OPA

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Louis R. Bruce announced today that he has authorized Bureau of Indian Affairs Area Offices to enter into contract negotiations with 25 Indian tribes for the fiscal year 1972 Tribal Affairs Management Program. The Tribal affairs Management Program assists in the development of managerial skills for those tribes that cannot finance full-time effective tribal management.

Selected for consideration to participate in the Tribal Affairs Management program are the following tribes: Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux, Devils Lake Sioux, Santee Sioux, Santo Domingo Pueblo, Jemez Pueblo, San Felipe Pueblo, Native Village of Unalakleet, Tanana Chiefs Conference, Lac Courte Oreilles, Bay Mills, Boise Forte, Keweenaw Bay, Fallon Paiute-Shoshone, Cocopah, Yavapai-Prescott, Havasupai, Nisqually, Lower Elwha, Squaxin Island, Lummi, Owens Valley Paiute-Shoshone.

The objectives of this program are to provide to tribes the capability to 1) plan, coordinate and manage their economic development programs;' 2) maintain day-to-day administrative functions to provide coherent and efficient control of tribal affairs under the direction of the tribal authorities.

Assistance is provided to those tribes which can clearly show their lack of tribal financing and their need to have full-time tribal government management and administrative services. All tribes in the Bureau's service population are equally eligible to be considered for participation in the Tribal Affairs Management program.

A selection panel composed of five Indians from throughout the country reviews the applications and makes recommendations for selection to the Commissioner.

The total program level available in fiscal year 1972 is $200,000. Each successful applicant will enter into negotiations for, a Buy-Indian contract for the remainder of this fiscal year. This program is generally intended to be of limited duration with the expectation that assistance will be eventually generated from other sources. The contract period for the management program is for a single fiscal year.

The proposed regulations for preparing a roll of Alaska Natives eligible to share in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of December 18, 1971, were issued today by Secretary of the Interior Rogers C. B. Morton.

Louis R. Bruce, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, pointed out that the Native Claims Act provides for settlement of awards totaling $962.5 million and 40 million acres of land, and ends a struggle which had been pending since the United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867.

"Alaska Natives" who may be eligible for enrollment must be:

1) Citizens of the United States.

2) At least one- fourth degree Eskimo, Aleut 'or Alaskan Indian blood, or combination thereof (including Tsimshian Indians whose Native Alaska ancestry predates the treaty of March 30, 1867, and who are not enrolled in the Metlakatla Indian Community).

3) Born on or before December 18, 1971, and living on that date.

The proposed regulations prescribe rules for preparation of the roll and establish March 30, 1973, as the deadline to apply for enrollment. The regulations also define "permanent resident" of Alaska for the purpose of determining in which geographical region an eligible Native shall be enrolled.

Interested persons may submit their views and comments on the proposed regulations to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1951Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D. C. 20242, on or before March 5, 1972.

Applications for enrollment will be available from a newly created Enrollment Coordinating Office, (Kaloa Building, 16th & C Streets), Pouch 7-1971, Anchorage, Alaska 99501, as soon as final regulations to govern preparation of the roll become effective.

Secretary of the Interior Rogers C.B.Morton, expressed "concern" today over recent events in Gordon, Nebraska, following the death of Mr. Raymond Yellow Thunder, an Oglala Sioux of the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

The Secretary noted that five persons were arrested and charged under a State law by local officials in Gordon, Neb., with various counts of false, imprisonment and manslaughter following the death of Mr. Yellow Thunder.

"Both Commissioner Bruce of the Bureau of Indian affairs and I ate watching developments carefully concerning this matter," Morton said.

"I have today asked the justice department to look into the matter and take appropriate action.

"In addition," Morton said, "I have directed the Field Representative and Regional Solicitor of the Department of the Interior, who have been on the scene, to investigate the matter fully and report their findings as soon, as possible to Commissioner Bruce and me."

Secretary of the Interior Rogers C. B. Morton said today that two sets of documents of major significance to Alaska and to all Americans will be made public within the next 10 days.

On Wednesday, March 15, at 2 p.m., Secretary Morf9n twill hold a general news conference, principally devoted to Interior's action on preliminary set asides of public lands. In Alaska, pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. The news conference will be held in the Interior Department Auditorium on the first floor of the building, at 18th and C Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C.

Informational material describing the action will be made available to working news media personnel beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 15, in Room 7222 of the Interior Building on an embargoed basis, meaning that no publication or broadcasting of this material is permitted until the news conference begins at 2 p.m. that day.

On Monday, March 20, the Department will make public its Final Environmental Impact Statement on the proposal for a Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Top Departmental officials will conduct a news media briefing in the Interior Auditorium at 2 p.m. Embargoed copies of the nine-volume Environmental Statement, weighing at least 25 pounds per set, will be available on a one-set per publication or broadcast station basis to working news men and women beginning at 9 a.m. the same day in the Auditorium, to allow study of the contents before the briefing.

Secretary Morton emphasized that neither doclJ1llent represents a final decision. Under guidelines of the Council on Environmental Quality, a decision on the pipeline cannot be made until at least 30 days after the Final Environmental Impact Statement is delivered to CEQ, as it will be on March 20. During this period the Secretary intends to confer with others inside and outside government before reaching a decision.

The land withdrawal actions also are preliminary, pending final precise determination of Alaska, Native and State selection, and of Federal land set-aside -- a complex series of procedures expected to extend over a period of years.

Copies of the nine-volume Pipeline Environmental Impact Statement will be available for public inspection in Washington, D. C., and other locations to be announced later.

Copies may be purchased beginning March 2l--at about $40.00 for the full paperback set or $3 for the first volume, which contains the introduction, summary, project description and Interior stipulations from the National Technical Information Center, U.S. Department of Commerce, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22151, telephone (703) 321-8543. Microfiche copies may be purchased for 95 cents per volume.

Final regulations for preparing aro11 ofA1askaNativeseligib1e to share in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of December 18, 1971, were issued today by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior Harrison Loesch.

(The regulations are scheduled to appear in the Federal Register March 17, 1972.)

The Native Claims Act provides for settlement of awards totaling $962.5 million and 40 million acres of land, and ends a struggle which has been pending since the United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867, according to Louis R. Bruce, Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

Alaska Natives who may be eligible for enrollment must be:

1. Citizens of the United States.
2. At least one-fourth degree Eskimo, Aleut or Alaskan Indian blood, or combination thereof.
3. Born on or before December 18, 1971, and living on that date

The regulations prescribe rules for preparation of the roll and establish March 30, 1973, as the deadline to apply for enrollment. Only those Natives whose names are included on the roll will be entitled to share in the settlement, although Natives do not have to be living in Alaska to be eligible for enrollment.

Applications for enrollment now available from the Enrollment Coordinating Office, (Kaloa Building, 16th & C Streets), Pouch 7-1971, Anchorage, Alaska 99501.

The March 29, 1972, deadline for filing enrollment applications for members of the Pembina Band of Chippewa Indians has been extended to June 27, 1972, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Louis R. Bruce announced today.

The roll is being established to determine Pembina Chippewa Indians eligible to share in awards totaling $237,127.82 in land claims funds pursuant to the Act of July 29, 1971 (85 Stat. 158).

The deadline was extended when it was learned that many of the older people who do not speak English needed assistance in completing their applications. Others did not understand that to be eligible to share in the judgment, their applications must be filed before the deadline expires. It was unclear to others that supporting documents need not be submitted at the time their applications were filed.

To ensure that all eligible Pembina Chippewa Indians have ample opportunityan4 assistance in filing their enrollment applications, the Commissioner has approved an amendment to Title 25, Code of Federal Regulations, and Part 43g.5 to extend the period for filing applications for enrollment to share in Pembina judgment funds to June 27, 1972.

Persons who believe they are eligible to share in the awards may obtain application forms and instructions from the Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Aberdeen Area Office, 820 Main Street, Aberdeen,· South Dakota 57401. Applications must be postmarked no later than midnight, June 27, 1972. Supporting documents to prove ancestry need not accompany applications for enrollment.

The proposed increase of $4.8 million in welfare assistance funds reflects the continuous rise in caseload and a small increase in unit cost. An additional 500 employable assistance recipients be enrolled in the Tribal Work Experience program during fiscal year 1973.

The Bureau’s budget calls for a total of $9.7 million for Indian housing assistance. While the bulk of new home construction on reservations is handled by the Department of Housing and Urban Development under a separate appropriation, Bureau of Indian Affairs funded programs will account for 530 new homes and 5,100 renovations.

The adult education and community development budget of $2.6 million will provide adult education and community development programs to help inadequately prepared adults obtain the educational skills necessary to improve both their employment opportunities and their abilities to contribute to the self-government of their communities. The funds will also help tribes to assume management over and responsibilities for programs) services and municipal functions which in the part have been provided for them.

To combat the problem of the chronically high unemployment rate-­ now about 40 percent with an additional 20 percent underemployed-- this budget proposes $17.3 million in funding for direct employment which would provide direct job placement efforts to over 4,080 placements in fiscal year 1973. This program is being redirected to provide training, and job opportunities on or near reservations as emphasis is placed on reservation development - assisting tribes to develop their own businesses and to bring industry to the reservations. Expansion of job development near the reservations to establish work commuting situations is also being given emphasis. To become employable many Indians need job training either school training or on-the-Job training. The 1973 budget would continue funds for these programs at $24.8 million resulting in over 6,000 job placements in that year.

Working hand-in-hand with the training and job placement programs is the new concept involving Indians called the Indian Action Team program. The general structure of the Indian Action Team program is designed to accommodate tribally developed solutions to local tribal problems in. construction and manpower training areas. Each tribe, acting through its various standing committees, may decide upon construction and training programs that meet the need of its community.

Included in the budget request is approximately $1.6 million operating costs for the preparation and coordination of the Alaska Native rolls and the increased workload for real estate services resulting from the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act., (The Alaska Native Claims Act, enacted December 18, 1971, authorizes the appropriation of $12.5 million in fiscal year 1972 and $50.0 million in fiscal year'1973.)

The natural resources

The natural resources, timber, land and water are the Indians most prized possession and must be adequately protected while at the same time providing the maximum benefit to the Indian landowners.

To achieve this goal the Bureau has sought to provide progressive management services to the Indian people. In 1973, professional and sub professional services in the fields of forest and range management and soil conservation will be provided. The establishment of the water inventory and water rights protection office will fill a much needed function to insure that loss of this valuable natural resource natural their will not continue.

Interior Secretary Rogers C. B: Morton said today that he has asked Harrison Loesch, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Public Land Management, to go to Alaska and discuss with Governor William A. Egan, members of the State's Congressional Delegation, other State Officials, and representatives of the. Native Associations Interior's plans to implement the transfer of public land under the Alaska Native Claims Act.
"The Alaska Natives Claims Settlement Act is going to have a profound effect on Alaska and its people, both native and non-native, for the foreseeable future," Secretary Morton said.

"I believe that it provides us with an, opportunity to bring about far-reaching social changes to improve the lot of the individual natives, and to show the world that the American people are concerned with the issues of justice and fairplay. Now that the bill has passed, it, is highly important that Interior makes every effort to implement selections and to transfer titles to selected lands to the native associations in an, orderly and timely manner. To do this, we need the opinions and advice of the Governor and State Officials, the Alaska Congressional Delegation, and officials of the Alaska Federation of Natives and the Native Regional Associations."

"I am sending Harrison Loesch to Alaska to listen to what these people have to say, to explain our present thinking, and to assure them of our deep interest in the welfare of the State and its peoples."

Secretary Loesch said that he plans to hold two days of meetings in Anchorage. He will meet with Interior Officials from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Land Management on Monday morning, February 7.

On Monday afternoon Secretary Loesch will meet with Governor Egan, Attorney General Havelock, Members of the Alaska Congressional Delegation, and officials of the Native Associations.

If sufficient public interest develops Secretary Loesch will explain Interior's plans for implementing provisions of the Native Claims Bill at a public meeting in the Sidney Laurence Auditorium on Monday evening. He will also receive public comments at this time.

On Tuesday, February 8, Secretary Loesch will meet with various interest groups in individual meetings.

On November 23, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon announced proposed legislation to acquire over one-half million acres of this most unique of natural areas. The Big Cypress. But Big Cypress is more than beautiful ... it is essential. It is biologically one of the most unique ecosystems in the world and hydrologically the most important watershed in Florida.

For it is this great natural reservoir that quenches the thirst of the Everglades and provides South Florida with the universal natural resource ...water.

It is truly this abundance of water ... a crossroads of the fresh and the saline ...which makes this land the precious jewel that it is. But not only is the action of President Nixon in moving to save Big Cypress milestone in the conservation annals of Florida ... it is a lesson and a gift for the entire Nation. It is a gift because Big Cypress represents one of those areas of critical environmental importance which the President has promised to protect and has moved to set aside through his National Land Use Policy legislation. It is a lesson because we are moving to acquire it today rather than ten years from now when the cost would surely be prohibitive.

Significantly, the President has acted quickly ... and here in Big Cypress in such a way that the people who live and work in the swamp will be protected. There will-be no move by this Administration to oust or evict anyone. We will arrange for lifetime tenancy wherever possible.

Those who have hunted and fished in the Big Cypress may continue to do so for these forms of recreation are compatible with our concept of a national freshwater reserve.

The Miccosukee Indians who have long gained their livelihood from this area will be ensured the continuing right to harvest its bounty after all. They were he re first and they shall continue to live in this wonderland as long as they choose to do so.

I am today returning-_ to Washington and will immediately transmit, to the Congress the legislation which will create The Big Cypress National Freshwater Reserve. Acquisition will be financed under the Land and Water Conservation Fund over a ten-year period.

So, as you can see, the President, in what I consider to be a profound understanding of the deep ecological needs of this Nation has acted forthrightly to preserve this great component of our natural heritage.

I am proud of the President's compassion for the environment ... I am proud that he has taken positive action and I know that future generations will be eternally grateful for it to them we have bequeathed this marvelous legacy.

MACON. GA. -- Ben Chekotah, 21, a Creek Indian, had never left Oklahoma before last May when he came to Ocmulgee National Monument, at Macon, Georgia, to work for the National Park Service as a park technician.

It was from Georgia in the 1830's that the Creeks were expelled to Oklahoma Territory in the tragic march known to history as the "Trail of Tears." Lately the Department of the Interior and the City of Macon have cooperated in welcoming Creeks back to their traditional home to help visitors understand their early culture in tours of mounds and prehistoric towns of the Indian Mound Builder civilization.

In mid-September a group of 80 Macon, Georgia, citizens organized a trans-Atlantic flight to visit their sister city of Macon in Southern France, Just north of the Swiss border. As a wedding present, they included Ben Chekotah and his Creek bride, Peggy. Peggy works as a sales clerk in the Indian Craftshop established at the monument by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Both are former residents of the other Okmulgee, the one spelled with a "k," in Oklahoma.

Mr. and Mrs. Chekotah brought with them gifts of Creek Indian craftwork for the French city. Ben was undecided whether to wear his National Park Service uniform or the stately robes of the Creek culture. The service said that he would be "in uniform “either way.

Louis R. Bruce, Commissioner of the Interior Department's Bureau of Indian Affairs, has forwarded for publication in, the Federal Register, proposed changes in the Code of Federal Regulati6ns recommended by the Tribal Council of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina.

Under the proposed changes, Commissioner Bruce said the time limit for filing applications for enrollment would be removed. In addition, the tenure of office for members of the Enrollment Committee would be limited to two years; the Tribal Enrollment Office, as used in the revision, would be defined; and certain eligibility requirements for persons born after August 21, 1957, would be deleted. Commissioner Bruce said the changes were recommended by the Tribal Council last February.

Publication in the Federal Register is necessary under an Interior Department policy which affords interested persons' the opportunity to submit in writing comments, suggestions or objections regarding the proposed revisions. Such letters should be addressed to the Superintendent, Cherokee Agency, Cherokee, North Carolina 28719, within 30 days after the date of publication.