Secretary of the Interior Stewart L. Udall announced today he is sending Robert E. Vaughan as a personal representative to Alaska to assist in drafting legislation related to Alaska Native land claims against the United States.
Vaughan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior for Public Land Management, will meet with the legislative drafting committee of the Alaska Federation of Natives in Anchorage December 6 and 7.
Vaughan and the committee will explore the possibility of Alaska Natives sharing in revenues from the Outer Continental Shelf in payment for their land claims against the United States.
At the same time, Secretary Udall announced that he has designated Hugh J. Wade, Interior's Regional Solicitor in Alaska, as his local representative to coordinate the Department's activities on Alaska Native claims and to serve in a liaison capacity with the Natives and the State.
Secretary Udall recommended attempts to reach a common solution of the claims problem during his trip to Alaska late last month. The proposal was favorably received by representatives of the Natives and the State of Alaska.
The Secretary said he was pleased that Emil Notti, president of the Alaska Federation of Natives, had scheduled a drafting session so promptly. Mr. Udall said he was making available a high level official of the Department whose responsibilities cover both the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Land Management, which manages the Federal lands and handles leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf.
