Secretary of the Interior Stewart L. Udall announced today that from November 14 through 19 he will consult on outstanding Indian problems in Phoenix, Ariz., with five Indian leaders and eight prominent non-Indians interested in Indian affairs.
One of the consultants invited to the meeting is W. W. Keeler of Bartlesville, Okla., oil company executive and principal chief of Oklahoma's Cherokees, who served as chairman of Secretary Udall's Task Force on Indian Affairs earlier this year. The 12 other consultants are:
Barry DeRose, Globe, Ariz., attorney for Indian tribes;
Joe H. Herrera, Santa Fe, N. Mex., secretary of the All Pueblo Council;
Hon. Ralph Herseth, Houghton, S. Dak., former governor of South Dakota;
W. F. Johnston, Lewiston, Idaho, editor of the Lewiston TRIBUNE;
Oliver La Farge, Santa Fe, N. Mex., president, Association on American Indian Affairs, Inc.;
Maurice McCabe, Window Rock} Ariz., secretary-treasurer of the Navajo Tribal Council;
Bishop Philip F. McNairy, Minneapolis, Minn., Suffragan Bishop (Episcopal) of Minnesota;
Lincoln O’Brien, Farmington, N. Mex., publisher of the Farmington DAILY TIMES;
Rev. Billy Osceola, Hollywood, Fla., chairman, Seminole Indian Tribe of Florida;
Hugh J. Wade, Juneau, Alaska, secretary of state of Alaska,
Walter Wetzel, Cut Bank, Mont., president, National Congress of American Indians;
William Zimmerman, Jr., Arlington, Va., former Assistant Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
One of the topics scheduled for discussion is the recommendation made last July by the Task Force on Indian Affairs for establishment of a statutory Advisory Board on Indian Affairs composed of both Indian leaders and non-Indians prominent in the field. Secretary Udall has endorsed this recommendation.
"Our goals in Indian affairs," the Secretary said, “are (1) maximum Indian self-sufficiency, (2) full participation of Indians in American life, and (3) equal citizenship privileges and responsibilities for Indians. As we shape up our new plans and programs for moving toward these objectives, I feel it is tremendously important that we have the benefit of the wisest and most experienced counsel we can get from non-governmental sources.
"The men we have invited to meet with us in Phoenix were selected with the help of Congressional delegations from states with major Indian populations. They are all exceptionally well qualified and competent students of Indian affairs and I have every confidence they can provide us with invaluable assistance in charting our course to better the lot of Indian people."
Plans call for the consultants to visit a number of major economic developments benefiting Indians within easy traveling distance of Phoenix.
