Original publisher: Washington: U.S. G.P.O., 2011. LC Number: KF26 .I45 2011c OCLC Number: (OCoLC)747546874 Subject: Federally recognized Indian ...
Show synopsis
Original publisher: Washington: U.S. G.P.O., 2011. LC Number: KF26 .I45 2011c OCLC Number: (OCoLC)747546874 Subject: Federally recognized Indian tribes -- Montana. Excerpt: ...11 Little Shell Band, and one that is, because of its length, is a cause of concern for our boss, Assistant Secretary Larry Echo Hawk. At any rate, the decision became final in 2009. It is not actually final for the Department, it was final for the Assistant Secretary. But under our regulations, the Little Shell Band filed a request for reconsideration before the Interior Board of Indian Appeals in 2010. And from what I understand, all briefings before the Board have been completed, and a decision should be coming fairly close-ly. In its final determination, the Department denied Federal ac-knowledgment to the Little Shell Tribe because the evidence showed, in our view, that the group failed to meet three of the seven mandatory criteria. Nevertheless, having not been acknowl-edged, the tribe is seeking Congressional redress at this point. We agree that this Congress should only exercise this option sparingly, and only in instances where there is an overriding reason to bypass the regulatory process. But I think Senator Tester in his opening comment specified that this perhaps was one such instance. This concludes my comments on S. 546. We would like to work with the Committee as the bill moves forward regarding some tech-nical issues we have with some of the findings in the bill. Thank you very much. [ The prepared statement of Mr. Skibine follows: ] REPARED TATEMENT OF EORGE KIBINE EPUTY SSISTANT ECRETARY FOR P S G T. S, D A S ANAGEMENT NDIAN FFAIRS EPARTMENT OF THE NTERIOR M, I A, U.S. D I Good morning, Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee. My name is George Skibine. I am the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management - Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior ( Department ). I am here today to provide the Administration's testimony on S. 546, the Little Shell Tribe of Ch...
Hide synopsis
