Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources
Native American Resources Committee - Newsletter Archive
Vol. 2, No. 1 - September 2002
Indian Trust Reform Update: Reorganizing Trust Asset Management Through Consultation and Cooperation with Indian Country
Philip N. Hogen
In November 2001, Interior Secretary Gale Norton proposed a reorganization of the Department's trust management functions into the proposed Bureau of Indian Trust Asset Management (BITAM). Tribal leaders broadly opposed the plan across Indian Country, which promoted a new dialogue between the Department and tribes.
Since that time, Secretary Norton and her key leadership team have engaged in an unprecedented, ongoing consultation effort with tribal government leaders. This effort began in December 2001 when a series of eight listening sessions were conducted across Indian Country.
The product of these sessions was the development of the Department of the Interior/Tribal Leader Task Force on Trust Reform, comprised of Interior's Deputy Secretary Steven Griles, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Neal McCaleb, seven senior Interior staff members and 36 tribal leaders. The Task Force issued an initial report on its activities and progress on June 4, 2002, and held additional consultation sessions in each of the Bureau of Indian Affairs' twelve regions to discuss its progress and answer questions.
As a result of this progress, Secretary Norton removed the BITAM proposal from consideration and the Task Force continues its work to reorganize the federal government's trust management functions.
Philip Hogen is the associate solicitor for Indian Affairs in the U.S. Department of the Interior.
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