Past News Items

Award of a contract to Yuma Rock and Sand, Yuma, Arizona, for construction of a concrete waste way structure as a key element in the Colorado River Indian Irrigation Project at Parker, Ariz., was announced today by the Department of the Interior.

Yuma Rock and Sand’s bid of $83,615 for the job was the lowest of five received by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The other four ranged from $111,366 to $125,747.20.

To stimulate wider competitive bidding and more active development of Indian-owned mineral resources, the Department of the Interior has substantially liberalized the acreage limitations in the Federal regulations governing the mineral leasing of Indian lands, it was announced today.

Four small bands of Paiute Indians in Utah, comprising 232 members, will take over full responsibility for management of their own affairs under a proclamation approved by Acting Secretary of the Interior Fred G. Aandahl in fulfillment of a 1954 congressional enactment.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Commissioner of Indian Affairs Glenn L. Emmons today praised the progress being made by Pacific Northwest Indian tribes in 'establishing tribal scholarships for Indian youths seeking education beyond the high school level.

At the same time the Commissioner said he was hopeful that the four tribes which received portions of the $26,000,000 Celilo settlement would use some of their money received for ancient fishing rights to educate their youths to take their rightful place in modern American society as full-fledged citizens.

Award of a $163,641.18 contract to Roy Kindt of Winner, South Dakota, for 7.2 miles of grading, drainage and crushed gravel base construction on the road from Rosebud to U. S. Highway 18 on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, S. Dak., was announced today by the Department of the Interior.

Roy Kindt was the low bidder. Three other higher bids were received ranging from $172,744.84 to $175,142.18.

Opportunities for training on the job in manufacturing plants located near Indian reservations will be provided for nearly 700 Indians under contracts recently signed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs with eight private business firms, Secretary of the Interior Fred A. Seaton announced today.

Two of the plants providing the training are in North Carolina, two in Arizona, two in South Dakota, and one each in New Mexico and Washington. All have been cooperating in the Indian Bureau's industrial development program and have for some months past been employing Indian workers.

A two-year extension of the Interior Department's authority to lease lands on the Colorado River Indian Reservation in western Arizona would benefit the Indians, the Federal Government and the economy of Yuma County, Arizona, Assistant Secretary Roger C. Ernst said today in announcing the Department's support of S. 2161.

The bill would amend the Colorado River Leasing Act of 1955 and would provide such an extension beyond the present August 14, 1957, expiration date.

Awarding of a contract for construction of a series of earth fill dam and dike projects on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Fremont County, Wyoming, to C. J. Abbott of Laramie, Wyoming, was announced today by the Department of the Interior.

Abbott's bid of $37,600 was the lowest of six received by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The others ranged from $38,000 to $62,200.

With an appropriation of $109,410,000 for the fiscal year which began July 1, 1957, the Bureau of Indian Affairs is in position to initiate a new adult vocational training program and substantially broaden educational facilities for Indian children, Secretary of the Interior Fred A. Seaton announced today.

Award of a contract for construction of dormitory and dining facilities to accommodate Navajo Indian children attending public school at Flagstaff, Arizona, was announced today by the Department of Interior.

The successful bidder is Wilson Hockinson & Cantrall, Inc., of Albuquerque with a bid of $801,723. Six higher bids, ranging from $804,880 to $899,500, were submitted by contractor, from Arizona, New Mexico and Missouri.