OPA

Interior Secretary Don Hodel today pledged to work with tribal governments so that Indian reservations can share in economic prosperity and not be "islands surrounded by the rest of America."

Addressing a joint meeting of the National Congress of American Indians and the National Tribal Chairmen's Association in Tulsa, Okla., the Secretary also said that he does not plan to abolish the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) or to establish an additional agency to take over Indian trust responsibilities now administered by BIA.

Hodel lauded President Reagan's selection of Ross Swimmer, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, to be the new Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs in the Department of the Interior. Swimmer is awaiting Senate confirmation.

"His knowledge of tribal and Indian affairs and his understanding and skill in modern business management will be of tremendous value in achieving success in America's Indian programs," Hodel said of the nominee.

Reaffirming President Reagan's commitment to Indian self-determination and a government-to-government relationship between the Department and the Tribes, Hodel said that if Tribes are to have strong, effective governments they will eventually have to develop sound tribal economies and set their own priorities.

"Only the Tribes can decide when they are ready to assume more independence and take on the responsibilities of self-determination," Hodel said.

"We recognize and accept that the progress and decision making must be individual to each Tribe," Hodel said. “We also recognize, as you must, that Indian Tribes are not and cannot be islands surrounded by the rest of America. and that economic, social and governmental development will progress as Tribes are able to take advantage of the strengths of the American economy.”

The Secretary said the Administration will continue supporting appropriations to help Tribes develop their economies and to allow Tribes to administer contracted programs.

"But Tribes cannot count on automatic financial increases," Hodel added "And new money --federal or local --will be available to Tribes that are willing to accept the challenge of economic, political and social development."

Hodel noted that Swimmer was co-chairman of the President's Commission on Indian Reservation Economies, and that following consultation with tribal leaders, "we plan to move forward on appropriate recommendations (of the commission), particularly additional procurement opportunities from the Federal Government, technical assistance for economic development and emphasis on Trust.

"I can assure you that the (commission’s) report did not mandate abolishing the BIA, but it did suggest more programs should be run by Tribes addressed immediately," Hodel said.

The Secretary said he did not expect to implement a recommendation of the commission for a separate agency to handle trust responsibility issues.

"A separate agency would result in a duplication of effort and loss of momentum and would not be in the best interests of the Tribes," Hodel said.

He said that one of Swimmer's top priorities after confirmation by the Senate will be to improve the BIA capability i~ administering its trust responsibilities.

"This Administration respects all treaties, acts of Congress and other agreements made with Indian Tribes and will administer its trust responsibility accordingly through the Bureau of Indian Affairs," Hodel said.

The Secretary emphasized, "We will continue our efforts to make the Bureau of Indian Affairs a well managed organization that is responsive to the needs of Indian Tribes and Indian people," Hodel said.

He said their is no plan to change the number of BIA field offices.

"Delegation of greater authority and responsibility to field offices coupled with more frequent and extensive communication with the fields should work to make the bureau more responsive to tribal needs" Hodel said.

Interior Assistant Secretary Ken Smith announced today new assignments for four Bureau of Indian Affairs area directors all of them members of the Federal Government's senior executive service.

The new appointments are as follows:

Sidney Mills, the Albuquerque area director, has been named director of the Bureau's Office of Trust Responsibilities in Washington, D. C.

Vincent Little, director of the Bureau's Portland, Oregon area office, replaces Mills in Albuquerque.

Stan Speaks, director of the Anadarko, Oklahoma area office, is the new director of the Portland office. Maurice w. (Bill) Babby, director of the area office at Sacramento, California, goes to Anadarko as director of that office.

Sidney L. Mills, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, was director of the Bureau's Albuquerque, New Mexico area office. He was appointed to that position in 1978, after serving for three years as the executive assistant to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in Washington, D. C. A Navy veteran, Mills entered Federal service in 1973 in the Aberdeen area office where he served as the supply and contracting officer and as acting deputy director. He had previously been purchasing manager for the Great Western Sugar Company; merchandise control manager, Creative Merchandising, Inc.; and purchasing manager for Sundstrand Aviation, all in Denver, Colorado.

Vincent Little, a member of the Mohave Tribe, was director of the BIA's Portland area office, appointed to that position in March, 1977. He began work with BIA as a teacher at the Phoenix Indian School in 1957. He was an enrollment officer and tribal operations officer at the Western Washington Agency from 1963 to 1967. He then worked as assistant superintendent at the Hoopa agency in northern California. From 1970 to 1973 he was the education program administrator at Phoenix Indian School and then became the superintendent at the Northern Idaho agency. A U.S. Army veteran, Little graduated from the Arizona State University in 1957 and received a Master's degree there in 1961.

Stan Speaks, a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, was appointed area director at Anadarko, Oklahoma in 1975. He had previously been the acting superintendent of the Intermountain Indian School at Brigham City, Utah were he had also served for five years as the supervisory guidance counselor. He worked in Indian education programs with the Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1959 to 1975. He is a graduate of the Northeastern State college of Oklahoma, where he also earned a Master's in education.

Maurice W. Babby, Oglala Sioux, was named director of the Sacramento area office in August, 1981. He had been director of the BIA's office of administration in Washington, D. c. prior to going to Sacramento. Babby began his career in the Bureau at the Sacramento office. He was superintendent of the Fort Belknap agency in Montana 1967-70 and assistant area director at Billings. Montana 1970-79. A graduate of Sacramento State University, Babby earned a law degree from the LaSalle Extension University in 1969 and a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma in 1977.

Interior Secretary Don Hodel today announced the appointment of LaDonna Harris, a nationally known enrolled member of the Comanche Tribe, as the U.S. representative "to the Inter-American Indian Institute (III.).

"I am very pleased that a highly- qualified Indian woman with such close ties to the Indian community has agreed to serve in this important position," Hodel said. "I believe that her many years of service to the Indian people in this country will go a long way toward meeting the III goal of improving the conditions and the relations with the indigenous people throughout the Western Hemisphere.

A native of Oklahoma, Harris currently serves as president of Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO) in Washington, D.C. AIO, an organization started by Harris 15 years ago, is a national Indian advocacy organization working to strengthen tribal governments. She also organized Oklahomans for Indian Opportunity and has served as a leader and advisor to various Indian advocacy organizations.

"I look forward to using the experience I have gained working with tribal leaders and the Indian community over many years in addressing the many issues confronting the indigenous people in the Western Hemisphere," she said. "I welcome the opportunity to make a contribution to the goals of the Institute, particularly during this time as we experience a resurgence of Indianness in this country arid throughout North America."

Harris previously served as a consultant to the Institute and participated in the 8th Inter-American Indian Congress in 1981 in Yucatan, including presentation of a technical paper on economic development. She also traveled to Guyana in 1983 to enlist that country as a member of the Institute.

Harris, 52, was appointed by President Johnson as a member of the National Indian Opportunities Council and continued service on that body under Presidents Nixon and Ford. She was appointed by President Carter as a member of the President's National Commission on Mental Health and chaired a task force on Indian health problems.

The Institute, established by international convention in 1940, is comprised of 17 nations. Its primary purpose includes dissemination of information to member nations in planning economic, social, educational and cultural improvements for Indians throughout the hemisphere. The Institute acts in a consultative and advisory capacity for the various national bureaus/institutes of Indian Affairs.

Harris replaces Dave Warren who resigned earlier this month and was appointed Secretary General of the 9th Congress now meeting in Santa Fe, N.M.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is publishing in the Federal Register July 15, 1982, regulations governing treaty Indian fishing · for sockeye and pink salmon in Fraser River waters coming under the Convention between the United States and Canada.

The regulations are designed to be consistent with the United States' obligations to Canada under the Fraser River Convention and with the obligation to the treaty tribes to provide the opportunity to catch one-half of the United States' share of the fish.

To allow the affected tribes to exercise their treaty fishing rights in a timely manner, these regulations are being issued on an emergency basis and are, consequently, effective upon publication.

For additional information contact Robert Ringo, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2625 Parkmont Land, Building A, Olympia, Washington 98502, (206/753-9460).

Interior Secretary James Watt, responding to the President's instructions, today announced formation of a Policy Advisory Group and negotiating teams to spearhead his Department's effort to achieve negotiated settlements for the more than 50 outstanding lawsuits over Indian water claims.

"President Reagan has forcefully indicated his concern that these suits-- which have stalled essential economic progress in both Indian and non-Indian areas--be settled quickly through negotiated settlements that are equitable to all parties," Watt said.

"To be successful, negotiations must include everyone concerned, including the Federal Government, and Federal representatives must thoroughly understand the issues and local concerns," he said.

The Interior Policy Advisory Group will be chaired by Interior Solicitor William H. Coldiron and include Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Kenneth L. Smith, Assistant Secretary for Land and Water Resources Garrey E. Carruthers and Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks G. Ray Arnett Also in the Group will be Fish and Wildlife Service Director Robert Jantzen, National Park Service Director Russell Dickenson and Bureau of Reclamation
Commissioner Robert N. Broadbent.

The Group will advise him on policy issues involved in various negotiations, Watt said, and help in the selection of negotiating teams to work in the field.

It is expected that most teams will be headed by agency officials, including Department of Justice lawyers, who "will have complete access to the Interior Department's resources through Deputy under Secretary William P. Horn, who I have asked to be the Chief Coordinator of Negotiations," Watt said.

The teams, which will include Interior officials from Washington, D.C., and field offices and other Federal agency officials as appropriate, will be designed to work on groups of claims and conduct day-to-day negotiations.

The teams will be assisted by local Advisory Boards appointed by the Secretary. "These Boards will include a full cross-sect ion of affected local interests in Indian and non-Indian communities, 11 Watt said.”They will provide the vital historic, social and environmental background essential to equitable and successful negotiation," Watt said.

Watt noted that legislation would be required in many instances to implement negotiated water suit settlements.

"Lawsuits consume time and resources that could be put to the more productive use of developing resources once the water is allocated," Watt said

"But all concerned must realize that the President and I will support only those negotiated settlements that were developed by all affected parties and represent a fair settlement of both financial and water disputes. The recent Papago case is demonstrative. Negotiations, which did not involve the Federal Government, yielded a settlement that required the United States to pay an unfair share of costs which were primarily the obligations of local water users. The President vetoed the legislative enactment of the Papago plan and will continue to object to similar unbalanced settlements," he said.

Sidney L. Mills, director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs' office of trust responsibilities, has been appointed director of the BIA's area office at Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ross Swimmer, Interior assistant secretary for Indian affairs announced today.

Mills, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, served as the Albuquerque area director from 1978 to 1982, before coming to Washington for the position in trust responsibilities. Both positions are at the senior executive service level.

The Albuquerque area director is responsible for BIA operations and activities in New Mexico and Colorado, serving 19 Pueblo tribal groups, the Jicarilla and Mescalero Apache Tribes, the Southern Utes and Ute Mountain Utes, and the Ramah Navajo reservation. Mills is expected to begin his new duties early in 1986.

A Navy veteran, Mills entered federal service in 1973. His experience includes a six month stint in 1980 as the acting deputy assistant secretary for Indian affairs and a similar detail in 1979 as the acting deputy commissioner for the BIA. He has been executive assistant to the commissioner, acting deputy area director and contracting officer for the Bureau's area office in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

Prior to 1973, he served in the private sector as a purchasing manager for the Great Western Sugar Company; merchandise control manager, Creative Merchandising, Inc., and purchasing manager for the Sundstrand Aviation Company, all in Denver, Colorado.

The Albuquerque position has been vacant since August 30, 1985 when former area director Vincent Little retired.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has announced that it is publishing in the Federal Register, July 21, 1982, regulations to govern the preparation of a membership roll of the Pribilof Islands Aleut Communities of St. Paul and St. George. The roll to be prepared will serve as a basis for a per capita distribution of judgment funds awarded to the communities by the U.S. Court of Claims.

For additional information, contact the Enrollment Coordinator, Enrollment Coordinating Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pouch 7-1971, Anchorage, Alaska 99510, telephone 907/271-3761.

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Alaskan land selections by Alaska Native corporations which exceed the acreage to which corporations are entitled may be reduced through procedures proposed in the Federal Register by the Department of the Interior.

Native corporations, entitled to a total of 44 million acres of land under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971, applied for more acreage than they are entitled to receive during the early 1970s when the Act required them to select lands for possible conveyance.

The Native corporations were allowed to make these over selections to ensure receipt of the full acreage allotted to them. Interior could not ensure conveyance of many of the lands since they were subject of various legal questions. Current regulations allow over selection, but do not specify a maximum amount allowable.

Proposed regulations would set a method for determining what over selection is and a system for reducing it. The regulations would also give the Secretary authority to reject over selections that exceed 125 percent of the acreage to which the corporation is entitled.

Preparation of the regulations was begun as a result of a stipulation agreement between Interior and the State of Alaska Comments on the proposed regulations will be accepted until September 19, 1982 by the Director (140), Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240.

Revised regulations governing Indian fishing on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation are being published in the Federal Register, July 29, 1982, Interior Assistant Secretary Ken Smith said today.

The regulations, which become effective August 1, ban gillnet fishing during the fall chinook run from 9 a.m. Monday to 5 p.m. Wednesday of each week and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays.

Proposed regulations were published for review and comment June 1. The Federal Register notice includes information on changes recommended and made and those that were not made.

Normally, tribal governments are responsible for regulation of Indian fishing on a reservation. Such tribal regulation has not been possible on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation because not all tribes on the reservation have functioning governments. Consequently, the Department of the Interior issues regulations to protect the fishery resources and to establish procedures for the exercise of the fishing rights of the Indians of the reservation.

For further information contact Wilson Barber, Superintendent, Northern California Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs, P.O. Box 367, Hoopa, California 95546 (916/625-4285).

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The Minerals Management Service (MMS has extended the deadline to five days for oil and gas operators to report the startup of production from new wells or wells recompleted in new intervals on Federal and Indian lands.

MMS Director Harold E. Doley, Jr., said the previous one-day deadline for reporting the startup of production to district supervisors was impractical.

"To avoid penalties, operators felt compelled to hand-deliver written notifications, sometimes at great expense," Doley said.

The Commission on Fiscal Accountability of the Nation's Energy Resources had recommended that operators immediately report the start of new production from every well -- not just a one-time notification when the first well on a lease begins production -- as a way to tighten Federal royalty collections from onshore and offshore leases. The new requirement has been made a condition for district supervisors to grant applications for drilling permits and is effective immediately.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has also recognized the validity of a five-day deadline in its consideration of the Federal Royalty Management Act of 1982 (S. 2305).

Doley said the new deadline "will accommodate the concerns of operators by setting a practical deadline, while still meeting the intent of the Commission’s recommendation for immediate reporting of production starts."