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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2001

Assistant Secretary Neal McCaleb has injured his leg, a spokesperson said late last night.

Nedra Darling of the Bureau of Indian Affairs said McCaleb, 66, hurt his leg and was on his way home to Oklahoma. She did not elaborate on the details of the injury nor how it came about.

The injury report came as McCaleb departed the National Congress of American Indians in Spokane, Washington. He spent two days with tribal leaders and was grilled incessantly on his department's proposal to strip the BIA of its trust responsibilities and hand them to a new agency.

The weather has been inclement in Spokane with heavy snowfall causing travel delays. A number of tribal leaders and attendees were stranded in the local airport last night as they tried to leave the conference.

It is expected that McCaleb was able to make a successful journey to Oklahoma City. He left the convention yesterday before Darling, who was stuck in Spokane and could not depart.

McCaleb, a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, has become known in Washington, D.C., for preferring to walk to meetings and around the city whenever possible. His insistence occasionally exasperates aides.

On September 11, when the Pentagon was hit by by an airplane hijacked by terrorists, McCaleb was stranded on Capitol Hill without transportation. When the area was evacuated, he took a hearty walk back to the main Department of Interior building only to find it locked up.

He eventually made it to his suburban Virginia residence after taking the Metro subway to the nearest location and then walking the rest of the way.

It is not known if McCaleb's injury will affect participation, if any, in his upcoming contempt trial. Like his boss Secretary Gale Norton, his presence is not required, as government, personal counsel or other government officials can represent him and provide testimony.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth will hold a hearing tomorrow at 2 p.m. in federal district court in Washington, D.C., to determine potential witness. He will start civil contempt proceedings on Monday at 10 a.m.

Today on Indianz.Com:
Norton ordered to trial for 'fraud' (11/29)
Tribal leaders reject BIA overhaul (11/29)
Indian Country deserves answers (11/29)
Interior can't be trusted (11/29)
Norton to attend consultation session (11/29)
Big showing expected at Norton meeting (11/29)
Griles: Receiver ends sovereign relationship (11/29)
Swimmer: No clue on historical funds (11/29)
Contempt trial important somewhere (11/29)

Relevant Links:
Office of the Special Trustee - http://www.ost.doi.gov
Trust Management Improvement Project - http://www.doi.gov/bia/trust/tmip.htm
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com

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Developing: Norton, McCaleb ordered to contempt trial (11/28)
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Trust fund settlement talks fail (11/28)
NCAI shoring up Norton opposition (11/28)
Tribal leaders challenging Norton (11/28)
Norton wants to cut Interior jobs (11/28)
Norton failing on trust fund backup (11/27)
Interior schedules first consultation (11/27)
Interior cutting off tribal comments (11/27)
BIA collecting Indian preference info (11/27)
Norton's BIA overhaul blasted (11/26)
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Editorial: Give Norton plan a chance (11/26)
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