Past News Items

The Department of the Interior said today it has recommended enactment of Federal legislation to amend the Indian Long-Term Leasing Act by permitting leases on Indian land at Pyramid Lake, Nevada, to be made for 99-year periods.

The basic Act of 1955 authorized leases of Indian lands for public, religious, educational, recreational, residential, or business purposes for terms not to exceed 25 years, with an option to renew for one additional term of not more than 25 years.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Kevin K. Washburn today announced that the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI), a Bureau of Indian Education operated post-secondary institution of higher learning in Albuquerque, N.M., has been awarded “initial accreditation” status by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Secretary of the Interior Rogers C. B. Morton, acting on requests by the Pauma and Pala Bands of California Mission Indians, has instructed the Director of the Bureau of Land Management to issue trust patents to those Bands for certain public lands in California.

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 today announced that the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED) is soliciting grant proposals from Indian tribes for projects to build tribal capacity for energy resource development.

John H. Artichoker, 41, Superintendent of the Colorado River Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs, is the new Area Director of the Phoenix Area Office of the Bureau, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Louis R. Bruce announced today.

He replaces W. Wade Head. Head retired after 37 years of government service and a career in which he served successively as Bureau of Indian Affairs Area Director in Anadarko, Okla., Gallup, N. M., and Phoenix.

Kendall Cumming has been appointed Superintendent of the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Pima Agency, which has headquarters at Sacaton, Arizona, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Philleo Nash announced today. The new superintendent succeeds Minton J. Nolan, who died in January.

For more than two years Cumming has served as Superintendent of the Jicarilla Agency at Dulce, New Mexico. He will be succeeded in that post by Ralph B. Armstrong, Jr., who has been Assistant Superintendent of the Nevada Agency, Stewart, Nevada.

WASHINGTON – The Department of the Interior today announced that an additional $10 million has been transferred to the Cobell Education Scholarship Fund (the Fund), bringing the total amount contributed so far to nearly $30 million.

Acting Secretary of the Interior Fred J. Russell today announced that former South Dakota Congressman Ben Reifel, an American Indian, will serve without compensation as an assistant for Indian Affairs to the Director of the National Park Service.

Representative Reifel voluntarily retired at the close of the 91st congress after serving five consecutive terms.

Under a $177,849 contract awarded December 2 to RCA Service Co. of Camden, N.J., the Bureau of Indian Affairs will commence at once a program of occupational training, basic literacy education, counseling and job placement for the Choctaw Indians of Mississippi.

Robert L. Bennett, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, said today in announcing major features of the contract: