Past News Items

Ada E. Deer, Assistant Secretary Indian Affairs, issued a notice today declining to acknowledge the Ramapough Mountain Indians Inc., as a federally recognized tribe.

A Proposed Finding to decline to acknowledge the Ramapough Mountain Indians Inc., was first published in the FEDERAL REGISTER on December 8, 1993 and the original 180-day comment period was extended until May 8, 1995. The 60-day comment period for the Ramapoughs to respond to third-party comments ended on July 10, 1995.

Ada E. Deer, Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs, today expressed her gratitude to Vice President Al Gore for directly intervening on behalf of Americans Indians in last week's intense negotiations over the Department of the Interior's (DOI) continued funding resolution.

"Vice President Gore once again demonstrated his strong leadership and concern over the devastating effect massive budget cuts would have on American Indian programs," said Ms. Deer. "His efforts will have a decisive and immediate positive impact on the Indian Community," she says.

Restoration of federal funds needed for Tribal Priority Allocations (TPA) that provide basic reservation programs and develop strong and stable tribal governments is a key component of the Fiscal Year 1997 Bureau of Indian Affairs $1. 78-billion budget request.

The U. S. Supreme Court rendered its decision on the Seminole Tribe of Florida v. Florida et al., case on March 27, 1996. The 5 to 4 decision held that the "Eleventh Amendment prevents Congress from authorizing suits in federal court by Indian tribes against States to enforce" the provision in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) requiring States to "negotiate in good faith."

In July 1993, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (the Tribes) submitted an application for treatment-as-state status under the Clean Water Act with respect to all surface waters within the Flathead Indian reservation. The State of Montana opposed the EPA granting the Tribes treatment as state status by arguing that the Tribes did not possess inherent civil regulatory authority over land owned by nonmembers.

In a newly released report, Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt charged each Interior Department office and bureau with identifying policies and procedures that protect and conserve Indian resources. The report, entitled Protection of Indian Trust Resources Procedures, outlines how each Interior Department bureau and office will integrate trust protection practices and policies into daily activities.

On April 25, 1996, President Clinton approved leg1siation extending the date that a Final Rule for the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 (P.L. 93-638) be published in the Federal Register. The date required by the Indian Self-Determination Act Amendments of 1994 (P.L. 103-413) was April 25, 1996. This legislation provides for a 60-day extension and sets a new publication date of June 25, 1996 for a rule, Ada E. Deer, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs announced.

A joint proclamation was issued today by the Director, Indian Health Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs which will designate the week of May 12, 1996 Alcohol-Related Birth Defects Week, announced Ada E. Deer, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs.

H.R. 3286 introduced into the House of Representatives on April 23, 1996 proposes to amend the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 making it easier for non-Indians to adopt Indian children without tribal consent, Ada E. Deer, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs announced today.

Ada E. Deer, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs announced today that a Notice of Advanced Rule Making was published in the Federal Register on May 10, 1996. This publication seeks comments on the Department's authority under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) to promulgate "procedures" to authorize Class ill gaming on Indian lands when a sate raises an Eleventh Amendment defense to an action brought against it in federal court by an Indian tribe.