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© 2001 Indian Country Tomorrow
Babbitt Officially Adopted By Wealthy Calif. Tribe
Honor is thanks for 'sticking up' for Indian Country


Former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt signs his new tribal enrollment card. "I am proud to be the newest member of the Guantanamera Tribe," he said. (AP)

By Donald Smelmer
Tomorrow Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 04, 2001

GUANTANAMERA RESERVATION, CALIF., July 1 -- Former Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt was adopted into the Guantanamera Band of Mission Indians of California today. It is believed to be the first time such a high-profile person has been accepted into a tribe.

"For your tireless and ground breaking efforts in support of Indian Country, we welcome you into the family of indigenous nations," said Guantanamera Chairman Julio "Ollie" Torres to the former Arizona Governor. "You are always welcome among our people."

The honor was one eagerly accepted by Babbitt, who for seven years served as head of the Department of Interior under President Bill Clinton.

"I graciously accept this tribal enrollment card and I shall carry it with me at all times," said a humbled Babbitt at a special ceremony at tribal headquarters about 70 miles east of Los Angeles.

As Interior Secretary, Babbitt often took an activist role in Indian Affairs. He shut down mines on sacred land willingly, took land into trust for tribes eagerly, and attended the Schemitzun pow-wow every fall loyally, occasionally competing in the Golden Agers category.

But it was the actions he has taken since leaving office in January that impressed the Guantanamera Tribe, said Torres. "He's really lived up to his promise to be an advocate for Indian Country and we just wanted to thank him for that," he said.

After stepping down, Babbitt quickly mobilized a "Stop Gale Norton" campaign along with American Indian and Alaska Native environmental activists. Like Babbitt, they feared the former Colorado Attorney General's pledge to uphold the four C's -- cooperation, consultation, coordination, all in the spirit of conservation -- was merely a smoke screen for wanting to drill every inch of Indian Country.

Although the coalition was ultimately unable to derail the nomination, Babbitt says he now feels vindicated that the tireless protests he led outside his former workplace were not without vain.

"She hasn't disappointed us," he said. "The new administration's energy policy, in which Norton targets all Indian lands for development, proves we were right."

"That's a bunch of hogwash," said Interior spokesperson Mark Pfeifle. "Only 65 percent of tribal lands contain viable coal, gas, oil, and timber reserves."

"I don't know too much about numbers," continued Pfeifle. "I took home economics instead in college. But I do know that 65 percent does not equal all of Indian Country. Its at least 30 percent less."

In addition to his daily criticisms of his former department -- found at his website www.norton101.org -- Babbitt has also accepted tribal clients free of charge at his Washington, DC, law firm of Arnold & Willis. Foregoing millions of dollars in legal fees is small price to pay for the rewards of doing good deeds, said Babbitt.

"My doors are always open to my Indian brothers and sisters," Babbitt said.

Babbitt's enrollment in the tribe means he will receive a yearly $500,000 per capita payment from the Guantanamera's extremely successful casino. He repeatedly declined to answer questions about his new found wealth.

© 2001-2002 Indian Country Tomorrow