Louis R. Bruce, Commissioner of Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior, today announced the names of 28 tribes that will initially participate in BIA’s Reservation Acceleration Program (RAP).
RAP is a process by which tribes negotiate changes in existing loca1BIA budgets to insure that these programs support the tribes t own priorities.
In announcing the first 28 tribes, Commissioner Bruce emphasized that funds will not be taken from non-participating tribes to finance the operation.
"We look forward to many more tribes taking part in RAP,” Commissioner Bruce said. This effort gives life to President Nixon is self-determination policy for America's Indians because it is both an operational and budgetary reality.
"I take this occasion to welcome participation by all other tribes in the Reservation or Tribal Acceleration Programs. “
Commissioner Bruce visited Oklahoma on March 8th and 9th where he met with tribal1eaders and discussed the development of special Tribal Acceleration Program (TAP) plans to meet the particular needs of that State's Indians. The Commissioner and his staff have already commenced the TAP negotiation process with the eastern and western Oklahoma tribes and the two BIA Area Offices. The Bureau is working to establish Indian Action Teams in Oklahoma to develop Indian construction companies, train Indian manpower, provide construction equipment to tribes and complete construction projects in Indian communities.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs staff will soon visit the Navajo Reservation, Nevada, Alaska and California to discuss how RAP will apply to Native Americans in these areas. Special RAP approaches will also be developed through direct consultation with the Pueblos of New Mexico and other smaller tribes not adequately served by the Bureau.
Commissioner Bruce also announced that he is appointing James Hena, formerly Executive Assistant to the Commissioner and a Pueblo Indian, to the position of Program Manager-Reservation Acceleration Program. Mr. Hena will spend his full time in the implementation of the RAP program.
Criteria for selection of the tribes were finalized here on Friday, March 3rd after three days of consultation with an advisory committee composed of representatives of the National Tribal Chairmen's Association, BIA staff, and representatives of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Indian Health Service, Office of Economic Opportunity, Economic Development Administration and the Office of Minority Business Enterprises.
Fifteen tribes will begin negotiations with BIA agency offices in April. They are:
| Tribe | State |
|
Flathead Fort Berthold Gila River Hoopa Leech Lake Mescalero Metlakatla Northern Cheyenne Red Lake Rocky Boy's Salt River San Carlos Southern Ute Yakima Zuni |
Montana North Dakota Arizona California Minnesota New Mexico Alaska Montana Minnesota Montana Arizona Arizona Colorado Washington New Mexico |
Thirteen tribes will begin negotiations in May. They are:
| Tribe | State |
|
Blackfeet Colorado River Crow Crow Creek Fort Belknap Fort Peck Lower Brule Miccosukee Rosebud Sisseton Standing Rock Uintah and Ouray White Mountain |
Montana Arizona Montana South Dakota Montana Montana South Dakota Florida South Dakota South Dakota North Dakota Utah Arizona |
