Media Contact: Nedra Darling, OPA-IA Phone: 202-219-4152
For Immediate Release: September 17, 2001

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Neal A. McCaleb will be a guest speaker today on Native America Calling, the national public affairs and news radio program on the American Indian Radio on Satellite (AIROS) and National Public Radio networks. He will address Indian Country’s response to calls for rescue and recovery support following last Tuesday’s terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Financial contributions from American Indian tribes nationwide currently total about $1.6 million in addition to humanitarian aid such as blood drives and rescue efforts. For example, the Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation of Kansas, the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut, the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians of California and the Tulalip Tribes of Washington State are among the tribes who have donated funds to the rescue efforts.

Also, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation of Connecticut turned two high-speed ferry boats it owns into recovery vessels that rescued people fleeing from the World Trade Center who leaped from a Manhattan pier to escape the destruction, and ferried firefighters, police officers and medical personnel from Long Island to the tragic scene.

For more information, contact NAC at 505-277-7999 or visit NAC’s web site www.nativeamericacalling.com.

WHO:

Interior Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Neal A. McCaleb.

WHAT:

Native American Calling, a national call-in radio program covering news and events affecting Indian Country.

WHEN:

1:00 EDT, Monday, September 17, 2001.

CHANNEL INFO:

1300-1359 ET, Digital Frequency B68.2, Galaxy 4R, Transponder B.

-BIA-