Media Contact: Nedra Darling, OPA-IA Phone: 202-219-4152
For Immediate Release: May 30, 2013
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WASHINGTON – The Secretarial Commission on Indian Trust Administration and Reform will hold the sixth in a series of public meetings on June 7, 2013, in Oklahoma City, Okla., to gather information towards developing a comprehensive evaluation of the Department of the Interior’s management and administration of Indian trust assets.

Commission members will hear from speakers knowledgeable about the Federal-Indian trust relationship, other trust models and trust reform. They also will receive an update on leasing regulations issued by the Department to implement the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership Act (HEARTH Act), which was signed by President Obama on July 30, 2012. The Act, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, grants greater authority to federally recognized tribes to develop and implement their own regulations for leasing on federal Indian lands.

In addition, management consultant Grant Thornton LLP will be present to gather attendees’ perspectives on how federal Indian trust administration currently operates. In March 2013, the company was awarded a contract in partnership with Cherokee Services Group, a Cherokee Nation-owned business, to perform a comprehensive evaluation of the Department’s management of the trust administration system in support of the Commission’s efforts.

“The Secretarial Commission on Indian Trust Administration and Reform is actively seeking views about the Department of the Interior’s management of the trust administration system,” said Commission member Stacy Leeds, “and we welcome Indian Country’s input, perspectives and recommendations on how to improve it. The Commission strongly encourages attendees to the June 7 public meeting, as well as those unable to attend, to share their views and suggestions with the management consultant, Grant Thornton, who will be there to gather that information.”

Members of the public who wish to attend the Commission’s meeting should RSVP by June 3 at the following address: trustcommission@ios.doi.gov. For more information about the June 7 meeting and the Commission’s work, visit http://www.doi.gov/cobell/commission/index.cfm. Submissions to Grant Thornton may be emailed to Trust.Commission@us.gt.com. The Secretarial Commission on Indian Trust Administration and Reform was established in 2011 to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the Department’s management and administration of nearly $4 billion in American Indian trust assets over two years and to offer recommendations on improvements in the future. Building on progress made with the historic Cobell Settlement, the accountable, transparent and customer-friendly management of these substantial funds and assets. All of the Commission’s meetings are open to the public.

WHO:

Secretarial Commission on Indian Trust Administration and Reform Members to be Present:

  • Stacy Leeds (Cherokee Nation), Member and Acting Chair
  • Tex G. Hall (Three Affiliated Tribes), Member
  • Dr. Peterson Zah (Navajo Nation), Member
  • Robert Anderson (Minnesota Chippewa Tribe-Boise Forte Band), Member Lizzie Marsters, Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary and Designated Federal Officer for the Commission, DOI

WHAT:

DOI Secretarial Commission on Indian Trust Administration and Reform public meeting.

WHEN:

Friday, June 7, 2013, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (CDT)

WHERE:

Courtyard Marriott Oklahoma City Downtown, 2 West Reno, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73102; Phone: 405-232-2290.

CREDENTIALS: This invitation is extended to credentialed media representatives, who must display sanctioned media credentials for admittance to the event.