorable climate in Indian affairs created by the President, the Secretary of the Interior and the Congress, which is reflected in the news media, to present a forward-looking program to the Congress," Bennett said.
The Commissioner said he would attend all of the nine meetings. He has asked the Indian delegations to come to the meetings prepared to discuss: "(1) the present conditions of your people; (2) the major problems as you see them; (3) your ideas and recommendations about meeting these problems through your own and other resources."
The date, place and area involved in each meeting are as follows:
| Date | Places |
|---|---|
| Oct. 3-5, 1966 |
Minneapolis, Minn. - All tribes in the States of: Michigan, North Dakota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota. Except: Devil's Lake, Standing Rock, Ft. Berthold, Turtle Mountain
|
| Oct. 5-7, 1966 |
Billings, Mont. - Devil's Lake, Standing Rock, Turtle Mountain, Ft. Berthold and all tribes in the States of Wyoming and Montana except: Flathead and Blackfeet |
| Oct. 9-11, 1966 |
Washington, D.C. Cherokee and Seminole |
| Oct. 17-19, 1966 |
Spokane, Wash. - Blackfeet and Flathead, and all tribes in the States of: Washington, Idaho, Oregon |
| Oct. 19-21, 1966 |
Juneau, Alaska - All native villages in the State of Alaska |
| Oct. 31, 1966 to November 2, 1966 |
Oklahoma City, Okla. - All tribes in the States of Oklahoma and: Choctaw, Miss., Potowatomi, Kans. |
| Nov. 2-4, 1966 |
Window Rock, Ariz. - Navajo |
| Nov. 21-23, 1966 |
Albuquerque, N. Mex. - All tribes in the States of New Mexico, Colorado |
| Nov. 28-30, 1966 |
Las Vegas, Nev. - All tribes in the States of: Nevada, California, Utah, Arizon Except Navajo |
