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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2002

In an editorial posted in the online edition of Indian Country Today, Secretary of Interior Gale Norton has removed comments she made regarding her belief that the Bureau of Indian Trust Assets Management (BITAM) is the "superior" solution to trust reform.

Her editorial is almost identical to an opening statement she made to the House Resources Committee on February 6. But instead of saying her proposal was the best, she now writes that she and her staff are "evaluating" tribal alternatives.

"The task force and my team are currently evaluating several recommendations that were presented by American Indian tribes, individuals, and organizations during the consultation process," the editorial states. "My initial reaction is that the various proposals all recognize a need for significant improvement in trust management and contain many insightful recommendations that can potentially be merged to achieve a broad consensus on a fresh approach."

On February 6, she said: "I still believe that our separate organization is superior and is more likely to bring needed change. I have not entirely closed my mind to the opinions I'm hearing from other people. At this point, I still do remain convinced that a separate organization would be stronger."

Indianz.Com reported today that her attorneys told a federal judge February 15 that creating BITAM was not necessary.

Get the Story:
American Indian Trust Reform: The Challenge to Consensus (Gale Norton. Indian Country Today 2/25)

Today on Indianz.Com:
Norton admits BITAM not only solution (2/25)

More on House Hearing:
Highlights: Trust fund hearing (2/8)
House Committee on Resources (2/6)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Trust Reform, NCAI - http://130.94.214.68/main/pages/
issues/other_issues/trust_reform.asp

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