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TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2002

Former Assistant Secretary Ada Deer misinterpreted Congressional intent when she recognized more than 200 Alaska Native tribes and village governments, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) said on Monday.

During a visit to Fairbanks, Stevens told reporters there was a "problem" with the federal status of the tribes and villages. He said he supported a Republican-led push in Alaska to have their recognition reconsidered.

"We did not decide that every place with 25 or more people was a tribe," he is quoted as saying. "She decided that every village was a tribe. There was no historical basis for that finding."

Alaska Native leaders have been in an uproar since the request was made.

Get the Story:
Senator backs GOP tribal status inquiry (The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner 1/29)

Relevant Links:
Sen. Ted Stevens - http://stevens.senate.gov

Related Stories:
GOP request has Alaska Natives fuming (1/28)