Past News Items

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Office of Justice Services (OJS) will hold its fourth trial advocacy training session of 2014 for tribal court personnel on June 23-26, 2014, in Albuquerque, N.M. This unique session widens the parameters of previous training sessions, by focusing on pre-trial writing and advocacy skills using a DUI fact pattern and the laws of the Navajo Nation.

MACON. GA. -- Ben Chekotah, 21, a Creek Indian, had never left Oklahoma before last May when he came to Ocmulgee National Monument, at Macon, Georgia, to work for the National Park Service as a park technician.

Secretary of the Interior Stewart L. Udall today announced the appointment of Richmond F. Allan of Billings, Mont., as an Associate Solicitor to head the Division of Indian Affairs in the Office of the Solicitor in Washington, D. C.

Mr. Allan, a native of Billings, has been an attorney with the Lands Division in the Department of Justice since February and now makes his home at Alexandria, Va., near Washington.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As part of President Obama’s commitment to upholding the nation’s trust responsibilities to American Indian and Alaska Natives, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn today announced that the Interior Department is seeking public comment on a proposed rule that would allow the Secretary of the Interior to consider petitions from Alaska Native tribes to take land into trust.

After great deliberation and reflection, I have determined that it is in the national interest of the United States to grant a right-of-way for the Trans -Alaska Pipeline which will transport crude petroleum from State lands in northern Alaska to the south coast port of Valdez.

Three 1965 honors graduates from Haskell Institute, the Bureau-operated vocational-technical school at Lawrence, Kansas, will be participants in a special graduation and award-presentation ceremony at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1951 Constitution Avenue, N.W. at 2:00 P.M. today.

The lure of the Nation's Capital brought the students to Washington a few days before the graduation ceremonies at Haskell. Commissioner of Indian Affairs Philleo Nash will, therefore, present them with their diplomas and honors awards.

Washington, D.C. – Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs Kevin K. Washburn today issued a decision to acquire a 21-acre parcel of land in Kay County, Oklahoma, in trust for the Kaw Nation of Oklahoma (Nation) for gaming purposes. The Tribe plans to construct and operate a small casino facility on the site, which also hosts the Tribe’s travel plaza that provides refueling to interstate traffic and will continue to operate on the site.

A roll to determine the members of the Pembina Band of Chippewa Indians eligible to share in awards totaling $237,127.82 in land claims funds is being prepared by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Area Office in Aberdeen, S. D., according to Louis R. Bruce, Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

The money comes from awards in settlement of Indian Claims Commission Dockets Nos. 18-A, 113 and 191 for the Pembina Band's one third interest in 7,488,280 acres of land in northwest Minnesota and northeast North Dakota, ceded under the treaty of October 2, 1863 (13 Stat. 667).

Where can a vacationer enjoy camping facilities, excellent hunting and fishing, while witnessing the pageant of a colorful and ancient pattern of life?

Indian reservations are the answer. Today, many tribes include recreational facilities in their plans for the economic development of their lands. Tourists are warmly welcomed to such areas, and, each year, the tribes play host to increasing number of visitors of all ages.

WASHINGTON - Assistant Secretary -Indian Affairs Kevin K. Washburn issued a Record of Decision this week to approve an application submitted by the Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians to lease up to 720 acres of reservation land to Tule Wind, LLC, for a portion of the Tule Wind Energy Project located near San Diego, California.

The lease approval will allow the Ewiiaapaayp Band, which is located in Alpine, California, to move forward with the construction, maintenance, and operation of up to 20 wind turbines and related facilities on the tribe’s trust lands.