Past News Items

A plan for the use and distribution of $725,000 awarded by the Indian Claims Commission to the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Washington is being published in the Federal Register, the Bureau of Indian Affairs announced today.

The award is compensation for lands taken from the Joseph Band of the Nez Perce in 1875.

According to the plan approved by Congress, effective May 1, the portion of the award going to the Colville Tribes will be distributed on a per capita basis to the members.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As part of President Obama’s commitment to help strengthen American Indian communities, the Department of the Interior today released its revised Land Buy-Back Program Valuation Plan. The Appraisal Foundation (TAF), the nation’s foremost authority on appraisal standards and qualifications, performed a comprehensive review of the draft Plan, which was revised to incorporate all of TAF’s recommendations.

Secretary of the Interior Douglas McKay announced today that Don C. Foster, area director for the Bureau of Indian Affairs at Minneapolis, Minn., has been designated, effective November 16, to serve as acting area director for the Bureau's operations in Alaska with headquarters in Juneau, pending the selection of a successor to Hugh J. Wade. Mr. Wade, who has been area director for the Bureau at Juneau since 1950, was recently advised that for administrative reasons his services will no longer be required.

The 1978 calendar of Indian fairs, exhibits, ceremonials, dances, feasts and other celebrations is now available, the Bureau of Indian Affairs announced today.

Most of the events in the state-by-state listings occur in the summer or fall months and are open to tourists and other visitors. The pocket-size booklet lists more than 500 items, giving the nature of the activity, dates and locations.

The booklet also contains some summary information about Indians in the United States and the addresses of Bureau of Indian Affairs field offices.

Albuquerque, N.M. -- Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) will undergo a comprehensive evaluation visit October 7-9, 2013 by a team representing The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The public is being invited to submit comments on the school until September 9, 2013. SIPI is currently in “candidacy” status and is a candidate for initial accreditation by the Commission.

Public school enrollment of Indian children is increasing at a fast rate a Bureau of Indian Affairs survey released by Secretary of the Interior Douglas McKay, shows. Comparative figures for the years 1942 and 1952 show that while the number of Indian children enrolled in all schools rose some 25 percent in that decade, the number attending public schools in their home states rose approximately 40 percent.

Interior Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Forrest Gerard announced today the appointment of George V. Goodwin and Rick C. Lavis as Deputy Assistant Secretaries for Indian Affairs.

Gerard said that organizational changes in the Bureau of Indian Affairs to create the double deputy positions were recently approved.

WASHINGTON – Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Director Michael Black will deliver the keynote address at the 22nd Annual Indian Country Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Service on Thursday, May 2, 2013. The Office of Justice Services hosts the event at the Bureau of Indian Affairs United States Indian Police Academy in Artesia, N.M. to honor and commemorate tribal, state, local and federal law enforcement officers working on federal Indian lands and in tribal communities who have given their lives in the line of duty.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs today made public an exchange of letters between Commissioner Glenn L. Emmons and Mr. Reuben Olson, director of public relations, Anselm Forum, Inc., Gary, Indiana.

The correspondence deals with basic questions of Indian affairs policy on which there has been widespread public misunderstanding. The text of the two letters follows:

ANSELM FORUM INC. Gary, Indiana

Bureau of Indian Affairs November 1, 1954

Washington, D. C.

A plan for the use and distribution of more than $400,000 awarded to the Pillager Bands of Chippewa Indians by the Indian Claims Commission was published in the Federal Register on May 27, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson said today.

The Award represents additional compensation for some 814,000 acres of land in west central Minnesota cede to the United States under the treaty of August 21, 1847.

Chippewa descendants of the Pillager Bands are now affiliated with either the Leech Lake Reservation of the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota.