FROM THE ARCHIVE

Facebook Twitter Email
In The Hoop
MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2002

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

Gale Norton v. Miss Cleo
Environmentalists are upset that Secretary of Interior Gale Norton is using a video created by a pro-drilling lobbying group to promote oil and gas development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

But Norton spokesperson Mark Pfeifle says it's not as bad as the reel the greens are using. "Using the footage supplied by anti-energy independence groups is about as reliable as having your fortune told by Miss Cleo and the Psychic Friends Network," he is quoted by The Washington Post as saying.

Perhaps it was the legally challenged Miss Cleo with whom Norton consulted before unleashing the Bureau of Indian Trust Assets Management? Or the bankrupt challenged Dionne Warwick?

Either could explain why the "plan" has been a complete flop.

But whatever the case, at least In The Hoop knows the Interior still falls way behind the "anti-energy independence groups" when it comes to technology. A digital version of the video in question was on the department's web site but the link appears to have disappeared.

I am in charge, honestly!
Speaking of disappearing, Deputy Secretary J. Steven Griles (or one of his "aides") might want to be more careful where he leaves his belongings.

According to Al Kamen of The Washington Post, a copy of Griles' recent itinerary was found in an unusual location: a suburban Washington, D.C., drug store. A reader of Kamen's In the Loop column discovered the note-card at the store's prescription counter.

No word on what drugs Mr. Griles was picking up (or dropping off) but by the way trust reform is going, we have a few ideas.

Would you like a firewall with that?
Outsourcing Indian trust isn't the only thing on the Secretary Norton's mind these days. According to a recent compilation of federal contracts by States News Service, a whopping $85 million has been awarded to four companies to provide "scientific, engineering and technical support services."

We're not exactly sure what that means as the department's award notices don't provide much detail. But lest you think the money will be used to improve the security of Indian trust systems, guess again. The money is headed to Ft. Huachaca, Arizona, where an Army intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance center is located.

Maybe our soldiers will be looking for all those missing trust fund records.

In Your Hoop
Got an interesting tip to spill? Email In the Hoop and let us know.