Blackwell memo contradicts court order

FROM THE ARCHIVE

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THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2002

The same day a federal judge renewed an order barring the Department of Interior from moving trust fund records, Deputy Commissioner Sharon Blackwell told Bureau of Indian Affairs offices they could freely transfer documents belonging to 300,000 American Indians.

A memo Blackwell signed on May 3 asserted that U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth's temporary restraining order expired the day prior. Accordingly, BIA "personnel and contractors may resume 'routine use and intra-office movement of active records,'" she wrote.

Blackwell sent her memo to regional and central office directors nationwide. She reminded the directors that they could only move documents within offices but not to other geographic locations.

The memo was filed in federal court by attorneys representing Indian beneficiaries. Blackwell's directive was evidence that the Department of Interior and its attorneys "continue to flout this court’s orders and place irreplaceable trust records at risk of loss or destruction," they wrote.

Blackwell is leaving her post in June.

Get the Filing :
Emergency Notice (5/8)]

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Trust Reform, NCAI - http://130.94.214.68/main/pages/
issues/other_issues/trust_reform.asp