Past News Items

Washington – Jerry Gidner, Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), announced today the Second National Conference on Child Protection & Child Welfare in Indian Country will be held August 19-22, 2008, in Billings, Mont.

Because of competitive interest in their property, two Indians of the Spokane Reservation in Washington have recently been offered a $317,500 bonus for a 15-year mining lease on their 120 acre tract in comparison with an offer of about one-fourth this amount which they wanted to Accept several months ago, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Glenn L. Emmons pointed out today.

WASHINGTON – Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Carl J. Artman today announced that the Interior Department has published final regulations in the Federal Register implementing Title V of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-58) regarding Tribal Energy Resource Agreements (TERAs) under the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act. The regulations will become effective on April 9, 2008.

Appointment of Kenneth F. Lee and Dr. Ebbe Curtis Hoff, both of Richmond, Va., as members of the Indian Bureau's special commission to study alcoholism in selected Indian areas of the Southwest was announced today by Commissioner of Indian Affairs Glenn L. Emmons.

WASHINGTON – James E. Cason, Associate Deputy Secretary announces today that Grayford Payne, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Indian Affairs was one of fifteen individuals to receive the 2005 Secretary’s Executive Leadership Award at a ceremony held today at the Department of the Interior.

Award of a $243,370.50 contract for construction of irrigation works on the Hogback Unit of the Navajo Indian Reservation near Shiprock, New Mexico, was announced today by the Department of the Interior.

The successful bidder is Daniels Construction Co. of Albuquerque, N. Mex. Two higher bids were also received.

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton today paid tribute to the courageous men and women from the Department of the Interior who participated in the Gulf Coast Hurricane Relief effort last year. One hundred and twenty men and women representing thirteen departments and bureaus were chosen to represent the more than six thousand DOI employees who worked tirelessly to bring relief to the devastated citizens of the Gulf Coast Region.

Award of two contracts for rehabilitation of dormitories at Cheyenne and Arapaho School, Concho, Oklahoma, and at Ft. Sill School, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, was announced today by the Department of the Interior.

Los Angeles, CA - Deputy Secretary of the Interior Steven Griles today joined representatives of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the San Luis Rey Indian Water Authority, the City of Escondido and the Vista Irrigation District to sign Principles of Agreement for the San Luis Rey Indian Water Settlement Act.

Award of a $271,570 contract for construction of day school facilities at Borrego Pass on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico to Wilson Hockinson & Cantrall, Inc.; of Albuquerque was announced today by the Department of the Interior.

Two other New Mexico firms submitted higher bids of $279,900 and $283,630.

The new four-classroom school will serve 120 Indian children living in the Borrego Pass area. It will be erected at the site of the present trailer school operated by the Indian Bureau.