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In The Hoop
APRIL 25, 2001

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

Waiting to Exhale
Rumors are swirling in Indian Country about the resignation of JoAnn Chase as executive director of the National Congress of American Indians.

The departure of Chase, who led the largest and oldest Native organization since 1993, was announced in a happily worded press release sent out by NCAI on Monday. But some say the breakup was far from amicable and came after Chase, of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, was given a vote of "no confidence" from the group.

So NCAI is now looking for someone with "strong management, administrative, fiscal and organizational skills" to oversee its lobbying effort. John Dossett, the group's general counsel, will be acting director until the position is filled.

As for Chase, she is headed to the First Peoples Worldwide Initiative at the First Nations Development Institute, where she will serve as Senior Advisor. "I lived and breathed NCAI for over half of my professional career," she said, "now I look forward to pursuing other matters, both creatively and on the international scene."

Journalists on the Move
Speaking of leadership shake ups, the Native American Journalist Association has finally welcomed Mark Anthony Rolo into the fold as its executive director. He had been acting director for some time.

But NAJA is also looking for four new members for its board of directors. Native journalist Jodi Rave of The Lincoln Journal Star recently told Indianz.Com she resigned from the board for various reasons and won't be attending the June convention in Buffalo, New York.

That left In The Hoop wondering if "Journalism Without Borders" will be the same tribal love-fest as last year's conference. Even though NAJA has frequently spoke out on tribal governments having too much say over tribal journalism, the Miccosukee Tribe and the Seminole Tribe played quite the helpful hosts to NAJA last year in Florida

Secretarial Pleasure
For some odd reason, Secretary of Interior Gale Norton finally got around to praising William G. Myers III, President Bush's pick as the department's Solicitor.

Although Myers was announced for the position on March 29, Norton's crack press team barely put out her response yesterday. Meanwhile, Norton immediately praised the nominations of Neal McCaleb and Lynn Scarlett as soon as they were announced for their Assistant Secretary positions.

But In The Hoop says better late than never! We're sure the delay had nothing to do with background checks or other shenanigans.

Myers is currently employed at the Boise, Idaho, office of Holland & Hart and was a former advocate for the cattle industry who fought the Clinton administration's grazing policies. As soon as he's confirmed, expect him to take a look at Sandia Pueblo boundary ruling, say Interior officials.

Name That Babbitt
Keep your submissions in our whatchutalkinbout Bruce Babbitt caption contest coming!

So far, we've had some pretty funny submissions. We'll keep the contest open for a few days so we can be sure to select the best one.

(In The Hoop is holding out for a submission by Sherman Alexie as soon as he finishes his latest book, novel, home movie, or Russell Crowe tribute.)

In Your Hoop
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