OPA

The Interior Department’s Indian Arts and Crafts Hoard announced today publication of a new 32-page Source Directory of interest to potential customers for authentic Native American arts and crafts.

The Directory lists 198 businesses which are owned and operated by Native Americans. Located in states from Alaska to Florida, the businesses offer handcrafted products reflecting distinctive Indian and Eskimo creativity. Products listed include jewelry, moccasins, custom-designed dresses and other garments, as well as rugs, quilts, pottery, basketry, metalwork, paintings, carvings and figurines for home decor. Other products include drums, masks, feather headdresses, dolls, and unique items decorated with porcupine quillwork.

Businesses appearing in the Directory are artist and craftsman cooperatives, tribal arts and crafts enterprises, as well as businesses and galleries privately owned and operated by Native American individuals, designer/craftsman artists. Also included are several non-profit organizations working directly with Native American groups to develop products and markets.

Entries in the Directory give names and addresses of the businesses, telephone numbers, 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 Directory also will be of special interest to tourists and travelers throughout the United States. For the traveler’s convenience, businesses are listed alphabetically by state.

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

Interior Assistant Secretary Ken Smith announced today new assignments for four Bureau of Indian Affairs area directors all of them members of the Federal Government's senior executive service.

The new appointments are as follows:

Sidney Mills, the Albuquerque area director, has been named director of the Bureau's Office of Trust Responsibilities in Washington, D. C.

Vincent Little, director of the Bureau's Portland, Oregon area office, replaces Mills in Albuquerque.

Stan Speaks, director of the Anadarko, Oklahoma area office, is the new director of the Portland office. Maurice w. (Bill) Babby, director of the area office at Sacramento, California, goes to Anadarko as director of that office.

Sidney L. Mills, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, was director of the Bureau's Albuquerque, New Mexico area office. He was appointed to that position in 1978, after serving for three years as the executive assistant to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in Washington, D. C. A Navy veteran, Mills entered Federal service in 1973 in the Aberdeen area office where he served as the supply and contracting officer and as acting deputy director. He had previously been purchasing manager for the Great Western Sugar Company; merchandise control manager, Creative Merchandising, Inc.; and purchasing manager for Sundstrand Aviation, all in Denver, Colorado.

Vincent Little, a member of the Mohave Tribe, was director of the BIA's Portland area office, appointed to that position in March, 1977. He began work with BIA as a teacher at the Phoenix Indian School in 1957. He was an enrollment officer and tribal operations officer at the Western Washington Agency from 1963 to 1967. He then worked as assistant superintendent at the Hoopa agency in northern California. From 1970 to 1973 he was the education program administrator at Phoenix Indian School and then became the superintendent at the Northern Idaho agency. A U.S. Army veteran, Little graduated from the Arizona State University in 1957 and received a Master's degree there in 1961.

Stan Speaks, a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, was appointed area director at Anadarko, Oklahoma in 1975. He had previously been the acting superintendent of the Intermountain Indian School at Brigham City, Utah were he had also served for five years as the supervisory guidance counselor. He worked in Indian education programs with the Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1959 to 1975. He is a graduate of the Northeastern State college of Oklahoma, where he also earned a Master's in education.

Maurice W. Babby, Oglala Sioux, was named director of the Sacramento area office in August, 1981. He had been director of the BIA's office of administration in Washington, D. c. prior to going to Sacramento. Babby began his career in the Bureau at the Sacramento office. He was superintendent of the Fort Belknap agency in Montana 1967-70 and assistant area director at Billings. Montana 1970-79. A graduate of Sacramento State University, Babby earned a law degree from the LaSalle Extension University in 1969 and a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma in 1977.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is publishing in the Federal Register July 15, 1982, regulations governing treaty Indian fishing · for sockeye and pink salmon in Fraser River waters coming under the Convention between the United States and Canada.

The regulations are designed to be consistent with the United States' obligations to Canada under the Fraser River Convention and with the obligation to the treaty tribes to provide the opportunity to catch one-half of the United States' share of the fish.

To allow the affected tribes to exercise their treaty fishing rights in a timely manner, these regulations are being issued on an emergency basis and are, consequently, effective upon publication.

For additional information contact Robert Ringo, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2625 Parkmont Land, Building A, Olympia, Washington 98502, (206/753-9460).

Resumption of livestock impoundment by the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the Hopi partitioned lands in northern Arizona should not deter leaders of the Navajo and Hopi Indian tribes from continuing to work toward a negotiated settlement of their differences, Interior Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs John W. Fritz said today.

The Bureau resumed impoundment activities June 12.

"The chairmen of both tribes contacted me and were concerned that the Bureau activities would hamper their on-going attempts to reach agreement," Fritz said.

"I told them the federal government fully supported their talks," he continued. "But in upholding the law and obeying orders of the courts we have no alternative but to continue our range management program, which includes impoundment."

Seven animals were picked up by the BIA's Hopi agency staff June 12-13.

Fritz said both Navajo Chairman Peterson Zah and Hopi Chairman Ivan Sidney had been informed that impoundment activities would resume.

"The two chairmen were concerned that impoundment at this particular time might have been designed to embarrass them politically," Fritz said. "I assured them 10 the strongest possible words that this was not the case."

Several months ago Zah and Sidney announced they had initiated discussions to resolve the Navajo-Hopi situation, including consideration of a possible land exchange.

"The Navajo-Hopi dispute has been around for about a century," Fritz said. "We are happy that, finally, chairmen from the two tribes are sitting down to talk. We are hopeful the discussions will be productive."

Fritz added, "The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the federal government have an obligation to uphold the law and carry out the dictates of the courts. We will continue to meet those obligations."

The Interior Department's Acting Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, John Fritz, ruled today that the attempted removal June 2 of eight members of the business committee of the Wisconsin Winnebago Indian Tribe would not be recognized because procedures required by the tribe's constitution had not been followed.

"We decline to recognize the attempted June 2 removal," Fritz said, "but will recognize the results of a special general council removal hearing conducted in accordance with Wisconsin Winnebago law."

Fritz added that he was sending Fred Ragsdale, a Chemehuevi Indian from the law school faculty at the University of New Mexico, as a special representative from the Department to work with responsible members of the tribe for the conduct of a special general council meeting. Ragsdale has successfully helped other tribal groups resolve internal governmental problems.

In a letter to the attorney of the Winnebago factional leaders, Fritz said that Ragsdale's efforts would be aimed at helping them achieve mutually agreeable solutions to tribal problems.

Fritz identified three problems to be resolved:

1. Correctly conducting a general council to consider the removal charges in accordance with the tribal constitution;
2. Establishing a suitable body for the management of the tribe's bingo operation, including appropriate accounting and oversight controls; and
3. Revising and clarifying the tribal constitution.

Fritz concluded his letter to the tribal representatives by saying that he expected the general council hearing to be called quickly. He said the Department, if necessary, would call the hearing under Section 3 of Article VII of the tribal constitution.

Interior Secretary William Clark today formally transferred the 44-acre site of the former Albuquerque Indian School to the 19· Indian Pueblos of New Mexico.

In ceremonies at the U.S. Capitol, the Secretary witnessed acceptance of the deed to the property by representatives of the 19 Pueblos. Ken Smith Interior Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, earlier this month executed the quitclaim deed which stipulated that acceptance of the property by the Pueblos must be completed no later than August 15.

"This is a giant acquisition for the Indian Pueblos of New Mexico and provides these tribal governments with the basis for additional revenue generation through possible economic development projects," Secretary Clark said.

"I am proud to be a part of these actions that mean so much to the Indians of New Mexico. Additional development on this property should provide employment for members of the Pueblos and other local citizens, lessen tribal dependence on Federal funds and programs and reduce the Federal presence, all of which are objectives of this Administration's Indian policy," he added.

Initial use of the property will be for the continued operation and administration of programs under contract by the Pueblos for the Departments of Interior, Health and Human Services, Labor and Commerce. In addition, the new owners will develop the property for commercial uses.

Secretary Clark met in December with representatives of the New Mexico Pueblos. As a result of that meeting, the Pueblos submitted a revised version of their 1981 application for the property, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs began an intensive study of the application. After appraisal of the property, an environmental assessment of the effects of the proposed transfer and development of covenants for the protection of historical resources, the final paperwork was presented for Assistant Secretary Smith's decision in early July.

The three original remaining buildings on the former Albuquerque Indian School property are eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. The BIA operated a school for Indian students on the property before transferring the students to Santa Fe in 1980.

The BIA operated a school for Indian students on the property before transferring the students to Santa Fe in 1980.

Interior Assistant Secretary Ken Smith announced today new assignments for four Bureau of Indian Affairs area directors all of them members of the Federal Government's senior executive service.

The new appointments are as follows:

Sidney Mills, the Albuquerque area director, has been named director of the Bureau's Office of Trust Responsibilities in Washington, D. C.

Vincent Little, director of the Bureau's Portland, Oregon area office, replaces Mills in Albuquerque.

Stan Speaks, director of the Anadarko, Oklahoma area office, is the new director of the Portland office. Maurice w. (Bill) Babby, director of the area office at Sacramento, California, goes to Anadarko as director of that office.

Sidney L. Mills, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, was director of the Bureau's Albuquerque, New Mexico area office. He was appointed to that position in 1978, after serving for three years as the executive assistant to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in Washington, D. C. A Navy veteran, Mills entered Federal service in 1973 in the Aberdeen area office where he served as the supply and contracting officer and as acting deputy director. He had previously been purchasing manager for the Great Western Sugar Company; merchandise control manager, Creative Merchandising, Inc.; and purchasing manager for Sundstrand Aviation, all in Denver, Colorado.

Vincent Little, a member of the Mohave Tribe, was director of the BIA's Portland area office, appointed to that position in March, 1977. He began work with BIA as a teacher at the Phoenix Indian School in 1957. He was an enrollment officer and tribal operations officer at the Western Washington Agency from 1963 to 1967. He then worked as assistant superintendent at the Hoopa agency in northern California. From 1970 to 1973 he was the education program administrator at Phoenix Indian School and then became the superintendent at the Northern Idaho agency. A U.S. Army veteran, Little graduated from the Arizona State University in 1957 and received a Master's degree there in 1961.

Stan Speaks, a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, was appointed area director at Anadarko, Oklahoma in 1975. He had previously been the acting superintendent of the Intermountain Indian School at Brigham City, Utah were he had also served for five years as the supervisory guidance counselor. He worked in Indian education programs with the Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1959 to 1975. He is a graduate of the Northeastern State college of Oklahoma, where he also earned a Master's in education.

Maurice W. Babby, Oglala Sioux, was named director of the Sacramento area office in August, 1981. He had been director of the BIA's office of administration in Washington, D. C. prior to going to Sacramento. Babby began his career in the Bureau at the Sacramento office. He was superintendent of the Fort Belknap agency in Montana 1967-70 and assistant area director at Billings. Montana 1970-79. A graduate of Sacramento State University, Babby earned a law degree from the LaSalle Extension University in 1969 and a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma in 1977.

Interior Secretary James Watt, responding to the President's instructions, today announced formation of a Policy Advisory Group and negotiating teams to spearhead his Department's effort to achieve negotiated settlements for the more than 50 outstanding lawsuits over Indian water claims.

"President Reagan has forcefully indicated his concern that these suits-- which have stalled essential economic progress in both Indian and non-Indian areas--be settled quickly through negotiated settlements that are equitable to all parties," Watt said.

"To be successful, negotiations must include everyone concerned, including the Federal Government, and Federal representatives must thoroughly understand the issues and local concerns," he said.

The Interior Policy Advisory Group will be chaired by Interior Solicitor William H. Coldiron and include Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Kenneth L. Smith, Assistant Secretary for Land and Water Resources Garrey E. Carruthers and Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks G. Ray Arnett Also in the Group will be Fish and Wildlife Service Director Robert Jantzen, National Park Service Director Russell Dickenson and Bureau of Reclamation
Commissioner Robert N. Broadbent.

The Group will advise him on policy issues involved in various negotiations, Watt said, and help in the selection of negotiating teams to work in the field.

It is expected that most teams will be headed by agency officials, including Department of Justice lawyers, who "will have complete access to the Interior Department's resources through Deputy under Secretary William P. Horn, who I have asked to be the Chief Coordinator of Negotiations," Watt said.

The teams, which will include Interior officials from Washington, D.C., and field offices and other Federal agency officials as appropriate, will be designed to work on groups of claims and conduct day-to-day negotiations.

The teams will be assisted by local Advisory Boards appointed by the Secretary. "These Boards will include a full cross-sect ion of affected local interests in Indian and non-Indian communities, 11 Watt said.”They will provide the vital historic, social and environmental background essential to equitable and successful negotiation," Watt said.

Watt noted that legislation would be required in many instances to implement negotiated water suit settlements.

"Lawsuits consume time and resources that could be put to the more productive use of developing resources once the water is allocated," Watt said

"But all concerned must realize that the President and I will support only those negotiated settlements that were developed by all affected parties and represent a fair settlement of both financial and water disputes. The recent Papago case is demonstrative. Negotiations, which did not involve the Federal Government, yielded a settlement that required the United States to pay an unfair share of costs which were primarily the obligations of local water users. The President vetoed the legislative enactment of the Papago plan and will continue to object to similar unbalanced settlements," he said.

Interior Assistant Secretary Kenneth L. Smith has announced the appointment of new area directors for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) at Sacramento, California and Anadarko, Oklahoma.

Maurice W. Babby, area director at Anadarko, has been transferred to the Sacramento office and William P. Ragsdale, assistant area director for economic development in the Phoenix, Arizona area, has been assigned to Anadarko. The BIA has a total of 12 area offices, or regional offices, throughout the United States.

Babby, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, was the area director in Sacramento before coming to Anadarko in 1982. In his 28 years with the BIA, he has served in a variety of top administrative and managerial positions. He was director of administration, acting director of legislation and a special project development manager in the BIA central office in Washington, D.C. He has also worked in the Aberdeen, South Dakota; Billings, Montana ·and Window Rock, Arizona (Navajo) area offices.

A business administration graduate of Sacramento State University, he subsequently earned a Master’s in public administration from the University of Oklahoma.

Ragsdale, a member of the Cherokee Tribe of Oklahoma, is a former Marine Corps Captain who has been the assistant area director at Phoenix since 1979. Ragsdale, 38, completed the government's Senior Executive Service (SES) candidate development program in 1983 and is moving into his first SES position.

A native of Muskogee, Oklahoma and graduate of Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma, Ragsdale served for more than a year as the Deputy Director of the BIA's Office of Trust Responsibilities in Washington, D.C. He was superintendent of the Uintah and Ouray agency at Fort Duchesne, Utah from 1976 to 1979. Both appointments are effective February 19.

Interior Assistant Secretary Ken Smith has denied the request of an Oklahoma tribe to have off-reservation land given U.S. trust status to allow the tribe to operate a bingo game free of state regulation.

In rejecting the request of the Kaw Tribe to have five acres of land in Kay County, Oklahoma, taken in trust by the United States, Smith said he considered the legal and political impact on all tribes, not just the tribe making the request.

Smith told M.M. Chouteau, chairman of the Kaw tribal business committee, in an August 17, letter, that he did "not believe that the Department should necessarily extend trust status to parcels of land located off-reservation solely for the purpose of accommodating these (bingo) activities."

Smith explained in his letter that the Secretary of the Interior has discretionary authority to take lands in trust for Indian tribes, but Departmental regulations set forth a requirement that off-reservation acquisitions should be "made only under exceptional circumstances" and "to further certain essential tribal programs."

Generally, when lands are taken in trust for a tribe, they are within the boundaries of a reservation or contiguous to it.

In recent months, since high stakes bingo games have become an important source of revenue for some tribes, there has been publicity about the possibility of establishing new reservation areas for bingo purposes in a number of communities. A town in Ohio, for example, has offered land to the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and two cities in Minnesota have offered land to tribes in that state.

The Assistant Secretary said that each request for off-reservation lands to be put into trust will be evaluated on its own merits. He added that in the Kaw request, particular attention was given to the use intended for the land and potential jurisdictional conflicts.