Martin E. Seneca, Jr., is returning to the Bureau of Indian Affairs as Director of Trust Responsibilities, Interior Assistant Secretary Forrest Gerard announced today.
Seneca was formerly Trust Responsibilities Director from May, 1974 to November, 1976. He has most recently been with the Federal Energy Agency as Assistant General Counsel for Conservation and Deputy Assistant Administrator for Conservation and Environment.
Gerard, who has consistently stressed the priority of str4ngthening the Bureau's capacity to fulfill its role as trustee, said that "the role of trustee in an age of Indian self-determination is delicate. It requires understanding of the Indian peoples and the ability to work well with them. It also requires special knowledge, intelligence and strength. I think that Martin Seneca has these qualities and, consequently, I am pleased that he will be in this important position."
A member of the Seneca Indian Nation of New York, Seneca is a 1971 graduate of the Harvard School of Law. He earned a B.S. in Political Science and an M.S. in Public Administration from Brigham Young University.
Seneca, 36, is a former White House Fellow. He has and been worked a brief associate professor of law at the University of Utah and worked briefly for a Washington, D.C. law firm.
His appointment is effective January 29.
