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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2002

Always controversial, Citizen Potawatomi Nation Chairman John A. "Rocky" Barrett Jr. said he supports the Bureau of Indian Trust Assets Management (BITAM) and fellow Oklahoman Ross Swimmer.

Barrett told The Shawnee News-Star the Individual Indian Money (IIM) trust fund should be handed over to a bank. Coincidentally, he is involved in the banking industry.

Barrett also said Indian Country would be wealthier today if Swimmer's decision to hand over the tribal and individual trusts to a private bank wasn't halted by Congress.

"Just real truthfully, the IIM accounts, if (the BIA) had issued an American Express card to every accountholder and American Express managed distribution of income, that would have been a perfect solution," Barrett is quoted as saying.

Get the Story:
Potawatomi chairman supports BIA proposal (The The Shawnee News-Star 2/24)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Trust Reform, NCAI - http://130.94.214.68/main/pages/
issues/other_issues/trust_reform.asp

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