OPA

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson today announced that he has appointed Ignatius L. Billy, 57, a Pomo Indian of Hopland, California, to be Personnel Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C.

"Billy comes to his post with a wealth of experience in all fields of personnel administration," Thompson pointed out. "He demonstrates the development of expert capabilities by American Indians in many professional fields."

Graduated from high school at Hopland Junior College at Riverside, California, Billy received the AB degree in political science from the University of California at Berkeley.

He has held specialist positions in every field of personnel administration in the Veterans Administration and the Department of the Interior. Billy has served in staff specialist positions as well as in personnel officer positions. In 1963 he was appointed a senior Employee Management Relations Specialist in the Office of the Director of Personnel of Interior. Since 1969 he has been the senior Labor Relations Officer in Interior.

Billy served in the United States Army in this country and in the Western Pacific Theater from 1942 to 1946. His service began as a private and ended as Captain, Medical Administrative Corps.

The new Bureau of Indian Affairs Director of Personnel and his wife, Maude, reside at 6223 19th Street, N., Arlington, Virginia. Their four children, Glen, Madeline, David and Susan are at other places in this country and abroad.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson today urged those American Indians who can qualify as members of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin -no matter where they may be living today --to participate in the election of a nine member Menominee Restoration Committee March 2, 1974.

"About 3, 000 Menominee Indians are believed to be living in Wisconsin," Thompson pointed out. "Another 3,000 are believed to be living elsewhere. We hope that all Menominee will help to restore their tribal government - terminated in 1961 - by participating in this election," he said.

Voting will take place between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. March 2 at four polling places within Menominee County: In Neopit, Keshena, South Branch, and Zoar, all Wisconsin. Qualified voters unable to vote in person may vote by absentee ballot. A request for tins ballot must be made to Area Director Raymond P. Lightfoot, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U. S. Department of the Interior, 831 Second Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minn. 55402, telephone a/c 612 725-2904.

All absentee ballots must be received in the office of the Area Director no later than February 27.

To participate in the election of the Menominee Restoration Committee one must be: A person listed on the final roll of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, or an enrollee's descendant who on March 2, 1974 will be at least 18 years old and who possesses at least one-quarter degree Menominee blood.

Until a tribal governing body is regularly elected as provided for under the law, the Menominee Restoration Committee will officially represent the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin in those matters relating to the restoration of Federal services to the tribe and its members as provided by the law. Its immediate duties will include tile drafting of a tribal constitution and by-laws and updating the tribal membership roll.

At the time termination was considered for the Menominees, they had more than $10 million in trust and realized an annual profit from their lumber business. In less than seven years after termination, the tribe was on the verge of bankruptcy. The Menominee Reservation Act was signed into law by President Nixon December 22, 1973.

David Makity, president, and Elliott Pamp, vice president, Battle Creek Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians, met with Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson in Washington, D.C. last week to discuss Federal recognition of their tribe.

“The group is interested in expanded service for school age and older members in the areas of health, education, and social service benefits,” Thompson indicated.

It has an enrollment of 268 and a State reservation of 120 acres. Approximately 40 of the 268 enrollees live on the 120 acres, the other members are scattered in nearby communities.

The Commissioner of Indian Affairs, in his discussion with the Indians, pointed out that the procedure for Federal recognition was lengthy and would involve the State of Michigan, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior and its Solicitor, and probably ultimately, the Congress.

Criteria for recognition includes (1) a statement from the Band, with a majority of its members backing the move; (2) an enumeration of possible BIA services that would apply to the enrollees; (3) number of the Band eligible for services, which would involve establishing a blood quantum for enrollment and other efforts.

BIA services to consider, Thompson told the group in Washington, D.C., are education, welfare assistance, on-the-job training, housing, road maintenance, etc. “It is not likely that a group as small as yours with a 120-acre land base could use all BIA assistance,” Thompson said.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson today announced that a $3 million contract has been let to Nielson's, Inc. of Dolores, Colo. for construction of nearly 15.5 miles of bituminous paved highway beginning near Whitehorse, N. Mex., and extending north and east to, Pueblo Pintado, N. Mex.

This project is one of the last of a number of similar ones that will lead to improved transportation across the eastern part of the Navajo Reservation to State Road 44 at Cuba, N. Mex.,” Thompson said. “Roads are the lifeline of commerce, provide access to schools, bring about a viable society. So we are happy to announce that a dirt road that has too long served Indian people and visitors over Indian land will be replaced by an all-weather highway.”

He pointed out that projects such as this will help Indian reservations catch up with the rest of the country. No local roads were built on Indian reservations from 1900 to 1935, he pointed out, at a time when the rest of the country was being knit together through a paved roads system.

Chairman Peter H. Masten, Jr., Hoopa Valley Tribe of Northwestern, California, today announced that his American Indian group will introduce Congressmen, government officials, leaders of national Indian groups and the press of Washington, D. C. to Hoopa tribal cultural and contemporary life Wednesday, March 13 at the National Press Club ballroom from 6-8 p.m.

“We believe it is time that the nation be made aware that the Hoopa Valley Tribe is a distinct cultural, geographic, and political entity,” Masten explained. “My tribe will demonstrate that it is with Hoopa traditional dances in full regalia - some of which is a century old - displays of distinctive Hoopa basket weaving, wood carving, fish net weaving, and a stick athletic game, and a buffet of traditional foods."

Displays, including a colored slide presentation, will also indicate something of modern community life of the northwest California Indian tribe. Photographs will show the progressiveness of the Hoopa health clinic, utility system, and housing complexes.

The Hoopa Valley Tribe has lived in the same location since before the memory of man, Masten said. Scientific tests prove that fire burned in the pits of Hoopa aboriginal homes over 5,000 years ago.

“This gives our group a rich heritage, but one of which the mainstream of America has been unaware. We hope to change that Wednesday evening.”

The name “Hoopa” means, literally, “Where all the trails meet,” said Masten. The valley was created by the Trinity River, the focus of reservation life. It will soon be dotted with dogwood blooms. Some of the other features that will be brought to the attention of non-Hoopas March 13 will be Xonta Nikya (Big Church) and Taikow Nikyao (Big Sweat House) – each a part of traditional Hoopa life.

A number of young Hoopa women at the occasion will wear traditional attire – which includes colorful skirts and ropes of shells around the neck, reminiscent of Polynesia. Men will dance in traditional costumes that will include headdresses that have bright red feather adornment made from countless woodpecker heads.

A buffet of Native foods will include fresh and smoked salmon, acorn soup, and venison. Other food and refreshments will also be served.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson announced today that representatives of each Area Office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs will meet in Albuquerque to discuss energy conservation on the part of the agency March 20, 21, and 22.

This is the second meeting of its kind. The first was held in Washington.

“Fuel shortages and fuel costs within the scope of the Bureau’s plant management unit will be the topic under discussion,” Thompson indicated.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has Area Offices in Aberdeen, S. Dak.; Albuquerque; Anadarko, Okla.; Billings, Mont.; Juneau, Alaska; Minneapolis, Minn.; Muskogee, Okla.; Window Rock, Ariz.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Portland, Ore.; Sacramento, Calif.

It operates 200 schools in 17 states on Indian reservations and in remote areas throughout the country. Seventy-seven are boarding schools with a total enrollment of 36,000.

The meeting will take place at the Quality Inn Motel, 717 Central N.W. in Albuquerque.

The Indian Arts and Crafts Board announced today issuance of revised Source Directories No. 1 and No. 2, which will be of particular interest to potential customers of authentic Native American arts and crafts.

Source Directory No.1 deals with Native American owned and operated arts and crafts organizations located throughout the United States, including artist and craftsman cooperatives, tribal arts and crafts enterprises, and non-profit Native American arts organizations

Source Directory No.2 is a compendium of Native American arts businesses which are privately owned and operated by (1) Indian or Eskimo designer-craftsmen and artists who design, produce and market their exclusive products; or (2) Indian or Eskimo merchants who retail and/or wholesale authentic Native American arts and crafts products.

Entries in both directories give names and addresses of the businesses, telephone numbers, and business hours, outline major products handled by each business, and indicate if mail orders are accepted.

As most of the listed sources maintain retail shops, the two directories also will be of special interest to tourists and travelers throughout the United States during the Bicentennial Year. For the travelers' convenience, businesses are listed alphabetically by State.

Single copies of the Source Directories are distributed free upon written request to: Indian Arts and Crafts Board, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson announced today that the Minnesota Sioux Indian Tribes presented a Peace Pipe to the United States in a recent White House Ceremony.

Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller accepted the pipe June 25 from Glynn A. Crooks, tribal councilman of the Shakopee-Mdewakanton Sioux Tribe. Crooks called the pipe a symbol of "trust, unity, friendship and peace."

Crooks, acting in behalf of the Minnesota Sioux Inter-Tribal Council, presented the pipe "in commemoration of the American Bicentennial Celebration." He noted that four ribbons hung from the pipe, "representing the four major races of man --yellow, red, black and white. They hang together just as all of us should," he said.

President Ford will meet with more than 200 leaders of the American Indian community at the White House Friday afternoon (July 16), Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson announced today.

It will be the first time a President of the United States has met with such a broad representation of the Indian leadership.

"This is an historic occasion," Commissioner Thompson said "President Ford has invited the chairmen of major tribes and leaders of national Indian organizations to meet with him so that he can personally express to them his support for their efforts under the Administration's policy of Indian self-determination.

The meeting with the President will be in the East Room of the White House at 3 p.m. Friday. The President's talk to the group will be followed by a reception.

Prior to the White House session, the Indians will meet at the Old Executive Building for discussions of Indian programs with Secretary of the Interior Thomas S. Kleppe, Commissioner Thompson and top officials of other Federal agencies which have special programs for Indians.

Dr. Theodore Marrs, Special Assistant to the President, is coordinating the meeting.

Secretary of the Interior Thomas S. Kleppe today hailed the new spirit of determination and confidence among Indian leaders. In remarks to 200 leaders of the American Indian community at a White House meeting, Secretary Kleppe said: "Whether young or old, the Indian leaders today have a new spirit --perhaps it is revival of a very old spirit-- of determination and of confidence."

"I certainly applaud those of you who have brought about this new era -- the older leaders who have worked quietly but diligently over the years to demonstrate the capability of Indian leaders and the younger ones who are making such great strides."

Secretary Kleppe acknowledged that previously the image of the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the, Interior Department had been one of "inflexibility --of bureaucrats who sit behind big desks in Washington and decide what would be best for the Indians."

"Let me assure you," the Secretary told the Indian group, "that if that were ever the case, it is not the way we operate today."

"The critical question is where we should draw the line when a tribe wants to take action which the BIA and I feel would be detrimental to that tribe," the Secretary said.

"Mistakes are made every day in government at all levels. Do we have an obligation to allow tribal governments to make mistakes? Self determination Says that we have the obligation - to allow you to take action which our best judgment tells us is a mistake, our trust responsibility argues that we do not have the legal authority to allow you to make mistakes if we can prevent them. We constantly strive to determine that fine line between the two extremes."