FROM THE ARCHIVE

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In The Hoop
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2002

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

Seen and Heard
If you weren't at the National Summit on Emerging Tribal Economies in Phoenix, Arizona, this week, you missed out on one of the better Indian Country events of the year. Throw in NCAI without the overt lobbying, AISES without the safe camp and NIGA without the shameless self-promotion and you get this Bureau of Indian Affairs-sponsored shindig.

The three-day summit is winding down today and just about every tribal leader, tribal lover and tribal lawyer has been through the lobbies of the Phoenix Civic Center. A short list: Osage Nation Chief Jim Gray along with council members / health advocates John Williams and Jodie Satepauhoodle, Native America Calling host Harlan McKosato and crew, Navajo Nation President Kelsey Begaye, Hopi chairman Wayne Taylor, Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation chairman Tex Hall, Prairie Band Potawatomi counsel Jennifer Hughes, Winnebago tribal executive / wanted man Lance Morgan, and Quapaw chairman John Berrey.

And of course, Secretary of Interior Gale Norton and Assistant Secretary Neal McCaleb were in tow to promote the summit. Norton played her part in contributing to the emerging economy of a certain Navajo silversmith, from whom she bought a buffalo-head golf tee for the grand sum of $8.

That, of course, was before Judge Lamberth's contempt decision came down on Tuesday. After her keynote that morning, she held a brief press conference -- where all but one question was about Indian trust -- then she sprinted out of town faster than you can say "I was proud at the way the administration and the Republicans sprang into action after Sept. 11," which she said later that night during a $50-a-plate dinner for a GOP candidate, The Casa Grande Dispatch reported.

McCaleb, though, had to stick around. But he did receive some words of encouragement from the aforementioned Berrey, who -- according to a nearby source -- jokingly said Indian Country will still support him even when he's sent to jail in silver and turquoise handcuffs.

Late to Bed, Late to Rise
Speaking of McCaleb, he delivered his own keynote yesterday morning to a less than full house, sources reported. It's not that his references to Peter, Paul and Job weren't interesting, it's just that the 8:30 a.m. speech was held at well, 8:30 a.m.

Getting up that early was hard for many conference attendees, some of whom have been holding court at the infamous Alice Cooper'stown all hours of the night. In The Hoop would report who was there but their tribal councils might get upset and next year's summit will end up being held in Window Rock. (Not that there's anything wrong with Window Rock).

Logging In
Alice Cooperstown wasn't the only place jumping at the summit. It was the Internet Cafe, brought to you by the good people at Technical and Management Services Corporation (TAMSCO), who piped in network connections for those needing their Indianz.Com fix.

Seen tapping in were Match-e-be-nash-wish Potawatomi executive director John Shagonaby, public relations empress Liz Hill and certain Interior employees whose net access still hasn't been restored.

In Your Hoop
What did you think of the summit? Email In the Hoop and let us know.