Regulations governing the preparation of a Yurok Indian voting list are being published in the Federal Register, the Bureau of Indian Affairs announced today.
The regulations, establishing criteria and procedures for developing such a voter list, are a first step toward the election of an interim governing committee and subsequent organization of the Yurok Tribe.
Proposed regulations were published December 28t 1978 and again on March 6t 1979. I addition to the written comments received in response to these publications, four meetings on the regulations were held on or near the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation in Northern California.
The Federal Register notice responds to objections received that the proposed action would constitute an interference in Short v. United States, litigation which involves the question of who is entitled to participate in the distribution of income from assets of the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation.
The notice summarizes that "the benefits to be derived from the establishment of a Yurok tribal government are substantial and go far beyond the assets and issues before the Court of Claims.
"Decisions may be made by the tribe itself on such matters as tribal membership, management and utilization of resources, rehabilitation of reservation lands I and fish and game environments, tribal housing, economic development~ protection of children, education and participation in other Federal programs. "
The exercise of tribal sovereignty and jurisdiction on the reservation may also take place. These benefits are not the subject of the Short case and will not be affected by a decision of the court.”
The regulations will become effective 30 days after publication.
Further information may be obtained from the Bureau of Indian Affairs Area Director, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, Calif. 95825, 916-484-4682 or the office of Indian Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs 19th and C Streets, N.W., Washington D.C. 20240, 202-343-2111.
