Facebook Twitter Email
In The Hoop
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2002

Welcome to In The Hoop, Indianz.Com's occasional column about assorted Indian issues.

Take Us To Our Leader!
In The Hoop has heard that a certain government agency is looking for a new official. Guess who the Bush administration has asked for input on replacements?

If you thought tribal leaders, well, we don't even have to tell you how wrong you are. But if you guessed lawyers, then you are right on the money. It certainly makes it seem like tribes only exist through their legal representation these days.

Take Us To Our Lobbyists!
Going by this week's focus of the National Congress of American Indians, that just might be the case. Arranged to revolve around hearings that are taking place in Congress, lawyers and lobbyists are certainly getting major play, with such events as "Effective Lobbying" and "Monteau & Peebles Dance and Karaoke Party" (not to be confused with Nia Peeples Dance Machine) featuring (we hope) the singing stylings of former Acting Assistant Secretary Mike Anderson.

Not to mention that the Senate Indian Affairs Committee let the attorneys make the first presentation at yesterday's trust fund hearing. Sure, the legal eagles had interesting stuff to say but the comment of one stood out.

We're paraphrasing but it was something like: "You're looking at three attorneys who have no clients."

Maybe there of a reason?

Take Us To Our Trustee!
When an Individual Indian Money (IIM) account holder last year asked Secretary of Interior Gale Norton just what Special Trustee Tom Slonaker does, she conveniently forgot to answer.

It turns out that even the the man himself has doubts. After telling the House earlier this month that a 1994 reform act lacked teeth, he told the Senate yesterday not to touch the law.

But he added: "There needs to be oversight [of trust reform] with teeth."

Then he opined that he could do a better job if only he had line authority over trust reform projects. But then he said a special order Norton issued last summer probably doesn't provide the right kind of accountability. Oh, and that he wasn't doing anything immediately to try and figure out a better way.

Can we stay on message here folks?

Take Me To My Roads!
Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) drew lots of laughter yesterday when he pushed Assistant Secretary Neal McCaleb to list his duties should trust and education be taken from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

"It would appear that there is little left for you to oversee," he quipped.

Oh, but there is plenty, McCaleb responded. They were: tribal courts, law enforcement, economic development, roads, telecommunication, social services, land-into-trust, tribal recognition and building schools.

Forgive In The Hoop if we are wrong but doesn't President Bush's new budget cut law enforcement, eliminate job training programs, reduce the federal highway trust from which Indian road funds are drawn, slash digital divide funds, cut domestic programs to offset defense increases and doesn't nearly provide the amount of school construction money needed? Add to the list the fact that McCaleb threw away the land-into-trust regulations and has overturned several acknowledgment decisions and it looks like not much is remains.

"It will clearly diminish some of the functions," admitted McCaleb of the new proposals. "I happen to think that it doesn't diminish the importance."

In Your Hoop
Got an interesting tip to spill? Email In the Hoop and let us know.

Previous In The Hoops
Feb. 22 | Feb. 21 | Feb. 20 | Feb. 15 | Feb. 13 | Feb. 8 | Feb. 6 | Feb. 1 | Jan. 30 | Jan. 29 | Jan. 25 | Jan. 24 | Jan. 18 | Jan. 17 | Jan. 16 | Jan. 15 | Jan. 11 | Jan. 10 | Jan. 9 | Jan. 7 | Dec. 21 | Dec. 18 | Dec. 14 | Dec. 13 | Dec. 12 | Dec. 11 | Dec. 7 | Dec. 6 | Dec. 4 | Dec. 3 | Nov. 30 | Nov. 27 | Nov. 21 | Nov. 20 | Nov. 16 | Nov. 13 | Nov. 9 | Nov. 8 | Nov. 7 | Nov. 6 | Nov. 2 | Nov. 1 | Oct. 31 | Oct. 30 | Oct. 26 | Oct. 24 | Oct. 23 | Oct. 19 | Oct. 17 | Oct. 16 | Oct. 12 | Oct. 10 | Oct. 5 | Oct. 3 | Oct. 2 | Sep. 27 | Sep. 26 | Sep. 10 | Sep. 7 | Sep. 6 | Sep. 4 | Aug. 31 | Aug. 24 | Aug. 23 | Aug. 22 | Aug. 21 | Aug. 17 | Aug. 16 | Aug. 14 | Aug. 10 | Aug. 7 | Aug. 6 | Aug. 3 | Aug. 2 | Jul. 31 | Jul. 27 | Jul. 27: Code Talkers | Jul. 20 | Jul. 13 | Jul. 11 | Jul. 10 | Jul. 6 | Jun. 28 | Jun. 27 | Jun. 22 | Jun. 20 | Jun. 19 | Jun. 15 | Jun. 14 | Jun. 8 | Jun. 6 | Jun. 5 | Jun. 1 | May 30 | May 24 | May 23 | May 16 | May 11 | May 8 | May 7 | May 2 | May 1 | Apr. 30 | Apr. 25 | Apr. 24 | Apr. 23 | Apr. 20 | Apr. 19