ending October 5
WEEK IN REVIEW: Resurrected?
Indian trust official Ross Swimmer.
File Photo © NSM.
After last week's task force bash, the federal judge overseeing Indian trust took center stage once again in an attempt to fix the broken system. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth criticized Secretary of Interior Gale Norton for attacking a court investigator who has produced some rather embarrassing reports. He ordered the Bush administration to pay outstanding legal fees to Joseph S. Kieffer III. Lamberth also set in motion the Department of Interior's third contempt trial to address retaliation against a Bureau of Indian Affairs employee. Former Clinton officials are on the hook to explain how Mona Infield, a computer specialist, got sent home for questioning trust reform efforts. Meanwhile, in a series, The Lincoln Journal Star examined some of the key problems and players in the century-old Indian trust saga. Quote of the week goes to Louis LaRose of Nebraska's Winnebago Tribe: "I believe in resurrection now. They resurrected Ross Swimmer." Get the Story:
Griles' credibility on trust doubted (9/30)
Jodi Rave Series: Indian trust problems (9/30)
Lamberth, a twin, 'having a good time' (9/30)
Campbell touted separate trust agency (9/30)
Uncle Sam is a trustee, not Sugar Daddy (9/30)
Norton ordered to keep court promise (10/1)
'They resurrected Ross Swimmer' (10/1)
Navajo delegates want DOI stripped of trust (10/1)
Appeal hinted in breach of trust case (10/2)
Norton rebuffed on Cobell court fees (10/2)
Trust task force takes on new life (10/3)
Petition: Tribe can't handle trust services (10/3)
BIA intimidation case continues (10/4)
DOI has no comment on retaliation ruling (10/4) BIA hangs on to keep recognition duties
Assistant Secretary Neal McCaleb released his long-awaited federal recognition reform plan this week to an eager audience of critics. About the only praise McCaleb got was that he developed a plan. The slow-moving research staff and complex guidelines have drawn complaints for years. Beyond that, foes of the process said they won't be satisfied until the Bureau of Indian Affairs is fully isolated from "outside" influences. Congress might be tempted to wait another year to see how McCaleb's strategy pans out before acting on legislative solutions. Get the Story:
Nipmuc comment period closes (10/2)
McCaleb proposes recognition reform (10/3)
McCaleb's recognition plan welcomed (10/3)
Group claims exclusion from Pequot tribe (10/3)
McCaleb's plan not enough, say critics (10/4) more stories
There's still more to read in the recap of the top stories.