Past News Items

Secretary of the Interior Cecil D. Andrus said today that he was very pleased with President Carter's nomination of Forrest J. Gerard to be the first Assistant Secretary of the interior for Indian Affairs.

Three Indian Bureau superintendents will interchange assignments in Arizona and Utah on November 20, Commissioner Glenn L. Emmons announced today.

John O. Crow will move from Fort Apache Agency, Whiteriver, Ariz., to Uintah and Ouray Agency, Fort Duchesne, Utah.

Albert M. Hawley will shift from Papago Agency, Sells, Ariz., to Fort Apache.

Harry W. Gilmore will transfer from Uintah and Ouray to Papago.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In keeping with President Obama’s commitment to supporting Indian families and building resilient, thriving tribal communities, Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Kevin K. Washburn today announced action the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has taken to help prevent the further dissolution of American Indian and Alaska Native families through the misapplication of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978 (Public Law 95-608).

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson announced today that John Buffalohorn, a member of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Tribe has been appointed Superintendent of the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Fort Totten Agency in North Dakota.

The agency serves the Devils Lake Sioux Tribe.

Buffalohorn has been the Administrative Manager of the Fort Peck Agency, Poplar, and Montana.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Louis R. Bruce announced today that he has authorized Bureau of Indian Affairs Area Offices to enter into contract negotiations with 25 Indian tribes for the fiscal year 1972 Tribal Affairs Management Program. The Tribal affairs Management Program assists in the development of managerial skills for those tribes that cannot finance full-time effective tribal management.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today praised President Obama’s signing of five major settlements for Indian Country, calling the agreements a milestone in empowerment and reconciliation for the Nation’s First Americans.

Secretary of the Interior Thomas S. Kleppe and officers of the Alaska Native Regional Corporation, Konaig, Inc., today signed an agreement which will facilitate the conveyance of more than one million acres of land to the Corporation and its associated village corporations under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

The agreement provides the mechanism for processing land selections in the Konaig region and effecting conveyance of the land despite litigation pending in court.

A school for campground management for American Indians?

Isn't that like starting an aviation course for birds?

Not completely, said Secretary of the Interior Rogers, C. B. Morton, announcing a new training program by the National Palk service to teach the financial and technical aspects of tourist-oriented campground management to members of American Indian tribes. Graduates will return to their tribal homes to develop and manage public campgrounds on Indian lands.

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – In a speech this morning to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar described the progress being made in a comprehensive agenda to reform, restructure and rebuild federal relations with Indian Country.

Secretary Salazar outlined a broad range of efforts underway to restore integrity in U.S. government relations with American Indian and Alaska Native leaders, fulfill trust responsibilities to tribal members, and to work cooperatively to build stronger economies and safer tribal communities.

The former Secretary of Interior, Rogers C. B. Morton, has commended Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson for recent accomplishments in Indian Affairs.

In an April 30 letter to the Commissioner, Morton noted major legislative achievements, the increased involvement of Indian people in BIA programs and the predominantly Indian leadership established within the Bureau.