Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan today met with leaders of six Indian tribes to recognize "a new chapter giving form and substance to the concept of tribal self-determination." Lujan welcomed the tribal leaders to his office for a ceremony recognizing agreements that give them greatly increased authority in the budgeting and spending of federal funds for Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) programs.
Earlier this month Interior announced the agreements with the Quinault Indian Nation, Taholah, Wash.; Lummi Indian Nation, Bellingham, Wash.; Jamestown Klallam Indian Tribe, Sequim, Wash.; Hoopa Valley Indian Tribe, Hoopa, Calif.; Cherokee Nation, Tahlequah, Okla., and Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa, Onamia, Minn.
"These self-governance agreements are a pilot project, but they reflect far more than that," Lujan said. "They reflect the new vigor and drive for more direct control that characterize tribal governments today." Calling upon the BIA to be strongly supportive of the tribal governments involved in the pilot program, Lujan announced that he has signed a Secretarial Order creating a Self-Governance Demonstration Project Council reporting directly to the Secretary.
"This Council will provide oversight and guidance for the implementation and maintenance of these agreements," Lujan said. "The establishment of this Council reflects my intention to work with these pioneering tribal governments exploring a new path to tribal self-determination."
The self-governance agreements become effective with the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 1991. The funds to be administered by the tribes for the first year are: Quinault, $3.9 million; Lummi, $2.2 million; Hoopa Valley, $2.0 million; Jamestown Klallam, $687,000; Cherokee, $6.1 million; and Mille Lacs Band, $267,210. New annual funding agreements will be negotiated for the two remaining fiscal years of the agreements.
