WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of the Interior (DOI) will continue its schedule of presentations to employees of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians (OST) on the reorganization of both agencies. This week, employees of the Northwest Region will be briefed on June 4 in Portland, Ore., and June 5 in Spokane, Wash. Western Region employees will be briefed on June 4 in Phoenix, Ariz. The Department is seeking to increase accountability and efficiency in its trust management functions by reorganizing the agencies that manage Indian trust funds and assets. Presentations will take place in June at the Bureau’s 12 regional offices and other locations around the nation.
The employees will be briefed on the Department’s plan for reorganization of the BIA and OST, and on the Comprehensive Trust Management Plan (CTMP) at 8:30 a.m. sessions on Wednesday and Thursday. The CTMP describes how the new BIA and OST organizational structures will improve the delivery of trust services when the reorganization is completed. Tribal leaders from the region will also be briefed on the reorganization effort in subsequent sessions.
In 2002, the Department and the Tribes together undertook an ambitious effort to change the way the BIA and OST deliver trust and non-trust services to Tribes, tribal service populations and trust beneficiaries. The Plan is based on agreements reached with the Joint Tribal Leaders/DOI Task Force established by Secretary Gale Norton to examine and recommend proposals for improving service delivery to recipients and beneficiaries.
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WHO: |
U.S. Department of the Interior |
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WHAT: |
Departmental presentations on the reorganization of the BIA and OST to Northwest and Western Region Federal employees. |
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WHEN: |
Northwest Region: Wednesday, June 4, 2003 (all start times are local time): Portland, Ore. 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Presentation of BIA/OST reorganization 10:00 a.m.: DOI officials’ availability for press interviews and photo ops -Continued- Northwest Region: Thursday, June 5, 2003 (all start times are local time): Spokane, Wash. 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Presentation of BIA/OST reorganization 10:00 a.m.: DOI officials’ availability for press interviews and photo ops Western Region: Wednesday, June 4, 2003 (all start times are local time): Phoenix, Ariz. 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Presentation of BIA/OST reorganization 10:00 a.m.: DOI officials’ availability for press interviews and photo ops |
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WHERE: |
Northwest Region – Portland, Ore. (June 4) Federal Bldg. Auditorium, 911 N.E. 11th Avenue, Portland, Ore., (503) 231-6702. Northwest Region – Spokane, Wash. (June 5) Ramada Inn Airport, Washington Inland and Empire Rooms – Lower Level, 8909 Airport Road, Spokane, Wash., (509) 838-5211. Western Region – Phoenix, Ariz. (June 4) BIA Western Regional Office, 12th Floor Conference Rooms A&B, 2 Arizona Center, 400 N. 5th Street, Phoenix, Ariz., (602) 379-6600. |
CREDENTIALS: Press registration will be provided. Please bring your sanctioned media credentials and if possible, wear on your shirt collar or around your neck for easy viewing. This will assist our staff. Press seating will be provided.
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