end of first session of the 109th Congress in December and will be taken
up again after Congress reconvenes later this month. In the case of
trust reform, the mere introduction of bills was a highly significant
step forward.
INDIAN TRUST REFORM BILLS (S. 1439 and H.R. 4322)
House Committee on Resources chairman Richard Pombo (CA) and ranking
member Nick Rahall (WV) recently introduced the Indian Trust Reform Act
(H.R. 4322), an identical, companion bill to the Senate version, S.
1439, previously introduced by chairman John McCain (AZ) and ranking
member Sen. Byron Dorgan (ND) of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
The Indian Trust Reform Act would settle major discrepancies in the
federal government's management of money owed to individual Indians from
the sale of natural resources (timber, oil, gas, minerals, etc.) located
on individual Native Americans' land.
The Department of Interior (DOI) negotiates the sale of these assets on
behalf of Native Americans and is required to collect and distribute the
profits to the Native American land owners. Sadly, over the last 118
years, the federal government has misused and mismanaged the funds.
Native American plaintiffs have proven in the Cobell v Norton lawsuit
that the federal government has not paid out all of the Indians' money
and lost or destroyed thousands of critical documents central to the
case. DOI and the Native American plaintiffs are far apart on the
amount they each calculate would constitute a fair legislated
settlement. Their conflicting perceptions of financial restitution are
stalling the Indian Trust Reform Act in both chambers of Congress.
While negotiations and litigation drag on due to government stonewalling
and denials of wrongdoing, Native American families living on
reservations (24% of which live below the poverty line) continue to wait
and hope for justice.
For more on the Cobell v Norton lawsuit, please read:
http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=1266&issue_id=112
REAUTHORIZATION OF THE INDIAN HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT (S. 1057)
Legislation to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (S.
1057) was introduced by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA)
late last year. The bill, which would update the service methods and
range of programs provided by the Indian Health Service, must pass
through the SCIA to move forward for a full Senate vote. Introduction
of a House companion bill is expected soon.
NATIVE HAWAIIAN GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION ACT OF 2005 (S. 147)
The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2005 (S. 147), also
known as the "Akaka bill" after its principal sponsor Sen. Daniel Akaka
(HI) would codify federal recognition of Native Hawaiians as a sovereign
governmental entity and institute a government-to-government
relationship between the United States and Native Hawaiians. The bill
does not represent the independence of Native Hawaiians from the U.S.,
but instead creates a legal status similar to that of the 562 American
Indian and Alaskan Native tribes currently recognized by the federal
government.
After two delays in 2005, the "Akaka bill" is likely to be scheduled for
a vote in February or March.
Read more about Native Hawaiians and Self-Determination:
http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=1251&issue_id=111
NATIVE AMERICANS PETITION CONGRESS FOR POSSIBLE REPATRIATION OF
GERONIMO'S SKULL
Many Native Americans and others concerned with the desecration and
robbing of Native American graves are asking Congress to investigate
long-held suspicions that Skull and Bones the elite, secret society at
Yale University may be in possession of the skeletal remains of
Geronimo, the famous spiritual leader of the Chiricahua Apache tribe.
Skull and Bones documents recount the exhumation of a grave by Prescott
Bush, grandfather of President G.W. Bush, and other "Bonesmen" at Fort
Sill, OK, the location of Geronimo's original burial site. Some Skull
and Bones members have admitted their society is in possession of a
skull the society members refer to as "Geronimo," other "Bonesmen" deny
this claim.
Apache leaders have attempted to negotiate with the Skull and Bones
society to repatriate the skull with the hope of fulfilling Geronimo's
wish to be buried in "Arizona acorn country," but to no avail. The
organizers of the petition are asking Congress "to launch an immediate
investigation into the theft and possession of human remains by the
Skull & Bones society."
Read more on the petition and the history of this controversy:
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096412153 and
http://www.yaleherald.com/article.php?Article=2523
FCNL IS COORDINATING A NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN MEDIA SYMPOSIUM
The Friends Committee on National Legislation is coordinating a national
Native American media symposium entitled "Who Wants to Hear OUR Story:
Communications and Contemporary Native Americans" in Washington, DC on
March 2nd and 3rd to address the lack of positive and informed
coverage, negative or misleading portrayals of Native Americans, and the
absent voice and dearth of representation of Native Americans in
mainstream media and popular culture. The symposium will bring together
Native and non-Native organizations, journalists, congressional members
and staff, and concerned persons. All are welcome to attend.
To learn more and sign up for information go to:
http://www.fcnl.org/nativeam/media_symp.htm
_______________________________________
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________________________________________
Friends Committee on National Legislation
245 Second St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-5795
fcnl@fcnl.org * http://www.fcnl.org
phone: (202)547-6000 * toll-free: (800)630-1330
We seek a world free of war and the threat of war
We seek a society with equity and justice for all
We seek a community where every person's potential may be fulfilled
We seek an earth restored.
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