Facebook Twitter Email
JANUARY 24, 2001

On the eve of the day a key Senate committee is expected to consider her nomination as Secretary of Interior, a number of Indian environmental organizations on Tuesday voiced their opposition to former Colorado Attorney General Gale Norton.

Citing Norton's involvement in a number of court cases affecting tribal sovereignty and her support of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the group questioned whether she would uphold her duties as head of the Department of Interior. If confirmed, Norton would oversee the Bureau of Indian Affairs, whose decisions affect hundreds of tribes throughout Indian Country.

"We're concerned about Gale Norton's track record with Indian tribes, said Chris Peters, director of the Seventh Generation Fund, a California grassroots organization. "Anyone in the position as chief of the Interior Department must be someone that would defend all federal protections for Indian sacred lands and culturally and historically significant areas. She has a long a history of not doing this."

Like other Norton foes, Peters and his colleagues such as the Indigenous Environmental Network and the Center for Biological Diversity have armed themselves with documentation of her past positions. Democrats on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources have seized on Norton's past as well, primarily focusing on her criticism of environmental laws and defense of states' rights -- positions which ranking member Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico has called "disturbing."

So far, though, none have publicly stated their opposition to Norton and at least one member, Mary Landrieu of Lousiana, says she supports Norton. Perhaps in hopes of converting doubting Democrats, Norton promised to uphold the law and backed off or clarified some of her more controversial views during her confirmation hearings.

In reponse to issues raised by freshman Maria Cantwell, Norton also stated her position towards tribes and said she took "seriously" the trust responsibility of the federal government. "My philosophy overall is that decisions are best made when they are made closest to the people," she said. "That carries to the tribe themselves."

Meanwhile, she has received broad support from Republicans. Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado praised Norton's record with Ute tribes in their state and also said she was "very knowledgeable in Indian law."

But it is this history which Norton's critics yesterday presented as dangerous. Joining a number of other Western states, Norton signed several friend-of-the-court briefs in a number of Supreme Court cases affecting tribes in Alaska, Montana, Minnesota, Florida, and Washington.

Judging by the outcomes of the cases, Campbell wasn't far off in his assessment of Norton. At the expense of tribal sovereignty, the Supreme Court's rulings all favored arguments put forth by Norton and her colleagues.

Committee Chairman Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska), a Norton supporter, is expected to call a vote on recommending her confirmation today.

Relevant Links:
Stop Gale Norton - www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/
stop-norton/index.html
The Indigenous Environmental Network -www.ienearth.org
Say No to Norton - www.saynotonorton.org
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee - www.senate.gov/~energy

Related Stories:
Norton's phone calls questioned (Politics 1/23)
Effects of Norton vote weighed (Politics 1/23)
Norton hearings conclude (Politics 1/22)
Norton promises tribal support (Politics 1/19)
GOPS vs. Dems on Norton (Politics 1/19)
Norton foes head to DC (Politics 1/19)
Bush, Norton protesters arrested (Politics 1/19)
Challenges, risks cited at Interior (Politics 1/18)
Norton hearing begins today (Politics 1/18)
Legal colleagues support Norton (Politics 1/18)
COMMENTARY: Norton hearing transcript (Politics 1/18)
Norton's client tied to Goshute nuclear group (Politics 1/18)
GOP defends Norton (Politics 1/17)
Hearings for Ashcroft, Norton this week (Politics 1/16)
Cantwell faces challenging start (Politics 1/12)
Tribes in middle of property-rights battle (Tribal Law 1/12)
On defense, Bush makes new choice (Politics 1/12)
Norton's legal work criticized (Politics 1/12)
Norton: Bad for BIA? (Politics 1/11)
What's next for Interior, BIA? (Tribal Law 1/11)
Chavez out -- Ashcroft, Norton next? (Politics 1/10)
Bush nominees face attacks (Politics 1/9)
EDITORIAL: Norton is 'war' on West (The Talking Circle 1/9)
Norton's client list diverse (Politics 1/5)
Tough road ahead for Norton, others (Politics 1/4)
Bush names Norton to Interior (Politics 12/29)
Who is Gale Norton? (Politics 12/29)