OPA

WASHINGTON – Bureau of Indian Affairs Director Michael S. Black today announced that he has named Sharon A. Pinto as regional director of the BIA’s Navajo Regional Office in Gallup, N.M. Pinto, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, had been serving as the regional deputy director since October 28, 2007, and as the acting regional director since May 4, 2011.

“Sharon Pinto is a proven and capable senior federal manager, and her commitment to the welfare of the Navajo people makes her an outstanding choice for regional director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Navajo Regional Office,” Black said. “I have every confidence in her ability to successfully lead the office in carrying out the BIA’s mission to serve the Navajo Nation.”

“As the new Navajo Regional Office regional director, I want to thank BIA Director Black for this tremendous opportunity,” Pinto said. “I look forward to working with him as a member of his field management team, and to maintaining the office’s high standard of service to the Navajo Nation.”

The Navajo Regional Office oversees five agencies serving the Nation, a federally recognized tribe with over 200,000 enrolled members whose 16 million acre reservation is located in northeast Arizona and extends into northwest New Mexico and southeast Utah. Her appointment became effective on October 9, 2011.

As the acting Navajo Regional Office regional director, Pinto has been responsible for the oversight and management of 420 employees and the administration of over $170 million in BIA programs and $90 million in P.L. 93-638 Indian self-determination contracts with the tribe, carrying out tribal consultation with the Navajo Nation on a day-to-day basis, and working with tribal officials, Interior’s regional trust administrator and other federal representatives, and state and county agencies on matters relating to the development and management of the tribe’s trust lands and natural and mineral resources.

Prior to becoming the acting regional director, Pinto had been serving as the deputy regional director for the Navajo Region since October 2007, where she was responsible for providing oversight and management of BIA regional trust resource management and tribal services programs.

Pinto began her federal career in October 2001 as an Indian self-determination specialist with the BIA’s Southwest Regional Office in Albuquerque, N.M. She also helped provide 638 training to BIA and tribal employees, worked with 23 tribes on administrative support cost issues, and sought to improve the distribution of regional indirect cost funds. She served in that position until her promotion to the post of Indian self-determination officer in the Navajo Regional Office in December 2004, where her responsibilities included supervising and directing the regional self-determination office.

Pinto came to the BIA after having spent 11 years working for the Navajo Nation, the state of New Mexico and the private sector. After graduating in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Northern Arizona University, Pinto started in July of that year as a district prosecutor for the Navajo Nation Prosecutor’s Office in Window Rock, Ariz.

She left the prosecutor’s office in June 1997 to work for the Navajo Housing Authority, the largest Indian housing authority in the United States, as a staff legal advocate. From March 1998 to March 1999, Pinto served as a tribal court advocate with the John A. Chapela law firm in Window Rock where she handled civil and criminal cases in Navajo Nation courts.

From March to December 1999, Pinto worked as a paralegal/victim advocate with the state of New Mexico’s 11th Judicial District Attorney’s office in Gallup providing legal assistance to victims of domestic violence. In May 2000, Pinto joined the staff of the Navajo Nation Ramah (N.M.) Navajo Chapter as human resources manager. In November 2000, Pinto was appointed acting executive director of the chapter’s 638 grants and contracts office, which managed and operated its law enforcement, community resources, trust services, realty management, tribal government, financial management, and property, procurement and facilities management contract and grant programs. She held the post until October 2001.

Between 1991 and 2001, Pinto served on or with numerous local boards and organizations including the Navajo Multi-Disciplinary Team for Child Abuse; Navajo DNA Legal Services, Inc.; the Navajo Nation Domestic Abuse Advisory Board; the Navajo Nation Youth Crime Prevention Coalition; and the McKinley County (N.M.) Domestic Violence Task Force. She also has served as a member of the Ramah Navajo Community Economic Development Task Force, the Ramah Navajo Community Housing Task Force and the Ramah Navajo Community Local Governance Task Force.

WASHINGTON – Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk issued the following statement today on the election of the new Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation:

“I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to Bill John Baker as he is officially sworn in to the position of the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. I also congratulate the citizens of the Cherokee Nation whose actions have honored and upheld the democratic ideals of the Nation. I look forward to working with the Cherokee Nation on a government-to-government basis to strengthen our relationship and meet the Nation’s goals for a prosperous future.”

The White House Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release October 24, 2011

President Obama Announces 2011 White House Tribal Nations Conference

WASHINGTON - On Friday, December 2, 2011, President Obama will host the White House Tribal Nations Conference at the Department of the Interior. As part of President Obama's ongoing outreach to the American people, this conference will provide leaders from the 565 federally recognized tribes the opportunity to interact directly with the President and representatives from the highest levels of his Administration. Each federally recognized tribe will be invited to send one representative to the conference. This will be the third White House Tribal Nations Conference for the Obama Administration, and continues to build upon the President's commitment to strengthen the nation to nation relationship with Indian Country. Additional details about the conference will be released at a later date.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Deputy Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs for Policy and Economic Development Jodi Gillette and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Director Michael Black met with tribal leaders in Rapid City, S.D., today in the final regional government-to-government tribal consultation meeting on the Trust Land Consolidation component of the Cobell Settlement. The consultations are part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to re-invigorating nation-to-nation relationships with tribes.

“The Interior Department’s consultations with Indian Country have been pivotal sources of information,” said Gillette. “I want to thank all of the tribal leaders for providing their invaluable input regarding this landmark case as we move forward to fulfill the obligations of the Cobell Settlement.”

“I am pleased to have seen the close collaboration with the tribes,” said Black. “All of the tribal comments from these sessions have been very helpful and continue to strengthen our government-to-government relationship.”

Today’s participants included leaders and representatives of a number of tribes from the BIA’s Great Plains and other Regions.

On May 27, 2011, U.S. Senior District Judge Thomas F. Hogan granted communication between representatives of the United States and Cobell class members only in regards to the Trust Land Consolidation component of the Settlement.

BACKGROUND ON COBELL SETTLEMENT:

The $3.4 billion Cobell settlement was approved by Congress on November 30, 2010 (Claims Resolution Act of 2010) and signed by President Obama on December 8, 2010. The Cobell Settlement will address the federal government’s responsibility for an historical accounting of individual Indian trust accounts and trust mismanagement claims on behalf of more than 300,000 individual American Indians. A fund of $1.5 billion will be used to compensate class members for their historical accounting, trust administration and asset mismanagement claims.

In addition, to address the continued proliferation of thousands of new trust accounts caused by the "fractionation" of land interests through successive generations, the Settlement establishes a $1.9 billion fund for the voluntary buy-back and consolidation of fractionated land interests. The land consolidation program will provide individual American Indians with an opportunity to obtain cash payments for divided trust land interests and free up the land for the benefit of tribal communities. Up to $60 million of the $1.9 billion will be set aside to provide scholarships for post secondary higher education and vocational training for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

More information about the regional tribal consultations can be found at: www.doi.gov/cobell.

The Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs discharges the duties of the Secretary of the Interior with the authority and direct responsibility to strengthen the government-to-government relationship with the nation’s 565 federally recognized tribes, advocate policies that support Indian self-determination, protect and preserve Indian trust assets, and administer a wide array of laws, regulations and functions relating to American Indian and Alaska Native tribes, tribal members and individual trust beneficiaries. The Assistant Secretary oversees the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education. For more information, visit www.indianaffairs.gov.

WASHINGTON – Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske and the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk today announced that on Saturday, October 29, 2011, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time, Americans will be able to drop off their expired, unused and unwanted prescription drug pills at sites across Indian Country free of charge, no questions asked. By doing so, they will be helping prevent drug abuse and theft.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is partnering with national, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials, as well as community coalition groups to hold a third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. This one-day event will make it convenient for the public to rid their homes of potentially dangerous prescription drugs.

“Prescription drug abuse is one of the fastest-growing drug problems in the country,” said Kerlikowske. “Data show that 70 percent of the people who abuse prescription drugs get them from the medicine cabinets of friends or family members, which is why properly disposing of unwanted prescription drugs is more important than ever. Together, we can help save lives by promoting the proper disposal of unused prescription drugs.”

“Through the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, we can all help to ensure the safety of loved ones and tribal communities,” Echo Hawk said. “I urge everyone who has unused prescription drugs to turn them in and help us continue to make every Indian home a prescription drug-safe home.”

The public can find a nearby collection site by visiting www.dea.gov and clicking the “Got Drugs?” banner, which links to a database where they can enter their zip code. Information can also be found by visiting http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/. Below this press release is the table of PARTICIPATING INDIAN COUNTRY LOCATIONS.

The two previous National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day events turned in more than 309 tons of pills at more than 5,300 sites manned by over 3,800 federal, state and local law enforcement partners.

Unattended or outdated prescription drugs are often found in home medicine cabinets, and create a public health crisis because they are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Prescription drug abuse in the U.S. today is at an alarmingly high level—two-and-a-half times more people currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, and inhalants combined, according to the recently released 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The same study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

Four days after the first Take-Back event in September 2010, Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them. The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances. DEA has begun drafting regulations to implement the Act, a process that can take as long as 24 months. Until new regulations are in place, law enforcement agencies like the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services (BIA-OJS) and the DEA will continue to hold prescription drug take-back events every few months.

Prescription drug disposal and the Take-Back events are significant pieces of the White House’s Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Plan released this year by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Purging home medicine cabinets of neglected drugs is one of four strategies for reducing prescription drug abuse and diversion laid out in Epidemic: Responding to America’s Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis. The other strategies include education of health care providers, patients, parents and youth; establishing prescription drug monitoring programs in all states; and increased enforcement to address doctor shopping and pill mills.

The Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs discharges the duties of the Secretary of the Interior with the authority and direct responsibility to strengthen the government-to-government relationship with the nation’s federally recognized tribes, advocate policies that support Indian self-determination, protect and preserve Indian trust assets, and administer a wide array of laws, regulations and functions relating to American Indian and Alaska Native tribes, tribal members and individual trust beneficiaries. The Assistant Secretary oversees the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education. The BIA Office of Justice Services is responsible for managing the Bureau’s law enforcement, corrections and tribal courts programs, either directly in tribal communities or by funding tribally administered programs through contract and grants. For more information, visit www.indianaffairs.gov.

U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY

OCTOBER 29, 2011

PARTICIPATING INDIAN COUNTRY LOCATIONS

For More Information: http://www.justice.gov/dea/take-back/takeback-day.htm

WASHINGTON – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk today announced a sweeping reform of federal surface leasing regulations for American Indian lands that will streamline the approval process for home ownership, expedite economic development and spur renewable energy development in Indian Country.

The proposed rule would modify regulations governing the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ process for approving the lease of surface acres on lands the federal government holds in trust for tribes and individuals. As trustee, Interior is responsible for managing approximately 56 million surface acres in Indian Country.

“The proposed changes are the most comprehensive reforms of Indian land leasing regulations in more than 50 years and will have a real impact for individuals and families who want to own a home or build a business,” said Secretary Salazar. “This reform underscores President Obama’s commitment to empower Indian nations and strengthen their economies by expanding opportunities for individual landowners and tribal governments -- generating investment, new jobs and revenues.”

“At its core, this reform is about good government and supporting self-determination for Indian Nations,” said Assistant Secretary Echo Hawk. “The revised regulations will bring greater transparency, efficiency and workability to the Bureau of Indian Affairs approval process, and will provide tribal communities and individuals certainty and flexibility when it comes to decisions on the use of their land.”

The existing regulations, adopted in 1961, take an antiquated, “one-size fits all” approach to processing all surface leases. Under the current system, which lacks a defined process or deadlines, it is not uncommon for a simple mortgage application to languish for several years waiting approval from the federal government.

The proposed reform identifies specific processes – with enforceable timelines - through which the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) must review leases. The regulation establishes separate, simplified processes for residential, business, and renewable energy development, so that, for example, a lease for a single family home is distinguished from a large solar energy project.

The proposed rule provides a 30 day-limit for the BIA to issue decisions on residential leases, subleases, and mortgages. For commercial or industrial development, the BIA would have 60- days to review leases and subleases. If the BIA does not complete its review of subleases in this timeframe, those agreements will automatically go into effect.

Other proposed changes would eliminate the requirement for BIA approval of permits for short-term activities on Indian lands, such as parades; and requires the BIA to approve leases unless it finds a compelling reason to disapprove. Under the new rule, the BIA would defer to the tribe’s negotiated value for a lease of tribal land and would not require additional, costly appraisals.

“The proposed regulation incorporates numerous changes requested by tribal leaders during extensive consultations this past year and better meets the goals of facilitating and expediting the leasing process for trust lands,” said Principal Deputy Assistant for Indian Affairs Del Laverdure.

During the initial consultation period more than 2,300 comments were received from more than 70 tribes as well as several federal agencies, including HUD, USDA and the IRS. The publication of the proposed rule in tomorrow’s Federal Register kicks off a 60-day public comment period with additional, soon-to-be-announced tribal meetings. The BIA regulatory drafting workgroup is expected to review the comments and publish the final rule in 2012.

Comments and recommendations may be submitted during the tribal consultation meetings, by email at consultation@bia.gov, or by U.S. Postal Service, overnight carrier or hand-delivery to: Del Laverdure, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C St., N.W., MS-4141-MIB, Washington, D.C. 20240.

For a Q & A document on the proposed rule, click HERE.

For a comparison of existing and proposed regulations, click HERE.

For the proposed rule, click HERE.

WASHINGTON - Today, November 28, 2011, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk will hold a media teleconference to announce a sweeping reform of federal leasing regulations for American Indian lands that will help to expedite economic development and spur renewable energy development in Indian Country.

Media wishing to participate in the 12:00 pm noon (Eastern Time) conference call should dial 1- 888-606-7043; the passcode is LAND LEASE.

WHO: Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk

WHAT: News media teleconference on land lease regulation reform

WHEN: Monday, November 28, 2011; 12:00 pm noon (Eastern Time)

WHERE: Media wishing to participate in the teleconference call should dial 1-888-606- 7043; the passcode is LAND LEASE.