Past News Items

Sidney L. Mills, director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs' office of trust responsibilities, has been appointed director of the BIA's area office at Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ross Swimmer, Interior assistant secretary for Indian affairs announced today.

Mills, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, served as the Albuquerque area director from 1978 to 1982, before coming to Washington for the position in trust responsibilities. Both positions are at the senior executive service level.

Thank you, President Tonasket. Senator Jackson, Senator Nelson, Congressman Udall, Congressman Meeds, ladies and gentlemen.

Mrs. Hathaway and I are grateful for the opportunity to join the National Congress of American Indians in paying tribute to Senator Jackson and Congressman Udall. On behalf of the Interior Department, I want to express our appreciation for their significant efforts in securing passage of legislation settling the Havasupai boundary issue.

Proposed casino hotel-resort project expected to increase jobs, wages and revenues benefitting the Tribe and regional economy

Ross Swimmer, the Interior department's assistant secretary for Indian affairs, told tribal leaders, state officials and his own employees in New Mexico and Arizona that the Bureau of Indian Affairs is looking for a new way of doing business.

Swimmer began a four day speaking tour Jan. 12 in the two states to explain several major initiatives being proposed in the BIA's 1988 budget request.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is going to take a long, hard look at the educational needs of Indian, pre-school-age children. And what can or should be done to improve the development of infants, toddlers and youngsters up through the age of eight.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson has announced that a $325,000 contract has been awarded to the Bank Street College of Education New York City, to make the study.

Although have not seen the draft report from the Department's Inspector General, I am well aware of the deplorable conditions at some of the Indian Schools.

Joseph E. Kahklen, a member of the Tlingit Indian Tribe, has been appointed Assistant Area Director (Administration), in the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Juneau, Alaska, office. Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson announced the appointment would be effective March 16, 1975.

Kahklen's previous position was Area Personnel Officer, but he has been Acting Assistant Director since his predecessor, Clarence Antioquia, was named Area Director.

The Juneau office serves approximately 61,000 Indians, Eskimos and Aleuts in Alaska.

Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan will visit Scottsdale, Arizona, September 15, 1989, to sign the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Water Rights Settlement Act. The ceremony will take place at 11:00 a.m., at the Tribal Headquarters, 10005 East Osborne, in Scottsdale.

The agreement provides for the settlement of longstanding water right claims with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Under the pact, 122,400 acre feet of water will be delivered annually to the Indian community for the irrigation of 27,200 acres of agricultural land.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson has appointed Billie D. Ott, a member of the Choctaw Tribe of Oklahoma, Assistant Director, Support Services, in the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Office of Administration.

Ott, a graduate of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, had been Vice President and General Manager of Eastern Operations for the General Telephone and Electronics, Information Systems in Stamford, Conn. He has held other top management positions with Electronic Associates, Inc., and with General Electric.

WASHINGTON – The Department of the Interior announced today it is taking the final steps in its efforts to identify the whereabouts of approximately 17,000 Native Americans to provide compensation as part of the Cobell settlement.