Past News Items

New regulation providing extra sockeye salmon fishing time under long standing treaty rights to members of eight Washington State Indian Tribes were published June 23 in the Federal Register, Interior Assistant Secretary Forrest Gerard announced today.

The new regulations will be effective June 25, in time for the salmon season beginning June 26. They replace similar regulations published in June of 1977 in the Federal Register.

Only guardians appointed under State law will be entitled to receive the property of enrolled members of the Klamath Indian Tribe of Oregon who are minors under the laws of the State where they reside or otherwise incompetent to manage their own affairs, Secretary of the Interior Douglas McKay said today.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As part of President Obama’s commitment to fulfilling this nation’s trust responsibilities to American Indians and Alaska Natives, the Office of the Secretary of the Interior will have the Secretarial Commission on Indian Trust Administration and Reform hold a public Webinar meeting on Monday, August 13, 2012.

Representatives of the Interior Department, other, U.S. agencies, and Alaskan Eskimos met last weekend and reached an understanding on the identification and counting of endangered bowhead whales in an effort to avoid exceeding the Eskimo quota for this year.

Secretary of the Interior Fred A. Seaton today called attention to the final roll of the Klamath Indian Tribe of Oregon which is being published in the Federal Register dated November 2.

The roll, comprising 2,133 names, was compiled under the Klamath Termination Act of 1954 and represents the final listing of tribal members after disposition of all appeals that have been made to the Secretary. Only those people on the roll are entitled under the Termination Act to share in the benefits of tribal property.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Acting Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Donald E. “Del” Laverdure has expressed his sincere condolences to the family of fallen Bureau of Indian Affairs wildland firefighter Anthony Polk, who was killed in the line of duty on June 8. His remarks were conveyed in a letter to the Polk family that will be read at a memorial service being held this afternoon on the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation in southwestern Arizona.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs announced today that proposed revisions in the regulations governing contracts and grants under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (P.L. 93-638) were published in the Federal Register March 28.

The Self-Determination Act regulations require that the Bureau annually consult with Indian tribes and organizations about the need to revise the regulations. These proposed changes are the result of the consultation with Indian tribes and organizations.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs expects to enable about 500 adult Indians to enroll in accredited vocational training schools during the fiscal year that ends next June 30, Assistant Secretary of the Interior Roger Ernst announced today.

Under the Indian school vocational training program, the Bureau will not only provide tuition but also transportation to the place of training and subsistence during the course of study for the trainee and his immediate family dependents.

WASHINGTON – Acting Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Donald “Del” Laverdure today posted on the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs blog “The First Anniversary of Let's Move! in Indian Country Brings Together Renowned Panelists and the Positive Accomplishments in Indian Country’s Quest for Healthier Living and Eating.”

Secretary of the Interior Cecil D. Andrus today urged the Senate Energy committee to adopt President Carter's recommendation to designate 92 million acres of federal lands in Alaska as new or expanded units of the National Park, Wildlife Refuge, Wild and Scenic River or National Forest systems.

"Through enactment of these proposals, we can be certain that the crown jewels of Alaska -- its most spectacular natural environments, recreation areas and wildlife habitats -- will remain intact for the benefit of our nation's citizens," Andrus said.