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JUNE 15, 2001

The Interior Board of Indian Appeals last month upheld the Bureau of Indian Affairs' decision to recognize the Cowlitz Tribe of Washington but referred three issues to the Bush administration for possible reconsideration.

The Cowlitz were extended preliminary recognition by former Assistant Secretary Ada Deer in 1997. Her successor Kevin Gover signed the final determination to acknowledge the tribe in February 2000.

During the interim, the federally recognized Quinault Nation had raised numerous challenges to the Cowlitz recognition. After the decision was finalized, the tribe asked Secretary of Interior Gale Norton to reverse it but she declined.

Norton -- or possibly Neal McCaleb, President Bush's nominee for the Assistant Secretary post -- now has to consider three issues related to the tribe's recogition before it can be finalized.

Get the Decision:
Cowlitz Indian Tribe, In re Federal Acknowledgment of the (36 IBIA 140 May 29, 2001)

Get the Story:
Cowlitz Tribe's existence upheld (The Oregonian 6/15)