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In The Hoop
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2002

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

The Unfriendly Skies
After eight months of work, the joint federal-tribal task force on trust reform has essentially been laid to rest with the two sides in disagreement over several key issues. Alvin Windy Boy, chairman of the Chippewa-Cree Tribe of Montana, said he predicted it all.

"If you remember a while back, I think it was in January -- I don't remember what meeting it was -- but I said nothing was going to come of this," he recalled on Tuesday at a meeting in Washington, D.C. "The only people that's going to make is hotels and airlines and certainly, sure enough..."

Assistant Secretary Neal McCaleb had a funny response. "The Secretary asked me what the product of our task force was about a month ago and I said: 'Well, we all racked up a lot of frequent flyer miles," he told the tribes.

"She didn't find that humorous," he deadpanned.

The Department of Interior paid for the task force and for travel and subsistence for the 24 tribal delegates. According to Deputy Assistant Secretary Aurene Martin, about $750,000 was spent.

"Is that per month?" joked Chief Jim Gray of the Osage Nation when told of the figures.

Crocogrile's Tears
There haven't been many dry eyes among top Department of Interior officials and their aides. One might call it the Pre-Holiday Blues. (Or Indian trust dramatics.)

Even Deputy Secretary J. Steven Griles hasn't been immune. Before departing the task force meeting on Monday for a White House engagement, he got all choked up about Neal McCaleb's imminent departure.

"Neal's decision to leave brings a heavy heart to me personally," he said.

Then he paused for a few seconds.

"I swore I wasn't going to do that."

By Popular Demand
Due to popular demand, we have added some positions to our BIA Reorganization Contest! Although we initially stated it was limited to people above the fold in central office, we were prodded into adding the following people.

Lee Fleming, Chief of Branch of Acknowledgment and Research. Federal recognition is getting elevated to a new office so we figure this counts.

Nedra Darling, Director of Office of Public Affairs. This office is also being elevated to an external affairs office.

Jackie Cheek, Director of Congressional Affairs. Ditto Darling.

So be sure to enter and good luck!

In Your Hoop
Are you crying over Neal's departure? Email In the Hoop and let us know.

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