Facebook Twitter Email
In The Hoop
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2002

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

Another Casualty
In the rush to document years of high-profile shakeups at the Department of Interior, Indianz.Com left off a big one: Daryl White as Chief Information Officer.

White, as many know, testified on behalf of the Indian plaintiffs during the Bush administration's contempt trial. And like fellow witnesses Tom Slonaker and Tommy Thompson, both of the Office of the Special Trustee, he soon found himself on the skids with Secretary Gale Norton and her crew.

Who's Next?
The retirement of Neal McCaleb as assistant secretary has many minds in Indian Country wondering who will take his place.

"Hopefully they don't pick Ross Swimmer," exclaims Ron Allen, chairman of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe of Washington, referring to the former assistant secretary who is now the chief architect of the Son of BITAM. "That would not be a good choice for them."

The name that has surfaced, of course, is none other than Tim Martin, executive director of United South and Eastern Tribes (USET). He was, for many tribal leaders, the best choice to head the Bureau of Indian Affairs and quite a few of them grumbled when McCaleb got picked instead.

Indian Welfare
The big stories emerging this week are the huge budget deficits facing state governments. From Maine to California, politicians are being forced to cut spending, the media reports.

And just who are they turning to? Tribal governments of course!

With casino gaming bringing in millions of dollars, states are hoping to taking their place at the Indian Welfare Line, which started when the Wampanoags of Massachusetts first helped the Pilgrims and continued as tribes were forced to give up their most valuable land to whites and the federal government.

Except in Connecticut, some of the Yankees are unclear on the concept. Some politicians have the gall to ask for more money from the state's two tribes but want to deny the right to game to others.

States are also looking to Uncle Sam for help, which is often another euphemism for "Let's do something about the Indians."

In Your Hoop
Should Indian Country give yet another handout to America? Email In the Hoop and let us know.

Previous In The Hoops
Nov. 22 | Nov. 15 | Nov. 14 | Nov. 5 | Nov. 1 | Oct. 31 | Oct. 30 | Oct. 25 | Oct. 24 | Oct. 23 | Oct. 18 | Oct. 17 | Oct. 11 | Oct. 10 | Oct. 4 | Oct. 3 | Oct. 2 | Sep. 27 | Sep. 26 | Sep. 20 | Sep. 19 | Sep. 13 | Sep. 10 | Sep. 6 | Sep. 5 | Aug. 30 | Aug. 27 | Aug. 23 | Aug. 22 | Aug. 16 | Aug. 14 | Aug. 13 | Aug. 9 | Aug. 8 | Aug. 2 | Jul. 30 | Jul. 26 | Jul. 24 | Jul. 23 | Jul. 20 | Jul. 19 | Jul. 18 | Jul. 12 | Jul. 11 | Jul. 5 | Jun. 28 | Jun. 21 | Jun. 20 | Jun. 14 | Jun. 7 | Jun. 6 | May. 31 | May. 30 | May. 29 | May. 24 | May. 21 | May. 17 | May. 16 | May. 15 | May. 14 | May. 10 | May. 9 | May. 8 | May. 7 | May. 2 | Apr. 30 | Apr. 26 | Apr. 24 | Apr. 23 | Apr. 19 | Apr. 18 | Apr. 17 | Apr. 16 | Apr. 15 | Apr. 12 | Apr. 11 | Apr. 10 | Apr. 9 | Apr. 5 | Apr. 4 | Apr. 3 | Apr. 2 | Mar. 29 | Mar. 28 | Mar. 27 | Mar. 26 | Mar. 22 | Mar. 21 | Mar. 20 | Mar. 19 | Mar. 18 | Mar. 15 | Mar. 14 | Mar. 13 | Mar. 12 | Mar. 11 | Mar. 8 | Mar. 7 | Mar. 1 | Feb. 28 | Feb. 27 | Feb. 22 | Feb. 21 | Feb. 20 | Feb. 15 | Feb. 13 | Feb. 8 | Feb. 6 | Feb. 1 | Jan. 30 | Jan. 29 | Jan. 25 | Jan. 24 | Jan. 18 | Jan. 17 | Jan. 16 | Jan. 15 | Jan. 11 | Jan. 10 | Jan. 9 | Jan. 7