OPA

Calling it "a tremendous step forward in addressing the needs of technologically needy students on remote Indian reservations," Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt announced today that Microsoft Corporation has contributed over $350,000 in software, computers and cash to Four Directions, a project of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) that will electronically link Indian schools using the Internet and provide new technology opportunities to Native American students in eight states.

"Microsoft's donation will bring the power of the Internet to tribal communities that have been geographically and economically isolated," Secretary Babbitt said. "This program will supply rich new resources to the children in these communities, powerful new tools to the teachers in these formerly isolated schools, and new communications opportunities for adults throughout their communities. Yesterday, these eight communities were among the most technologically deprived in America; tomorrow, these communities will have the tools and skills to participate more fully in the information age." Four Directions is a Bureau of Indian Affairs project designed to bring technology to Indian schools. It seeks to expand student access to technology, improve communication among BIA schools, share learning resources and expose the wider community to new technologies, including the Internet.

"We view this as an opportunity to share the latest technology with students who otherwise might have little or no access," said Bill Neukom, Microsoft's Senior Vice President for Law and Corporate Affairs. He added: "Four Directions will help students, teachers, and the broader communities in which they live. At Microsoft, we understand the potential of the personal computer and the Internet - but we also understand that some communities do not have access to these technologies. This partnership with the Bureau of Indian Affairs is an important part of our efforts to help bridge the gap between 'haves' and 'have-nots' in the information age."

"Every school should have access to the intellectual and cultural resources of the Internet. This technology can help to connect schools with their communities, encourage communication among parents, teachers and students, and assist teachers in sharing resources and best practices," Neukom continued. "Today, students, teachers, librarians and community members can collaborate in new and productive ways. Four Directions is a marvelous example of making those important connections with PC technology." Microsoft will provide software, computers and cash to fund teacher training in eight pilot schools. Project goals include connecting teachers in the pilot schools around the country with one another to share learning resources, lesson plans and advice. Incorporation of Native American themes into curriculum and expanded access and use of technology by Indian students will also be part of the project.

"The Four Directions Project has the potential to transform teaching and learning in schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and those public schools educating American Indian children," Gilbert Sanchez, from the Pueblo of Laguna, lead Local Education Agency for the project, said. "Significant learning will occur when technology, Indian culture, language and subject matter is integrated holistically."

The Four Directions pilot schools are:

• Dilcon Boarding School; Winslow, Arizona
• Ahfachkee Day School; Clewiston, Florida
• Indian Island School; Old Town, Maine
• Hannahville Indian School; Wilson, Michigan
• Fond du Lac Education Division; Cloquet, Minnesota
• Laguna Middle School; Laguna, New Mexico
• Takini School; Howes, South Dakota ·
• Quileute Tribal School; La Push, Washington

Software titles donated to the pilot schools include: Microsoft NT Server, BackOffice Server 1.5, Microsoft Windows95 Upgrade, Microsoft Office Professional, Microsoft Project, Creative Writer, Fine Artist, Encarta96 Encyclopedia, 500 Nations, Art Gallery, Magic School Bus-Oceans, Magic School Bus-Solar System, Magic School Bus-Human Body, Ancient Lands, Dangerous Creatures, Explorapedia: World of Nature, Art Gallery, Automap Road Atlas, Bookshelf, Dinosaurs, Flight Simulator, World of Flight, Composer Collection, Cinemania and Microsoft Money."

As a former educator with a deep attachment to Indian students everywhere, I am very pleased to see Microsoft providing this hardware, software and training for teachers in these eight remote Indian schools," Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Ada Deer said. "These young people deserve the tools to be able to compete in the 21st century, and I look forward to hearing of their progress working with the Internet and being able to enrich their lives through

The Devil's Lake Sioux Tribe of North Dakota has officially changed its name to SPIRIT LAKE TRIBE, Ada E. Deer, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs announced today.

According to the elders of the Tribe, who maintain the oral history of the lake for which the Tribe was named, it was always known to the Sioux as "Spirit Lake." Therefore, for members of the Tribe it has always been considered wrong to refer to the lake as "Devil's Lake."

The Spirit Lake Sioux are related to the Sisseton-Wahpeton Band of Mississippi or Eastern Sioux. This group's ancestral grounds were in Minnesota. The discovery of gold in Montana in 1862 brought a major influx of settlers and gold miners through Minnesota - Sioux country, which resulted in the Minnesota Uprising. Many members of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Band migrated west in the wake of this conflict settling in the Fort Totten Area.

In the 1970s the Tribe changed their name to the "Sisseton-Wahpeton of North Dakota." This change was short lived because it caused confusion with the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux of South Dakota and was abandoned.

Final approval of the name change was granted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs on August 15, 1996. "This brings to a conclusion the dream of many tribal members as well as bringing closure to the memories of those whose grandparents handed down the true meaning of 'Mni Waukan Oyate' (Spirit Lake Family/Relatives)," Delbert E. Brewer, Area Director, Aberdeen Area Office said.

The Spirit Lake Tribe is located in northeast North Dakota. Their address is Spirit Lake Tribe, Sioux Community Center, Fort Totten, ND 58335, (701) 766-4221, fax (605) 226-7446.

Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Ada E. Deer signed a preliminary decision in which she proposes to deny Federal recognition of the Duwamish Tribal Organization of Renton, WA, a petitioner for Federal acknowledgment as an Indian tribe.

"The petitioner failed to meet three of the fundamental criteria contained in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 25, Section 83.7," Ms. Deer said.

This preliminary decision means that the Washington group would not be eligible for certain rights and benefits accorded tribes that are granted "Federal recognition" or "acknowledgment" and therefore have a government-to-government relationship with the United States.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) determined that the Duwamish group is an organization of Duwamish descendants that has existed since 1925. While the petitioner's individual members can trace their ancestry back to a historical Duwamish tribe, the petitioner has not existed as a tribal entity continuously since the time of first sustained contact between the historical Duwamish tribe and non-Indians. The petitioner has been identified by external observers as an Indian entity, but only since about 1940. The petitioner does not form, and has not formed, a distinct social or geographical community in western Washington. Its organization has functioned for limited purposes since 1925 and has exercised no meaningful political influence or authority over its members.

A historical Duwamish tribe was described as consisting of the Indians living at the confluence of the Black, Cedar, and Duwamish Rivers south of Lake Washington, as well as along the Green and White Rivers and the eastern shore of Puget Sound in the area of Elliott Bay. A distinct Duwamish community continued to exist in this area until about 1900. The petitioner's organization came into existence in 1925. This Duwamish Tribal Organization has not exercised political influence or authority over its members. No evidence shows that members were involved actively in making decisions for the group or resolving disputes among themselves. The petitioner's current members do not maintain a community that is distinct from the surrounding non-Indian population. The group's geographical dispersion is consistent with other evidence showing that members do not maintain, and have not maintained, significant social contact with each other. Since 1925, the social activities of the petitioner's members with other members, outside the organization's annual meetings, took place within their own extended families, but not outside their own family lines. Identifications made by outside observers of a Duwamish community before 1900 and an organization after 1940 do not identify the same entity and do not link the modern petitioner to the historical tribe as an Indian entity which has continued to exist over time.

The BIA employs historians, anthropologists, and genealogists to research the claims of groups seeking recognition as Indian tribes. Each case is evaluated individually according to the seven mandatory e criteria for Federal acknowledgment. Although revised acknowledgment regulations became effective March 28, 1994, the Duwamish Tribal Organization chose, as provided in 25 CFR 83.3(g) of the revised regulations, to complete their petitioning process under the previous acknowledgment regulations.

Currently, there are 554 federally-recognized American Indian tribes. Tribes recognized through the acknowledgment process within the past year are the Huron Potawatomi of MI and the Jena Band of Choctaws of LA.

Under the regulations, the Duwamish and interested parties have 120 days to comment on the Assistant Secretary's proposed finding that would deny Federal recognition. All comments must be in writing and should be addressed to the Branch of Acknowledgment and Research, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240.

Ada E. Deer, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, will appear on ABC's Unity '99 hosted program which is a nationally televised electronic town hall meeting on Affirmative Action. The program is scheduled to be aired on Wednesday, June 12, 1996 which is telecasted from Chicago, on channel 7. This program is replacing ABC's Nightline on the 12th.

The broadcast will take place on WLS-TV (ABC), Channel 7, at 11:30 EDT; 10:30 CDT.

Featured panelists include Jesse Jackson, President, Operation PUSH; Deval Patrick, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division; Antonio Monroig; Chair, Republican National Hispanic Assembly; Susan Au Allen, President, Pan Asian Chamber of Commerce; and Karen Narasaki, Executive Director, National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium; Ada E. Deer, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs (Menominee)

Thanks to a newly developed process that streamlines the planning, design, and construction of Indian schools, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) will be able to complete new schools in half the time or less. This means that the current seven to eight years that it has taken to build or renovate a school 'will now require only three years or less.

"We are extremely pleased to announce this major benefit to tribes and Indian students," said Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Ada E. Deer. "The Clinton Administration is committed to improving Indian education programs and this fast-track delivery of new Indian schools is a major step toward this goal. We now call on Congress to fulfill its responsibilities by funding the more than $600- million in unmet Indian school construction and repair needs. With a rapidly rising enrollment of Indian students, we have a critical responsibility to ensure that Indian students have decent learning environments to help them succeed in the 21st Century."

Approximately four new school construction pilot projects will be selected in October by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Tribes and schools boards will then be able to decide if they want their proposed schools to be a part of the new expedited program. These pilot school projects will be selected from the 14 currently funded proposed school construction projects. As a part of the Clinton Administration's Reinventing Government program, the new school planning, design, and construction process was developed by a Reinvention Laboratory Team composed of BIA and Department of the Interior employees.

Members of a recently appointed team to implement the new process are:

• Anthony E. Howard, Contracting and Grants Administration, BIA
• Dr. Kenneth Ross, Office of Indian Education Programs, BIA
• Norman Suazo, Facilities Management and Construction Center, BIA
• Stanley Thurber, Office of the Secretary, DOI
• Nolando Neswood, Employees Union (NFFE)·Representative

Copies of a report describing the new process have been distributed to the leaders of tribes that have BIA-funded schools, school principals, and BIA line officers. For further information and report copies, contact Norman Suazo, Division of Program Planning and Implementation, BIA/Facilities Management & Construction Center, P.O. Box 1248, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103.

Ada E. Deer, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs will represent the Department of the Interior at the signing ceremony of Truckee River Water Quality Settlement Agreement, in Reno, Nevada. The execution of this agreement ends a long standing emotionally charged lawsuit initiated by The Pyramid Lake Tribe against the Cities of Reno, Sparks, the State of Nevada, and the EPA This agreement establishes a joint program to improve water quality in the Truckee River through purchase and dedication of water rights and to use treatment plant effluent in place of fresh water for certain uses.

For example, the metro-area governments (acting together) and with the Department of the Interior will each purchase $12 million in Truckee River water rights over five years and dedicate them to a joint program to improve water quality and instream flows in the Truckee River from Reno to Pyramid Lake.

In addition, water benefits will be enhanced by storing water in federal Truckee River reservoirs so that timed releases during dry periods will improve instream flows. The agreement also improves water quality in Pyramid Lake, home of the endangered cui-ui fish. This fish has long played a significant role in the culture and subsistence of the Pyramid Lake Tribe.

"This agreement set the stage for improved relations between the Pyramid Lake Tribe and the surrounding communities, and water quality in the region will be improved," Ms. Deer said. "The direct benefits will be less pollutants in the water, recovery of endangered species and enhanced recreational opportunities. It is truly my pleasure to be involved in such an historic occasion." The parties to the agreement are Reno, Sparks and Washoe County, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection~ the Pyramid Lake Tribe, EPA, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior. The ceremony scheduled for October 10, 1996 will take place at 4:00 PM, at the Wingfield Park Amphitheater, Reno, Nevada.

Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan today directed implementation of short-term and long-range plans-to improve regulation of gaming on Indian reservations

"These actions are intended to assure that tribes can maintain gaming as a viable economic enterprise while implementing controls," Lujan said. "We are moving to assure adequate protection of the general public and tribal communities from undesirable elements of gaming, to develop better coordination between the Department of the Interior and the Department of Justice, to alleviate law enforcement risks involved with gaming and to coordinate responsibilities with the National Indian Gaming Commission."

Eddie F. Brown, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, has appointed Hilda Manuel as interim head of the Gaming Action Team to implement the plans ordered by Lujan. Manuel, an attorney and former tribal judge, has worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the past two years and presently is director of the Office of Tribal Government Services.

Brown said that the Gaming Action Team will include individuals skilled in law, accounting, gaming management, law enforcement and other areas key to gaming.

The action plans approved by Lujan were drawn up by a Task Force on Indian Gaming Management, appointed by the Secretary in December.

As part of the short-term plan, the team will work with tribes and contractors to make whatever corrective actions may be necessary to insure compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and Interior Department guidelines.

Lujan said that actions should be taken to bring tribes currently operating Class III (casino) gaming without tribal state compacts into compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Where unauthorized games and operators are found, legal actions will be taken to halt operations. The team is to work with the Department of Justice to bring about criminal prosecution of crimes involving gaming.

An Indian Gaming Management Office within the Bureau of Indian Affairs will be established to oversee background checks, monitor gaming contractors, approve per capita plans for distribution of income from Indian gaming, handle tribal/state compact approvals, process off-reservation trust acquisitions, and coordinate transition of various functions and responsibilities as the National Indian Gaming Commission becomes fully operational. The commission, authorized by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, is in the process of establishing regulations under which it will operate.

Lujan ordered the Solicitor of the Department and the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs to strengthen coordination with the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in fulfilling the mandates of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Eddie F. Brown, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs, today approved an amended constitution adopted in a 139-70 vote by the Sitka Tribe of Alaska in November.

The certificate of approval notes, however, "This approval shall not be construed to validate any assertion that the Sitka Tribe of Alaska has governmental authority over lands (including management of, or regulation of the taking of fish and wildlife) or persons who are not members of the tribe, absent a ruling by a court of competent jurisdiction, an opinion of the Solicitor of the Department of the Interior or an Act of Congress subsequent to the date of the certification which indicates the existence of such authority over lands or non-members."

In issuing the approval, Brown said he was concerned about the sufficiency of tribe's membership or citizenship roll under the amended constitution. He also pointed out that while there are 2,669 names on the membership roll, only 210 votes were cast in the election.

Brown said that although the tribe had failed to make all the technical changes recommended by the Department, he could approve it under the conditions stated in the certificate of approval.

Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan today announced the appointment of Philip N. Hogen, former U.S. Attorney in South Dakota, as Director of the Department's new Office of American Indian Trust.

"I am pleased that Phil Hogen has agreed to fill this important post that was created to expand the oversight of the trust responsibility this Department has for American Indians and Alaska Natives,” Lujan said. "He brings a wealth of experience in protecting the rights of people in his previous jobs and I feel certain he will do the same in this new position."

Hogen, an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota, will be the first person to head the post announced last year by President Bush in his American Indian Policy statement. The President said: "An Office of American Indian Trust will be established in the Department of the Interior and given the responsibility of overseeing the trust responsibility of the Department and of insuring that no Departmental action will be taken that will adversely affect or destroy those physical assets that the Federal Government holds in trust for the (Indian) tribes."

The new appointee has served as U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota since 1981. He was Jackson County States Attorney in Kadoka, S.D., from 1975 to 1981. He also worked on the staff of former U.S. Representative James Abdnor. Previous to that he was in private law practice. Hogen, 47, is a graduate of Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., and holds a juris doctorate from the University of South Dakota School of Law. He is married to the former Marty Teupel of Lead, S.D. They have two children.

Two posters proclaiming 1992 as the Year of the American Indian will be unveiled in Green Bay, Wisconsin, June 23 at a reception in the Radisson Inn on the Oneida Indian Reservation.

The four-color posters are the first two of a series of four posters that will be issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in conjunction with a proclamation issued in March by President Bush designating 1992 as the Year of the American Indian. It is the first time in history that such a proclamation has honored the American Indian people.

The posters will be unveiled at 7 p.m. at a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Radisson, hosted by the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin, the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans, the Menominee Nation, and the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council. The event will be held in conjunction with a meeting of the 43-member Advisory Task Force on the Reorganization of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

All of the posters are designed with a theme of "The Spirit Lives." One of those to be unveiled in Green Bay features two original graphics by young Indian artist and fashion designer Robert Bowers, a student at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, N.M~ He graphically builds on the poster series theme with two silhouetted Indians -- one in a dancer's costume with arms aloft and the other in a cap and gown raising a diploma -- and in Bowers' words "standing strong in tradition and at the same time striving for education." Bowers, a Umatilla-Yakima Indian from Portland, Oregon, will be present when his poster is unveiled.

The other poster features a four-color adaptation of the Year of the American Indian logo with seven fanned feathers surrounded by an arch with the repeated words, "The Spirit Lives." Beneath is printed the numbers 1992 and within the numbers are the names of all Indian tribes in the country.

Two other posters, both also created and designed by the Native Images Department at the Institute of American Indian Arts, will feature two original art works by former students at the school and will be issued in August. Congress passed Public Law 102-188 earlier this year, asking the President to declare 1992 as the Year of the American Indian. His proclamation reads in part, "this year gives us the opportunity to recognize the special place that American Indians hold in our society, to affirm the right of Indian tribes to exist as sovereign entities, and to seek greater mutual understanding and trust.''