OPA

Proposed regulations to better protect the per capita shares of minors, legal incompetents and deceased beneficiaries of Indian judgment funds were published in the Federal Register on November 1975, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson announced today.

The judgment funds are monies awarded to Indian tribal groups by the Indian Claims Commission or the U.S. Court of Claims, - generally for lands ceded under treaty or otherwise taken from the tribes without adequate compensation and also for an accounting of funds. Plans for the use and distribution of the judgment funds frequently include a per capita distribution to tribal members.

Any minor's share in excess of $100, according to the proposed regulations, cannot be disbursed until the minor reaches the age of 18. This applies to both the principal and accrued interest.

The regulations also set forth detailed, stringent requirements the establishment of a private trust for minors' shares.

Commissioner Thompson said that the new regulations had been developed because tribal groups had demonstrated or expressed a need for more specific guidelines.

Comments on the proposed regulations should be sent within 60 days of publication to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Attention: Division of Tribal Government Services, Washington, D.C. 20245.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson has urged members of the Kickapoo Tribal Council to take action to resolve factional issues which have paralyzed the tribal government and interfered with the funding of needed tribal programs.

Headquarters for the 900-member tribe are at Horton, Kansas.

In a letter sent to each of the tribal council members, Commissioner Thompson expressed concern "about the unfortunate situation of the Kickapoo Tribe."

Noting that the Council had allowed the contract for the Indian Action Team to expire and that other programs were suffering, the Commissioner said: "I find it very difficult to believe the members of the tribal council are willing to allow their personal animosities to destroy these beneficial programs, the attendant employment of the Kickapoo people and the good name of the Kickapoo tribe."

The Indian Action Team program provided jobs for more than 30 tribal members.

Opposing factions on the tribal council have refused to meet together and have thus prevented, by lack of quorum, essential council actions.

Thompson emphasized in his letter that, the tribal council had the authority and capability to resolve its problems without intervention from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. "We feel that it would be a serious breach of our commitment to Indian self-determination and an erosion of tribal sovereignty if we interceded in a situation which is totally within the tribal council's ability and authority to handle."

Thompson said that the council has a moral responsibility, as well as a constitutional duty, "To put aside personal differences and to act as a body on these critical tribal business matters."

Thompson's letter outlined certain steps to be taken by the Kickapoo Tribal Council and the Kickapoo people to restore viable tribal government to the Kickapoos. He offered the assistance of BIA staff to help achieve this goal.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson announced today that Indian tribal groups would be receiving this fiscal year almost $10 million for projects to provide additional job opportunities on reservations.

Commissioner Thompson said that 39 tribal projects submitted through the Bureau of Indian Affairs to the Department of Commerce have been approved for funding under Title X of the Public Works and Economic Development Act. The purpose of this Title of the Act is to create job opportunities in areas of high unemployment.

Most of the approved funding -- about $8.5 million -- will go to Indian Action Team projects. These projects combine employment with on-the-job training and the construction of needed tribal facilities.

Under the Indian Action Team concept, tribal groups develop the capability to build their own housing, erect community centers or construct roads so that they are not dependent on outside contractors for this kind of work. Individual Indians learn skills needed on the reservation -- mostly in construction work -- without leaving their homes and families and while earning a wage.

It is estimated that the 39 funded projects will create more than 1,100 jobs.

Some of the criteria involved in the selection of projects for funding were the severity of unemployment, ability of the project to generate long term employment, cost of creating- a man-year of employment and the ratio of Title X funds to total funds.

In the fiscal year ending June 30, 1975, about $2 million was awarded for tribal projects.

Projects to be funded are as follows: ;Alaska, Annette Island Reserve, $78,360 and Hoonah Village, $67, 096; Arizona, Colorado River Reservation, $300 , 000; Hualapai, $300,000; Navajo, $1,200,000 and San Carlos Apache, $63,000. California, Hoops, $300,000 and Tule River, $300,000; Minnesota, Minnesota Chippewa, $166,740.

The Department of the Interior today announced the election of five incorporators of the thirteenth region established for the benefit of Alaska Natives who are not permanent residents of Alaska and who elected to be enrolled in such a region under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

The incorporators were elected in a mail ballot of adult thirteenth region enrollees. The enrollees voted on a list of 24 nominees submitted to the Department by organizations representing non-resident Alaska Natives.

Under an order issued by U.S. District Judge Oliver Gasch October 6, 1975, the five nominees receiving the highest number of votes are recognized as incorporators of the thirteenth region for the purpose of preparing and submitting the proposed articles of incorporation and bylaws for the region. They will also constitute the initial board of directors of the corporation to serve until the first meeting of shareholders or until their successors are elected and qualify. They are not eligible to succeed themselves.

Under Judge Gasch's order, the proposed articles of incorporation and bylaws are to be approved by January 1, 1976; the first meeting of the shareholders and election of the board of directors of the corporation is to be held by February 1, 1976; and by February 15, 1976, the corporation is to be paid its share of the monies in the Alaska Native Fund.

At or about the time the regional corporation makes its first distribution to its shareholders, all adult non-resident Native enrollees, whether or not presently enrolled in the thirteenth region, will be given a final opportunity to elect their preference for enrollment in that region or in another region in Alaska.

The election of the incorporators was certified by the Department on the basis of a tabulation of the 1,251 valid ballots cast by the 3,100 adult thirteenth region enrollees. The election was conducted by the Opinion Research Corp. of Princeton, New Jersey, under a Department contract. The incorporators certified as elected are: Sheila Aga, P.O. Box 1378, Myrtle Creek, Oregon 97457; Axel Anaruk, 30153 - 12th Ave., S.E., Federal Way, Washington 98002; William Jackson, 20328 Marine Dr., Stanwood, Washington 98212; Sam Walkoff, 8545 Delaware St., Highland, Indiana 46332; James S. Williams, 7120 Greenly Dr., Oakland, California 94605.

George V. Goodwin, Jr., a member of the White Earth Band of Chippewa Indians, has been appointed Minneapolis Area Director for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson announced today.

The area includes the states of Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin.

A swearing-in ceremony for Goodwin will be held December 18 at 1 p.m. in the Leamington Hotel, Minneapolis.

Goodwin has been Executive Director of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe since February of 1973. In this position he was responsible for the planning, development and implementation of programs for economic and community development and for the administration of the tribal office.

Since 1965 Goodwin has worked in Indian community action programs in Minnesota and Washington, D.C. He is familiar with the Federal, State and local agencies working with Indian people in the area and has a personal knowledge of most of the tribal groups.

Goodwin, 33, has a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Bemidji State College, Minnesota, and has done some graduate work toward a law degree.

Goodwin has been an officer in the National Congress of American Indians and a board member for the American Indian Management Institute and the Native American Rights Fund.

The 23 tribal groups served by the Minneapolis Area Office were consulted prior to Goodwin's selection.

A plan for the use and distribution of $4.6 million awarded to the Winnebago Indians by the Indian Claims Commission is being published in the Federal Register, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson announced today.

The award represents payment for lands in Wisconsin and Illinois ceded by the Winnebago Tribe to the United States between 1829 and 1837.

The plan, approved by Congress and made effective October 30, 1975, divides the award between the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and the Winnebago Tribe of Wisconsin on the basis of current tribal rolls.

A per capita distribution of the total amount allotted to the Winnebago Tribe of Wisconsin will be made to enrolled members of the tribe.

Thirty-five percent of the amount allotted to the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska will be used for programs benefitting the tribe. These will include a Tribal Burial Trust Fund, Tribal Credit Program and Tribal Land Acquisition Program. The remaining 65 percent will be distributed on a per capita basis to tribal members.

Persons eligible for enrollment in both tribes will be asked to make a choice for the purpose of updating the current rolls.

A plan for the use of $450,000 awarded by the Indian Claims Commission to the Creek Nation of Oklahoma was published in the Federal Register December 23, 1975, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson announced today.

The award represents payment for land in Oklahoma taken without payment by the United States between 1881 and 1924 and additional payment for land sold under the Creek Agreement of March 8, 1900.

According to the plan, approved by Congress and made effective November 16, 1975, the funds will be used to pay off the indebtedness on the Creek Nation Office Complex at Okmulgee, Oklahoma, with any remaining balance made available for additional development of facilities of the Creek Nation Capital Complex as recommended by the Principal Chief.

A plan for the use and distribution of $3.9 million awarded by the Indian Claims Commission to the Cherokee Nation is being published in the Federal Register, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson announced today.

The award is additional payment for land in Northern Oklahoma acquired by the United States from the Cherokees from 1872 to 1893.

According to the plan, approved by Congress and made effective November 5, 1975, $1 million will be distributed on a per capita basis to all living persons listed on any of the tribe's final rolls approved under the provisions of the Act of April 26, 1906.

The remainder of the award will be invested and the income used for tribal purposes as recommended by the Principal Chief or any Cherokee Nation governing body recognized by the Secretary of the Interior. These would include annual administrative expenses of the tribe and funds used for social and economic development purposes.

Applications for a per capita share of the $1 million must be filed with the Director of the Muskogee Area Office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs within one year of the effective date of this plan.

A plan for the use of approximately $500,000 awarded to the Navajo Tribe by the Indian Claims Commission was published in the Federal Register, December 23, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson announced today.

The award represents additional payment for certain reserves of helium-bearing gas.

According to the plan, approved by Congress and made effective November 17, 1975, the funds will be used for scholarship grants and other educational purposes as designated by the Navajo Tribal Council.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Robert L. Bennett today announced that two new Indian employment assistance centers will be opened in Oklahoma within the next two weeks.

To be located in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, the centers will serve as adjuncts to the vocational training and job placement services provided through the Bureau's area offices in Muskogee and Anadarko. Referrals to the new centers for services will be made by the Muskogee and Anadarko offices.

The multiple job opportunities in Oklahoma's two largest cities, and the limited range of opportunities in some of the outlying areas, led to the establishment of the two new offices, Bennett said. Each will be staffed with a placement officer and a family counseling adviser. The short-range goal is to find employment for one Indian a day.

Heads of families as well as single job-seekers will be served through the new offices. The Bureau's training and placement services include aid in finding housing for relocated Indians, and payment of travel and other related expenses entailed in their move.