Past News Items

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk today announced that the Indian Affairs Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), is soliciting proposals from tribes. The grants will be funded through IEED’s Energy and Mineral Development Program (EMDP) that enables tribes to assess, evaluate and promote the development of tribal energy and mineral resources. A formal solicitation was published in the Federal Register on April 27, 2010, by the Department of the Interior.

An April 24 White House announcement that a supplemental appropriation of $10.9 million for law enforcement on Indian reservations was being requested from the Congress by the Administration was welcomed by Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson.

"The Indian community will be pleased to know that this request is being submitted to the Congress," he said. "The upgrading of law enforcement services, including the operations of the tribal courts, is badly needed."

A suit in behalf of treaty fishing rights of Indian tribes in the State of Washington has been filled by the Department of Justice at the request of the Department of the Interior. The suit is similar to one filled two years ago in Oregon.

In announcing the filing, Secretary of the Interior Walter J. Hickel said, "The decision in the Oregon case has done much to clarify Indian fishing rights on the Columbia river. We hope this suit will have the same effect on fishing rights in the Puget Sound and Olympic Peninsula areas of the State of Washington."

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As part of President Obama’s efforts to empower tribal nations and strengthen economies, on Tuesday, November 27, 2012, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will join Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Kevin K. Washburn to make a major announcement regarding the regulation of surface leasing on Indian lands.

Media may participate by dialing 1-888-769-8791 and providing the access code INTERIOR.

Louise Perkins, Tribal Government Worker, is Buried: Louise Gilbault Perkins, of Michigan Ottawa who worked 36 years with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, died November 22. Louise was administrative officer for the division of tribal government services. After attending Haskell Institute in 1941-42, Louise went to work for the BIA in Chicago as a Clerk-stenographer. She came to Washington in 1949 to work in the office of tribal relations under D'Arcy McNickle and has been since then part of the Washington scene for most tribal delegations.

In the second of three bid openings this month, the Navajo Indians received total bonus bids of $3,247,094.91 for oil and gas leases on 82,200 acres of tribally owned land in San Juan County, New Mexico, Secretary of the Interior Fred A. Seaton announced today.

In a previous bid opening November 1 for leases on other lands in the "four corners" area of Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico the Navajos received $27,476,212.95 on approximately 102,000 acres of tribal land and 1,100 acres of "allotted" or individually owned land.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today welcomed leadership from the Hopi Tribe and the Navajo Nation to Washington, D.C. to hold discussions on a potential Little Colorado River water settlement that could be acted upon by Congress. This is the first time that leaders of the two tribes have joined with a Secretary of the Interior to address this shared water issue.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs announced today that Raymond W. Mayotte has been appointed Superintendent of the Minnesota Agency at Bemidji. He succeeds Edwin Demery who is now the BIA area director for the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa.

In accordance with their own expressed wishes, about 2,100 Indians of western Oregon are taking over full control of their ow property and will no longer receive special Federal services because of their status as Indians under a proclamation signed this week (August 13) by Secretary of the Interior Fred A. Seaton.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar kicked off the White House Tribal Nations Conference today at the Interior Department, emphasizing President Obama’s commitment to reform, restructure and rebuild federal relations with Indian Country and underscoring initiatives that are building safer and stronger American Indian and Alaska Native communities.