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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2001

The traveling tribal consultation train moved to Minnesota on Thursday, where a repeat of last week's session on the proposed Bureau of Indian Trust Assets Management took place.

Tribal leaders from throughout Indian Country blasted the proposal as ill-timed and ill-conceived. They said the Bush administration is moving too fast to implement the new agency and want slowed down, or stopped altogether.

Secretary of Interior Gale Norton did not attend. Assistant Secretary Neal McCaleb hosted the session.

McCaleb said delayed checks to Indian Country are being sent out, including general assistance funds to tribes. However, special master Alan Balaran still has not signed off on a plan to get Individual Indian Money (IIM) checks out the door, sources said.

The next consultation meeting is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on January 3, 2002.

Get the Story:
Tribal leaders criticize Interior secretary's reform plans (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 12/21)
Tribal leaders, Interior officials discuss trust-account problems (The St. Paul Pioneer Press 12/20)
Tribal leaders suggest fixes to government trust account system (AP 12/20)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com

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