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JUNE 14, 2000

On Without Reservation:
"I haven't read the book yet...I believe these kinds of attacks are going to be more frequent. Not just Eastern tribes will be subjected. Over time, more and more tribes will have their descendancy from the historical Indian group challenged. Its a threat we're all going to have to deal with eventually."

On anti-casino negativity in Connecticut:
"Here's an important fact many don't know. The Mashantucket and both the Pequot groups [The Paucatuck Eastern Pequot and the Eastern Pequot], as well as the Mohegan and the Maine tribes put in their applications well before Indian gaming was around. That was not the motive for recognition. Twenty years ago, they sought an IHS clinic, a BIA school, BIA scholarships. By historical accident, some of them have become fabulously wealthy. I don't think we should begrudge them that."

On blood quantum:
"Do you have to be a full-blood Indian to be an Indian? What about a half-blood? What about a quarter-blood? What does it really mean to be an Indian in this day and age? When you start taking the position that you must have a certain quantum of Indian blood in order to be an Indian, we are not far from the day when there will be no Indians."

On tribal enrollment:
"I protect the tribes' rights to make that decision for themselves. Its not up to the BIA or the federal government to tell a tribe [what to do]. I think tribes will find solutions [to the blood quantum issue]."

On the Makah ruling and treaty rights:
"We are disappointed with the 9th Circuit didn't uphold what the District Court said. Our commitment to Makah treaty rights and treaty rights of all tribes is undiminished. We've got to think about whether we want to recommend an appeal to that decision or redo the environmental work to meet the standards of the court."

On the Endangered Species Act and treaty rights:
"We [Indian people] are not the ones who hunted [species] to endangered status. Yet, quite often, the ESA is employed to limit our exercise of Indian treaty rights. It bothers me."

On voting:
"I encourage all Indian people to register and vote."

On his legacy:
"What I really want to remembered for is restoring some dignity to the Bureau and letting people know that the Bureau are professionals, dedicated and do a good job given what they have to work with. Second, I hope that we have restored our credibility with Congress."

Related Stories:
Gover in the Spotlight (The Talking Circle 6/12)
Court rules on whaling (Tribal Law 6/12)
Giago misleads readers (The Talking Circle 6/2)
Tim Giago: Out where the Indians are real (The Talking Circle 6/1)
Gover wants BIA out of nastiness (Tribal Law 5/25)
Key provisions of recognition bill (Tribal Law 5/25)

Listen to Gover on NAC:
2/22/00: Bureau of Indian Affairs for 2000
9/13/99: BIA Update with Kevin Gover
5/13/99: Kevin Gover on Indian Education
2/23/99: Open Lines with Kevin Gover
1/19/99: Tribal Governments in Transition
10/22/98: Success Stories from Across Indian Country
5/13/98: Bureau of Indian Affairs
Native America Calling: www.nativecalling.org