Past News Items

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The Bureau of Indian Education Family & Child Education Program (FACE) has received national recognition for its exceptional work in promoting young children’s heath and preventing childhood obesity. The recognition came from the first lady’s Let’s Move! Child Care initiative, Acting Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Del Laverdure announced today.

Joseph W. Gorrell, Deputy Director of Interior's Bureau of Outdoor Recreation (BOR), has been appointed to direct financial management programs for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson announced today.

Commissioner Thompson said, ''This is a position of critical importance so I am pleased to fill it with someone so highly qualified and competent."

Award of a $73,494.33 contract for construction of additional floor space in the dormitory facilities for Indian children at Snowflake, Arizona was announced today by the Department of the Interior.

The successful bidder is D. H. Walker Construction Co., Inc. of Phoenix. The only other bid was submitted by Bob Roberts & Associates in the amount of $87,430.

The dormitory is operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs for Navajo children attending the public school at Snowflake. Approximately 120 Indian students above grade 5 or 12 years of age are enrolled there.

WASHINGTON – Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk today announced that the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) Challenge was given to the KinLani Bordertown Dormitory in Flagstaff, Ariz., a Bureau of Indian Education-funded facility. BIE Director Keith Moore, NFL player Levi Horn of the Chicago Bears, who is the ambassador for Nike N7, Nike, Inc.’s program to bring access to sports to Native American and Aboriginal communities in the United States and Canada, were in attendance to present the award.

Regulations governing the enrollment of Cherokee Indians who will share in the per capita distribution of $1 million are being published in the Federal Register, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson announced today.

The fund to be distributed is part of an award made by the Indian Claims Commission to the Cherokee Nation as additional compensation for lands taken between 1872 and 1893.

According to the regulations, only those Cherokees who were alive on November 5, 1975 and whose names appear on one of eight final rolls of the tribe are eligible for enrollment.

Secretary of the Interior Fred. A. Seaton called attention today to the publication of a proposed membership roll of the Peoria Indian Tribe of Oklahoma in the Federal Register of May 9, 1957.

The roll was prepared by the tribe under terms of a 1956 congressional law which provides for termination of Federal supervision over the property of the tribe by 1958.

WASHINGTON – Today, February 13, 2012, Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk will provide an overview of the Obama administration’s proposed fiscal year 2013 budget for the Indian Affairs in a 3 p.m. EST teleconference for news media representatives.

The telephone conference can be accessed by dialing 1-800-369-3172 and entering the code 11954. Following the presentation, there will be a question and answer session for news media reporters.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson pointed yesterday to this Administration's "solid record of achievement" in achieving restorations of land to Indian tribes in an address to the National Tribal Chairmen's Association in Phoenix, Ariz., December 6.

The National Tribal Chairmen's Association, which includes the heads of each American Indian tribe recognized by the United States government and entitled to services of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, is holding its annual meeting in Phoenix December 5 - 8.

Award of a $64,322.48 contract for construction of 2.508 miles of bituminous paved highway on the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation, Imperial County, California, to Basich Brothers Construction Company and N. L. Basich, South San Gabriel, California, was announced today by the Department of the Interior.

The Basichs were the low bidder. Seven other bids were received, ranging from $78,322.48 to $116,857.20.

WASHINGTON – Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Del Laverdure today announced that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) will be holding tribal consultation meetings for tribal leaders to review and provide input on draft regulations on leasing in Indian Country. The draft regulations would establish subparts to 25 CFR Part 162 (Leases and Permits) addressing residential leasing, business leasing and wind and solar resource permitting and leasing on Indian trust lands.