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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2001

Secretary of Interior Gale Norton today said her proposal to reorganize the Bureau of Indian Affairs was not another one of the government's stall tactics and that her department would move quickly to establish its new trust assets agency.

To that end, she said she was bringing in former Assistant Secretary Ross O. Swimmer to start the transition immediately. "We are having Ross start right away as head of our trust transition office," she said during a brief appearance on Native America Calling.

But she added that she has already been "involved with planning and meeting to try and determine exactly how we are going to go about getting the changes made."

Norton also praised Swimmer's qualifications. "He's got the knowledge of Indian traditions; he has the knowledge of government -- which is very important -- he has the banking background; he has the legal background."

"He has an amazing set of qualifications for this task."

Swimmer told Indianz.Com yesterday that he was ready to head up the transition effort.

Native America Calling is broadcast from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mondays through Fridays.

Today on Indianz.Com:
Reagan's Indian chief is back (11/20)
McCaleb faces Indian preference question (11/20)
New: Norton defends overhaul of BIA (11/20)
Campbell supports BIA overhaul for now (11/20)

Relevant Links:
Native America Calling - http://www.nativeamericacalling.org
Office of the Special Trustee - http://www.ost.doi.gov
Trust Management Improvement Project - http://www.doi.gov/bia/trust/tmip.htm
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com

Related Stories:
Developing: Swimmer tapped by Bush administration (11/19)
Few answers on BIA overhaul (11/19)
Norton challenges trust fund receiver (11/19)
Gover: Indian Country had it coming (11/19)
BIA reorganization focus of radio show (11/19)
Norton defends quarterly reports (11/19)
Norton stripping BIA of trust duties (11/16)
Tribal leaders in uproar over proposal (11/16)
Norton's 'runaway train' denounced (11/17)
Top Democrat calls for hearings (11/16)
Bush officials to speak at NCAI (11/16)
Norton files contempt defense (11/16)
Q&A on BIA Reorganization (11/16)
Developing: BIA stripped of trust duties (11/15)
Interior might need year on new agency (11/15)
Gover: Indian Country now 'weaker' (11/15)