Past News Items

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Kevin K. Washburn today announced that the College of the Muscogee Nation in Okmulgee, Okla., is eligible for operations funding from the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) under Title I of Public Law 95- 471, the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978, as amended. Funding to the College would commence in July 2014.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Louis R. Bruce today announced the appointment of William L. Benjamin, 54, an enrolled member of the Wisconsin Band of Chippewa Indians, to the post of Superintendent of the Fort Peck, Montana, and Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He assumed his duties October 31.

Benjamin replaces Anson A. Baker who has been transferred to the position of Superintendent of the Crow, Montana, and Agency of the Bureau. He comes to the Fort Peck Agency from the Wind River, Wyoming, and Agency of the Bureau where he was supervisory civil engineer.

The U. S. Department of the Interior today announced the appointment of Doyce L. Waldrip to the post of Superintendent of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in Oregon. He will replace Allan W. Galbraith who transfers to the Portland Area Office to become Assistant Area Director for economic development.

LAGUNA, NM – On Wednesday, December 11, as part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to strengthen education for Native youth, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn will visit New Mexico to tour a Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) tribally controlled grant school located on the Pueblo of Laguna reservation.

Duane C. Moxon, 51, has named Superintendent of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Seminole Agency, Hollywood, Florida, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Louis R. Bruce announced today. He moves to that post from & similar one at Turtle Mountain Agency, Belcourt, North Dakota, when he served for nearly two and a half years. Moxon re-places Eugene Barrett, who retired at the end of May.

Responsibilities of the Bureau of Indian Affairs could be carried out with greater benefits to the Indian people if there were greater rapport between Federal and State governments and between the Indians and non-Indians of each community, Philleo Nash, Commissioner of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, said today in Tucson, Ariz.

Commissioner Nash's comments were directed to representatives of labor, church groups, and government agencies attending a National Conference on Poverty in the Southwest which opened January 25.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Kevin K. Washburn today issued a decision approving a request by the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe to acquire 170 acres of land into trust in the town of Mashpee, Mass., for tribal governmental, cultural and conservation purposes, and 151 acres in trust in the City of Taunton, Mass., for the purpose of constructing and operating a gaming facility and resort. The lands in both Mashpee and Taunton will become the tribe’s first lands held in trust.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Louis R. Bruce announced today the appointment of Curtis Geiogamah, 44, a Kiowa Indian from Mountain View, Okla., as Assistant Area Director (Administration) of the Phoenix Area Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs. He replaces Albert Lassiter who is retiring.

Geiogamah has served as the Administrative Officer of the Navajo Area Office for the past six years and prior to that time he was Budget Officer in another Area Office that also served the Navajo Tribe.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has announced the award of two contracts that will make on-the-job training available for 134 Indian workers.

A $65,375 contract was awarded to the First Seneca Corp. of New York State to train 124 Seneca Indians in occupations relating to the textile mill products industry. First Seneca is a corporation formed to promote industrial development on the two Seneca Reservations, in western New York. Most of the trainees will be employed as sewing machine operators and fitters in the production of pillows and other soft goods.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell joined Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Kevin K. Washburn and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) Director Dr. Charles M. “Monty” Roessel today in announcing important funding to help further the Department of the Interior’s goal to transform and improve the quality of education students receive at tribal schools funded by the BIE.