OPA

Interior Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Ross Swimmer today announced the appointment of Joe C. Christie as actin~ director of the new Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse. Christie, Superintendent of the Northern California Agency in Redding. California, since 1984, will assume the new post created in the Office of the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs by P.L. 99-570, the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 signed by President Reagan last month. He will begin his duties in Washington, December 2

"While he was reluctant to leave northern California, I am highly pleased that Christie has accepted this important new assignment," Swimmer said. "His administrative experience as a superintendent at three different Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) agencies over the past five years, and his background in education where much of his work will be concentrated, make him especially qualified for this new post. In addition, his recent experience in carrying out a marijuana eradication program in northern California, in cooperation with state and federal law enforcement authorities, further qualifies him to assist us," he added. Swimmer said that Christie will coordinate with his counterpart at the Indian Health Service (IHS) in developing a program to carry out jointly the memorandum of agreement signed in September between the BIA and IHS to combat alcohol and substance abuse among Indian people. The BIA portion of the $1.7 billion Omnibus Drug Supplemental Appropriations Act of 1987 includes $22.5 million for the BIA to be used in various ways. A total of $5.4 million is appropriated for educational purposes -- $3 million for curriculum development and materials and $2.4 million for additional school counselors -- in the more than 180 BIA schools throughout the country. The school counselors are to have special techniques relevant to the treatment of youth alcohol and substance abuse. One million dollars is targeted for judicial training in the tribal government services area.

Law enforcement will receive $3. 6 million of which $3 million is to be used for training of officers in the investigation and prosecution of offenses relating to illegal narcotics and in youth alcohol and substance abuse prevention and treatment; $100,000 is for the development of a model juvenile code; and, $500,000 will go to the Tohono O'odham (formerly Papago) Indian tribe in southern Arizona for the investigation and control of illegal narcotics traffic on the reservation. The remaining $7.5 million is to be used to construct or renovate and staff new or existing emergency shelters or halfway houses for juveniles. A total of $21.7 million was appropriated to the IHS to help fight the problem of alcohol and substance abuse. Christie, 41, is a native of southeastern Oklahoma and an enrolled member of the Choctaw Tribe of that state. He earned a B.A. in education from the Southeastern State College in Durant; a M.S. degree from Kansas State College in Pittsburg; and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of New Mexico. He began his federal government career in 1972 as a elementary school teacher in BIA's Phoenix area. The following year he moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma, where he served as an education specialist for four years. Until 1981, when he took his first Superintendent's position at the Fort Totten Agency in North Dakota, Christie served in BIA offices in Billings, Montana, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. He served for 18 months as Superintendent of the Winnebago Agency in Nebraska before assuming his present ·post in northern California. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army.

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.

"As we approach the 21st Century, it is critical that the more than 550 federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes receive the basic support needed to end the cycles of poverty and poor health that afflict so many tribal members," says Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Ada E. Deer. "Restoring these essential Tribal priority funds is key to honoring the federal trust responsibility to Tribes and fulfilling the government-to-government relationship with Tribes."

Tribes depend on the TPA budget for such basic necessities as law enforcement, child welfare, scholarships, natural resources management, and other programs designed to improve the quality of life and economic development potential on their reservations. Tribes can prioritize the funding for programs according to their own tribal circumstances and needs.

The BIA 1997 budget request reflects an overall $211-million increase above the 1996 Conference level including $158 million for TPA restoration. Besides strengthening tribal programs, the restored funds overall will ensure the accreditation of BIA schools, address critical infrastructure needs, and meet the Secretary of the Interior's trust responsibilities.

The BIA school operations budget of $452 million is devoted to Indian education programs that serve more than 51,000 elementary and secondary students in 23 states. A $43.5-million increase over the 1996 education budget is requested so that schools can meet state and regional accreditation standards and accommodate a projected 3.5-percent increase in student enrollment. More than one-third of the requested $122-million BIA construction budget is for education construction.

New school construction is funded at $18 million in order to build the $14-million Many Farms High School in Arizona and to complete $4 million in construction remaining at the Chief Leschi school complex in Washington State. The budget also includes $23 million to correct health and safety deficiencies at BIA educational facilities.

Combined funding for BIA Central and Area Office activities and related support services is set at $144.5 million, which is $27.5 million less than two years ago. BIA streamlining and downsizing is reflected in the fact that 90 percent of the Bureau's operations account is devoted to education, social services, and other programs at the reservation level. Contrary to occasional reports, this means that 90 cents of every BIA operations dollar is delivered directly to the reservation.

Final regulations to establish officially the Reservation Acceleration Program (RAP) are being published in the Federal Register, the Commissioner of the Interior Department's Bureau of Indian Affairs, Louis R. Bruce, announced today. Publication of the-new regulations in the Federal Register officially establishes the Bureau program which has been in operation since January.

RAP is designed to give federally recognized Indian tribes the chance to consult with Bureau of Indian Affairs line officials on restructuring Bureau services to provide maximum support for the tribes' comprehensive development plans. To date, 37 tribes have been selected to participate in the program, and are presently in negotiations.

The regulations establish purpose, eligibility, applicant submission and acceptance, and implementation procedures of the Reservation Acceleration Program, and will become effective 30 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register.

In line with President Nixon's 1970 message to the Congress on self-determination for Native Americans, RAP was one of the principal features of the Commissioner's 5-point policy directions for '72.

Commissioner Louis R. Bruce of the Interior Department's Bureau of Indian Affairs, today announced the approval of a 1965 claims judgment for more than $4.9 million to the Creek Nation of Oklahoma.

The judgment represents more than $1 million in Indian Claims Commission docket 276 and $3.9 million in docket 276. Decision to begin payment was recommended by Claude Cox, Principal Chief of the Creeks; Ed Johnson, Chairman of the Creek Indian Council; and Virgil Harrington, Area Director of the Bureau's Muskogee, Okla. Area Office.

The award for docket 276 represents additional payment for more than 2 million acres of land in Oklahoma ceded under the Treaty of August 7, 1856. Funds to cover the award were appropriated in 1966 and legislation authorizing expenditure of the funds was enacted in 1968.

The award for docket 21 represents payment for about 8.9 million acres of land in Alabama and Georgia ceded under the Treaty of 1814. Legislation authorizing expenditure of the funds was enacted in 1968 and the funds were appropriated in 1965.

The Muskogee Area Office expects to complete per capita distribution of the award by January 1, 1973.

James J. Thomas, 27, Winnebago Indian, has been named special assistant to the Department of the Interior's Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Louis R. Bruce, the Commissioner announced today.

Thomas, horn and reared on the Winnebago I Indian Reservation, Nebraska, recently completed an Indian administrator development program of the Bureau.

In announcing the appointment, the Commissioner said: "I am proud that Indian people have man such as Jim Thomas who can come to the Bureau of Indian Affairs from an Indian reservation and contribute the knowledge he gained there coupled with expertise from the urban setting for the betterment of Indians."

Thomas joined the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1967. He headed the Bureau's Youth Committee and served in an intern capacity at the Billings Area Office, Flathead Agency, and Cleveland Field Employment Assistance Office, all BIA field offices.

Part of his internship included a special eight-month assignment to the Office of Economic Opportunity in Washington, D.C., as an analyst for selected community action programs.

Thomas attended St. Augustine's Indian Mission on the Winnebago Reservation, and was graduated from Heelan High School, Sioux City, Iowa, in 1963. He served three years in the National Guard, and was on active duty at Fort Jackson, S.C., and Fort Polk, La. He has attended George Washington University, Washington, D.C.; Eastern Montana State University, Billings, Mont.; Griswold College, Cleveland, Ohio; and Northern Virginia Community College, Arlington, VA.

Louis R. Bruce, Commissioner of the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior, today lauded the Salt River Indian Community of Arizona for receiving the Meritorious Program Award of the American

Institute of Planners. The award was presented at the Institute's 52nd annual convention in Boston.

In a letter addressed to the President of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Council, Commissioner Bruce said this was the first time that the Nation's leading professional planning organization has honored an Indian community.

Salt River was the first tribe to negotiate with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to be included in the Reservation Acceleration Program (RAP). RAP has moved from a pilot status involving 11 selected tribes to one of nearly 40 participating tribes during 1972.

"Please accept my congratulations for the professional recognition that you have just received," the Commissioner wrote “I know you will go on from here and continue to explore. And to conquer new ground, serving as a model for other small communities, Indian and non-Indian) throughout the Nation."

Two thousand Pima and Maricopa Indians comprise the Salt River Indian Community near Scottsdale, Ariz. The Citizens adopted a new constitution and produced a planning program which resulted in major decrease in unemployment; created new educational programs; Construction of an industrial park; adoption of zoning regulations; and improvement of its housing stock to the point where housing is now adequate for 30 percent of its families.

It is the first time that a plan has been created for an Indian community by the Indian citizens themselves. "I know that my planning staff can learn much. From your pioneering efforts not only in developing your own, unique planning process, but in supporting it through the development of a community land board which involves allottees in managing their land, and in setting up a computerized land management system," Bruce said.

Assistant Secretary of the' Interior Richard S. Bodman announced today that Bureau of Indian Affairs headquarters personnel are now all back at work. Interior Secretary Rogers C. B. Morton vested authority for administrative control of all Indian operations in Bodman, Assistant secretary for Management
and Budget, on December 2.

Mr. Bodman said that the Offices of Planning, Engineering, Community, Services and Economic Development are located at Tempo 8, 3800 Newark Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. The Offices of Indian Water Rights, Communications, Legislative Development, Education Programs, Management Systems, Fiscal Plans and Management, Administrative Services and the Director of Southeast Agencies are located at 1951 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.

"We are moving aggressively to insure that services provided to Indian people by the Bureau of Indian Affairs are provided in a timely and effective fashion" Mr. Bodman said.

Among the steps taken by Bodman are: Assignment of duties to his deputies, Charles G. Emley, Richard R. Hite, and William L. Rogers to administer the operation of the day-to-day activities of the BIA; institution of a management reporting system which will furnish feedback on progress and problems of the headquarters and field supervisors of BIA on a weekly basis; assignment of increased responsibility to the 11 area directors in the field to reassign and transfer personnel previously requiring Washington headquarters approval.

"It is essential that we continue to provide the critical and life supporting services to Indians without interruption," Mr. Bodman said.

Richmond, Virginia’s Junior ROTC Unit of John F. Kennedy High School presented $200 to the Navajo Indians at the U.S. Department of the Interior Building in Washington, D.C. December 27. Accepting the cheek was Interior's Assistant Secretary for Management and Budget Richard S. Bodman. He presently has administrative control of all Indian operations for the Department of the Interior.

In accepting the donation Assistant Secretary Bodman commended the ROTC Unit for their deep interest in helping their fellow Americans who may be less fortunate.

"I know I speak for the Navajo people when I say 'Thank you' and that it will be used in a worthwhile manner indicative of the spirit in which you give it. I am particularly touched by the fact that you went out and
earned this money on your own and then decided to contribute it to such a 'Worthy cause."

Six John F. Kennedy High School ROTC cadets ranging in age from 14 to 17 years-of-age made the presentation. They were led by Sgt. Gerald Clemons, Jr., Junior ROTC Instructor. 'Members of the unit present were Cadet Col. Jerome Ford: Cadet Lt. Col. Melvin Bullock: Cadet Maj. Arthur Gathers, Jr.; Cadet Maj. Thomas Nobles; Cadet Capt. Jerry Owens, and Cadet Capt. Donald Bullock.

In making arrangements for the presentation Clemons pointed out that the decision to raise money for the Indians came after the young people of the ROTC group saw a television documentary that indicated the needs of the Indians. The group held candy sales, cake sales, and other benefits to raise the money they presented to Assistant Secretary Bodman.

Regulations have been issued to govern distribution of $9.2 million for the Delaware Tribe of Indians and the Absentee Delaware Tribe of Western Oklahoma, the Interior Department's Bureau of Indian Affairs announced
today. The regulations will be published in the Federal Register on Dec. 27.

The new regulations specify procedures to followed by eligible persons in order for them to share in the distribution of judgment funds.

The settlement was made of claims in Indian Claims Commission Dockets 72 and 298 and represents additional payment of $1.4 million for lands in the Delaware Outlet in Kansas. The land was taken in the 1850's and sold under a treaty of 1854. Accumulated interest amounts to $7.8 million.

Pursuant to the Act of Congress signed by President Nixon on October 3, 1972, all persons who meet the following requirements for eligibility are entitled to share in the distribution of funds authorized
by the Act. Eligible persons are those who are citizens of the United States, living on October 3, 1972, whose name, or the name of a lineal ancestor, appears on one of the following rolls:

The Delaware Indian per capita payroll approved by the Secretary of the Interior on April 20, 1906;

The constructed base census roll as of 1940 of the Absentee Delaware Tribe of Western Oklahoma, approved by the Secretary of the Interior.

In order to share in the distribution of the judgment funds eligible persons must make timely applications to be put on the payment roll. However, applicants for enrollment on the roll of the Delaware Nation of Indians prepared under the Act of September 21, 1968, are not required to apply for enrollment under the 1972 Act as their application under the 1968 Act will also be considered on application under the 1972 Act. Applications from eligible persons who did not apply for enrollment under the 1968 Act must be filed with the Area Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Federal Building, Muskogee, Oklahoma 74401; or the Area Director,
Bureau of Indian Affairs, P.O. Box 368, Anadarko, Oklahoma 73005. Such applications must be postmarked no later than February 28, 1973.

Forty-three Indian tribal leaders and officials of the Department of the Interior (DOI) and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) will meet January 27-29 at Washington, D.C.'s Dulles Airport to finalize a report to the Secretary of the Interior on the reorganization of the BIA.

The tenth meeting of the Joint Tribal/BIA/DOI Advisory Task Force for the organization of the BIA will be held from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day at the Remada Renaissance Hotel at Washington Dulles Airport locate in Northern Virginia. The Task Force will hear testimony from Indian tribal leaders and Indian organizations from Eastern Area states on their ideas as to how the BIA should be reorganized to better serve Indian tribes and individuals. The meeting is open to the general public.

The report to be submitted to Secretary Manuel Lujan is expected to include recommendations on the organizational structure at both the central and field offices of the BIA as well as budgetary recommendations.

Established for a two-year period last January by Interior Secretary Lujan, the Task Force is comprised of 36 Indian tribal leaders, two D I officials and five BIA personnel. A status report on their reorganization efforts was submitted to Secretary Lujan and the U.S. Congress last April. The Dulles meeting will be the fifth since that report was submitted. The Task Force last met in Tampa, Florida in December.

Eddie F. Brown, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs in Interior, is co -chair of the Task Force for the federal representatives, and Wendell Chino, President of the Mescalero Apache Tribe in New Mexico, is co-chair as the tribal leader’s representative.

The names of Task Force members are enclosed as well as a briefing paper that summarizes the Task Force's actions to date.