INTERTRIBAL MONITORING ASSOCIATION on Indian Trust Funds

2800 San Mateo Blvd NE, Suite 105   ~   Albuquerque, NM  87110

Phone: 505/247-1447   Fax:  505/247-1449   email: itma@itmatrustfunds.org

 

 

MEETING REPORT

 

ITMA/NCAI TRUST REFORM TRIBAL WORKGROUP & TECHNICAL TEAM

MARCH 24, 2005

_________

 

 

ITMA conducted an emergency meeting chaired by ITMA Chairman Jim Gray, Chief of the Osage Tribe of Oklahoma, at Washington D.C. on March 16, 2004 for the purpose of determining a process for working jointly with the National Congress of American Indians, Tribes, Indian organizations and Indian individuals with the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and the House Resources Committee on the development of a fast-track legislative drafting effort for trust reform and Cobell settlement.

 

NCAI President Tex Hall joined the meeting and advised the group of the message received from Congressional representatives and their staff representatives at the recent NCAI Winter Executive Council meeting at Washington, D.C. during the week of February 28, 2005, that Tribes have this year to get a bill introduced addressing trust reform and settlement for Cobell.  In response, a Joint ITMA/NCAI Tribal Workgroup on Trust Reform and Settlement, to be co-chaired by ITMA Chairman Gray and NCAI President Hall was formed.

 

ITMA Chairman Jim Gray reported that at the March 9 Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing on trust reform Senator McCain stated he has made trust reform and Cobell settlement a priority of the Committee, and again made it clear that they would prefer to see a bill developed by all interested parties.  McCain further advised that if it looks like there is not progress, he will leave the issue to a future Congress and he will move on to “other important issues in Indian country”.

 

Congressional staff from the SCIA, including Senator Dorgan’s office, attended the March 16 meeting and reiterated those messages.  It was the unanimous opinion of those in attendance that Indian country should move quickly to organize and begin the drafting process of seeking common ground on trust reform and Cobell settlement recommendations.  The group agreed that in addition to tribal governments, all trust related Intertribal organizations and Indian landowners must be included in the project to the extent possible.  Accordingly, a Technical Team was endorsed to begin the work of drafting.  Names were recommended by individuals in attendance and others volunteered for the task. 

 

ITMA and NCAI agree that the Workgroup meetings will be open to all Tribal leaders and representatives as are the Technical Team sessions.  Tribal attorneys and other technical staff are encouraged to participate on the Technical Group.  Tribes and organizations are encouraged to have their technical and legal staff participate.   To date more than 90 individuals have volunteered to work with the technical group.  To assist in scheduling, ITMA and NCAI have developed a meeting schedule for the next two months, realizing that not every individual will be able to attend all meetings.  Meeting reports will be developed and available on ITMA’s website: www.itmatrustfunds.org.

 

Congressional staff have committed to attend the sessions when their schedules allow.  A hearing is expected to be scheduled, possibly in late May on a draft bill.

 

 In the meantime, the following meetings have been scheduled:

 

 

    MARCH 31 – TECHNICAL TEAM MEETING

       CANCELLED DUE TO THE TRADEGY AT THE RED LAKE NATION

 

    APRIL 7 – TECHNICAL TEAM CONSULTATION

        @ Tulsa, Oklahoma     -    Hosted by:  Osage Tribe

  Post Oak Lodge, 5323 West 31st Street North, Tulsa, OK  74127 

 (918)425-2112

 

    APRIL 8 – TRIBAL WORKGROUP CONSULTATION

        @ Tulsa, Oklahoma     -    Hosted by:  Osage Tribe

  Post Oak Lodge, 5323 West 31st Street North, Tulsa, OK  74127 

 (918)425-2112

 

    APRIL 20 – TECHNICAL TEAM MEETING

        @ Washington, DC   -   Capital Hilton

   1001 16th Street NW   (16th & K)

 

    MAY 2 – TRIBAL WORKGROUP CONSULTATION

        @ Albuquerque, NM   -   location tba

  Hosted by:  Navajo Nation

   

    MAY 3 – TECHNICAL TEAM MEETING   

       @ Albuquerque, NM    -   Hosted by:  ITMA

 ITMA Headquarters, 2800 San Mateo Blvd NE, Suite 105

 

    MAY 20 – TRIBAL WORKGROUP CONSULTATION – TENTATIVE

       @ Tacoma, Washington     -    Hosted by:  ATNI

@ Pyallup Tacoma Sheraton (15 minutes from airport)

 

 

 

For information contact Mary Zuni @ ITMA

505/247-1447