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The original documents are located in Box 1, folder "Association on American Indian
Affairs" of the Bradley H. Patterson Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
PRESIDENT FORD'S POLICIES FOR AMERICAN INDIAN PEOPLE
When I signed the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance
Act in January, 1975, I described that legislation as a "milestone
for Indian people." During my Congressional career and my two
years as President, I have tried to make Indian self-determination
effective and successful.
I recognize the special relationship of trust that Indian tribes
have with the United States, and I have often emphasized that
support of self-determination includes oppositon to any deterioration
of this relationship.
Because of the many needs on Indian reservations--for economic
development, improved health care, increased educational oppor-
tunities, better roads, liveable housing--I have urged the strength-
ening of tribal governments. In this new era of Indian self-
determination, the elected leadership of Indian tribes is the key
to successful achievement of the goals of America's first citizens.
History has demonstrated that the Federal government's domination
cannot meet the needs nor solve the problems of our Indian citizens
Paternalism of the past in Indian affairs is a proven failure.
Consequently, I have sought to make available to Indian tribes the
resources and technical assistance needed for them to solve their
own problems and achieve their own goals.
I have backed up policies and promises with money:
In the past six years the budget of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
has been increased by almost 300 percent and the Indian health budget
has grown by almost 400 percent. The Department of Commerce is
targeting $27.7 million for Indian economic planning and economic
development in 1977. The Comprehensive Employment and Training
Act administered by the Department of Labor, allocates significant
funds to Indian people: before the CETA was enacted (in FY 1973)
manpower allocations for Indians totaled $17.3 million; today Indian
manpower funds total $75 million, including $52.6 million going
directly to 157 Indian prime sponsors. The Office of Education's
special funds for Indian education have risen from $18 million in
FY 1973 to $42 million today.
I have asked Cabinet agencies to give particular attention to
many special concerns of the Indian people. Among these is the
need for reform to protect Indian family life. Too many Indian
children are separated from their parents and improved social
services are needed to alleviate this problem.
FORD LIBRARY & GERALD
Digitized from Box 1 of the Bradley H. Patterson Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
2
The Administration is encouraging Indian Tribal Councils to
adopt their own juvenile and family protection codes and has
supported the National Indian Judges Association in a three-
year training program to enable tribal judges to handle more
effectively divorce, child custody, and welfare cases.
It is definitely the Administration's policy to reduce the numbers
of younger Indian children who are at boarding schools for long
periods of time. In fact, total elementary age enrollment in
these schools is down by 6,000, while most of the, rest are Navajo
children who go home on weekends. But closing all the boarding
schools would fly in the face of the strong desires of the affected
tribes themselves and would in fact remove what is the only
educational resource for some Indian children.
I have directed the Departments of Interior and Justice to give
high priority to the protection of Indian natural resources
rights, especially water rights. We are defending 23 water
rights cases, 13 hunting and fishing cases and 21 land rights cases.
We have won milestone decisions for Indian rights in a number of
these proceedings.
I am still awaiting Congressional action on my proposal to create
an Indian Trust Counsel Authority which would be able to intervene
in any court as a Federal Government advocate for Indian natural
resources rights.
There has been an enormous surge in Indian education these past
several years. More than 16,000 Indian students with Federal
grants now attend college and university campuses to gain the
professional skills needed in their communities.
We have halted the erosion of the tribal land base and
restorations have been achieved of Blue Lake, Mt. Adams, and the
Menominee lands, while the historic Alaska Native Claims Settle-
ment Act has become law.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs has been transformed from a non-
Indian organization providing services and running programs for
Indians to a predominantly Indian organization which works with
Indian communities to help them meet their program and service
needs. New Indian service sections have been established in
many other agencies such as HEW, HUD, Commerce, Agriculture, Labor,
and Justice.
FORD LIBRAR is
3
The Indian Financing Act is being implemented and having a marked
effect on economic development on the reservations. Revenue
sharing reaches Indian tribal governments directly; education
monies are granted or contracted so as to strengthen the role of
Indian parent advisory groups in having a say in the education of
their children.
Funds under the National Indian Education Act, for instance, have
now reached 1,200 school districts and 235 grantees.
The policy of Indian self-determination has led to increased
responsibilities and roles for tribal governing bodies through
the contracting of erstwhile Federal programs and in other ways.
This policy must continue and expand to the point that the Indian
communities are truly controlling their own destinies.
The successful implementation of Indian self-determination lays
the groundwork for Indian communities to effect solutions to
numerous chronic problems which have long afflicted the reser-
vations.
Finally, I have urged my White House Staff and government agencies
to meet Indian people with open doors and sensitivity. These
officials are in daily contact with national Indian leadership
organizations such as the National Congress of American Indians
the National Tribal Chairmen's Association, the United Indian
Planners Association, the Americans for Indian Opportunity and
a dozen others that assist their memberships toward better oppor-
tunities.
As I said when I met with a group of Indian leaders in the White
House on July 16, "Together we can write a new chapter in the
history of this land that we all serve and this land that we all
share.
"
PRESIDENT F ORD'S POLICIES FOR AMERICAN INDIAN PEOPLE
When President Ford signed the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act in January, 1975, he described that legislation
as a "mile-stone for Indian people."
The President has acted consistently to make Indian self-determination
effective and successful.
He has recognized the special trust relationship that Indian tribes
have with the United States and has repeatedly emphasized that his
support of self-determination includes an opposition to any termination
of this relationship.
Because of the many needs on Indian reservations-- for economic
development, improved health care, increased educational opportunities,
better roads, liveable housing--President Ford has stressed the strengthen-
ing of tribal governments. In this new era of Indian self-determination
the elected leadership of Indian tribes is the key to successful achievement
of the goals of America's first citizens.
History has demonstrated, President Ford believes, that the Federal
government's domination cannot meet the needs nor solve the problems
of our Indian citizens. Paternalism of the past in Indian affairs is a
proven failure. The President has, consequently, sought to make
available to Indian tribes the resources and technical assistance needed
FORD LIBRARY
for the tribes to solve their own problems and achieve their own goals
President Ford has backed up policies and promises with money:
the BIA budget in FY 1969 was $262 millions; today it is $764 millions;
the similar Indian health budget comparison is from $113 million to
$426 million. Other Departments' budgets for assistance to Indians
show similar increases. The Department of Commerce targets funds
for Indian economic planning and economic development. In FY 1969
Commerce's program was $17.3 millions; in FY 1977 it is $27.7 millions.
The Comprehensive Employment and Training Act is administered by
the Department of Labor, and Indian people receive significant allocations:
before the CETA was enacted (in FY 1973) manpower allocations for
Indians totalled $17.3 millions; today Indian manpower funds total
$75 millions, including $52. 6 millions going directly to 157 Indian
prime sponsors. The Office of Education has special funds for Indian
education which have risen from $18 millions in FY 1973 to $42 millions
today.
There are many special concerns of the Indian people to which the
President has asked his Cabinet agencies to give particular attention.
Among these is the need for reform to protect Indian family life. Too
many Indian children are separated from their parents and the President
recognizes that improved social services are needed to alleviate this
problem.
The Administration is encouraging Indian Tribal Councils to
adopt their own juvenile and family protection codes and has supported
the National Indian Judges Association in a three-year training program
to enable tribal judges more effectively themselves to handle divorce,
child custody and welfare cases.
It is definitely the Administration's policy to reduce the numbers of
younger Indian children who are at boarding schools for long periods of
time and in fact, total elementary age enrollment in these schools is
down by 6000, while most of the rest are Navajo children who go home
on weekends. But closing all the boarding schools would fly in the
fact of the strong desires of the affected tribes themselves, and of the
wishes of the Congress, and would in fact remove what is the only
educational resource for some Indian children.
At the direction of the President, the Departments of Interior and
Justice have given high priority to the protection of Indian natural
resources rights, especially including water rights.
Now pending in defense of Indian trust resources are 23 water
rights cases, 13 hunting and fishing cases and 21 land rights cases.
In this process the Government has helped win such milestone
decisions for Indian rights as those in McClanalanWashington, Mancari,
Mazurie, Bryan and Stevens. The President Is still awaiting action by
the Administration
the Congress on/proposal to create an Indian Trust Counsel Authority
which would be able to intervene in any court as a Federal Government
advocate for Indian natural resources rights.
In this decade of the seventies there has been an enormous advance
in Indian education with more than 16, 000 Indian students with Federal
grants now surging onto college and university campuses to gain the
professional skills needed in their communities.
The erosion of the tribal land base has been halted and restorations
achieved of Blue Lake, Mt. Adams, and the Menominee lands while the
historic Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act has become law.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs has been transformed from a non-
Indian organization providing services and running programs for Indians
to a predominantly Indian organization which works with Indian communities
to help them meet their program and service needs. New Indian service
sections have been built into many other agencies such as HEW, HUD,
Commerce, Agriculture, Labor and Justice.
The Indian Financing Act is being implemented and having a marked
effect on economic development on the reservations. Revenue sharing
reaches Indian tribal governments directly; education monies are granted
or contracted so as to strengthen the role of Indian parent advisory
groups in having a say about the education of their children.
The policy of Indian self-determ ination has led to increased responsi-
bilities and roles for tribal governing bodies through the contracting of
erstwhile Federal programs and in other ways. The President expects
this to continue and to expand to the point that the Indian communities
are truly controlling their own destinies.
Funds under the National Indian Education Act, for instance, have
now reached 1200 school districts and 235 grantees.
The successful implementation of Indian self-determination,
FORD LIBRARY if GERALD
President Ford believes, will lay the groundwork for the Indian com-
munities to effect solutions to numerous chronic problems which have
long afflicted the reservations.
Finally, President Ford had structured his own White House Staff
and government agencies so that Indian people meet with open doors
and sensitive, concerned federal officials wherever they come. These
officials are in daily contact with the responsible officers of the
national Indian leadership organizations such as the National Congress
of American Indians, the National Tribal Chairmen's Association, the
United Indian Planners Association, the Americans for Indian Opportunity
and a dozen others which have organized to assist their memberships
toward better opportunities.
As the President said when he met with a group of Indian leaders
in the White House on July 16, "Together we can write a new chapter
in the history of this land that we all serve and this land that we all share. "
Association on American Indian Affairs, Inc.
432 Park Avenue South
New York, N. Y. 10016
MU 9-8720
Oliver L3 Farge, President
(1932-1963)
Alfonso Ortiz, Ph.D., President
Benjamin C. O'Sullivan, Vice President
Mrs. Henry S. Forbes, Secretary
E. Tinsley Ray, Treasurer
William Byler, Executive Director
Arthur Lazarus, Jr., Richard Schifter, General Counsel
August 26, 1976
President Gerald R. Ford
President Ford Committee
1828 "L" Street, Northwest
Suite 250
Washington, D.C. 20036
Att: Mr. Rob Quartel
FORD is LIBRAR 07VU39
Dear President Ford:
I am writing to you on behalf of the Board of Directors and the
50,000 members of the Association on American Indian Affairs. The
Association, founded in 1923, is a private, non-profit, national
citizens' organization that assists American Indian and Alaska Native
communities in their efforts to achieve full economic, social and civil
equality, and to defend their rights.
In past years the Association has published in its newsletter,
Indian Affairs, statements of major presidential candidates regarding
their stand on issues of vital concern in the field of Indian affairs.
We would like to do so again this year for an issue of our newsletter
to be published October 1, and I am writing to solicit your views on
three matters of urgent concern. (We are also soliciting a statement
from Governor Carter, to be presented alongside your own.)
The three matters of paramount concern are:
1. Child Welfare. There is an urgent need for reform in child-
welfare programs conducted or funded by the United States
Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of Health, Education
and Welfare. In 1974 the Senate Subcommittee on Indian Affairs
held oversight hearings that detailed widespread abusive child-
welfare practices that are in major part the responsibility
of the federal government. There is also an urgent need for
federal legislation to protect the rights of Indian parents
DUE
FINAL
9/10
R.
FORD
and their children from arbitrary and abusive acts of state
and local welfare officials.
LIBRAR
Approximately 25 per cent of all Indian children are separated
from their parents and placed in foster homes, adoptive homes,
special institutions, or federal boarding schools. These
placements are often unlawful and unwarranted. Additionally,
Indian communities lack essential social services that could
reduce the incidence of family breakdown.
Question: Will your Administration recommend legislation
and adopt administrative reforms to protect and strengthen
American Indian family life?
2. Indian Water Rights. The federal government, as trustee for
Indian land, water and other natural resources has too. often
failed to discharge its lawful responsibilities with adequate
concern for the lawful rights and welfare of American Indian
tribes In particular, the Pimas and other affected central
Arizona tribes have been peacefully struggling for a century
to obtain recognition of their lawful water rights. A just
Congressional settlement of the water rights of the five central
Arizona tribes would finally end a century of dishonor caused
by the Interior Department's failure to protect the tribes'
lawful water rights. It would also end the human tragedy reflected
in the tribes' high rates of unemployment, alcoholism and family
disintegration, grossly substandard housing, poor nutrition,
sickness and shortened life expectancy.
S. 3298, the Central Arizona Indian Tribal Water Rights Act of
1976, was introduced in the Senate on April 13, 1976 by Senator
Edward M. Kennedy, and is co-sponsored by Senator Walter Mondale,
Senator Ernest F. Hollings, and Senator Philip A. Hart. It
would provide the 30,000 tribal members with the water they
need for their survival and to which they are legally entitled.
No action is expected this year.
Question: Will your Administration support legislation
incorporating a negotiated settlement to restore to the
central Arizona tribes sufficient water to satisfy their
lawful water rights?
3. Self-Determination. American Indian tribes have long sought
the same rights of local self-government enjoyed by other American
communities. The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the
U.S. Indian Health Service operate an enormous system of on-
reservation social and economic programs that extend into all
areas of Indian life. The BIA alone employs more than 13,000
President Gerald R. Ford
- 3 -
August 26, 1976
people to administer those services. The tribes have had
little to say about the design of these programs and little
to do in conducting them.
The Ninety-Third Congress enacted into law the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (P.L. 93-638),
mandating that the federal government permit Indian tribes to
administer their own federal programs if they desire to do so.
The Act contains a Congressional directive to the Secretary
of Interior and Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare to
contract with tribal organizations to plan, conduct, and admin-
ister BIA and IHS programs upon tribal request.
Question: Do you foresee the continuation of the oppor-
tunities for Indian self-government made possible by the
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act;
and do you foresee contracting leading towards an increasing
role for Indian tribal governments as a permanent partner
of federal and state governments?
A statement by you addressing itself to these issues would be welcomed
by the Association's membership and, indeed, by all concerned with federal
Indian policy. You may wish to integrate your answers to these questions
into a general philosophical statement of your approach to Indian affairs.
If you could send us a statement of not more than 1,000 words by
September 15, we would be able to publish it by October 1.
Your time, effort, and consideration in attending to this request
are deeply appreciated. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you
have any questions.
Sincerely yours,
Steven Unger
Steven Unger
Editor
P.S. A photograph of yourself suitable for reproduction alongside your
statement would also be most valuable. Also, enclosed is a sample
issue of our Newsletter.
SU:jc
Enc.
PRESIDENT FORD'S POLICIES FOR AMERICAN INDIAN PEOPLE
When President Ford signed the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act in January, 1975, he described that legislation
as a "mile-stone for Indian people."
The President has acted consistently to make Indian self-determination
effective and successful.
He has recognized the special trust relationship that Indian tribes
have with the United States and has repeatedly emphasized that his
support of self-determination includes an opposition to any termination
of this relationship.
Because of the many needs on Indian reservations-- for economic
development, improved health care, increased educational opportunities,
better roads, liveable housing--President Ford has stressed the strengthen-
ing of tribal governments. In this new era of Indian self-determination
the elected leadership of Indian tribes is the key to successful achievement
of the goals of America's first citizens.
History has demonstrated, President Ford believes, that the Federal
government's domination cannot meet the needs nor solve the problems
of our Indian citizens. Paternalism of the past in Indian affairs is a
proven failure. The President has, consequently, sought to make
FORD & LIBRARY 07V830
available to Indian tribes the resources and technical assistance needed
for the tribes to solve their own problems and achieve their own goals.
President Ford has backed up policies and promises with money:
2
the BIA budget in FY 1969 was $262 millions; today it is $764 millions;
the similar Indian health budget comparison is from $113 million to
$426 million. Other Departments' budgets for assistance to Indians
show similar increases. The Department of Commerce targets funds
for Indian economic planning and economic development. In FY 1969
Commerce's program was $17.3 millions; in FY 1977 it is $27. 7 millions.
The Comprehensive Employment and Training Act is administered by
the Department of Labor, and Indian people receive significant allocations:
before the CETA was enacted (in FY 1973) manpower allocations for
Indians totalled $17.3 millions; today Indian manpower funds total
$75 millions, including $52. 6 millions going directly to 157 Indian
prime sponsors. The Office of Education has special funds for Indian
education which have risen from $18 millions in FY 1973 to $42 millions
today.
There are many special concerns of the Indian people to which the
President has asked his Cabinet agencies to give particular attention.
FORD i LIBRARY 02
Among these is the need for reform to protect Indian family life. Too
many Indian children are separated from their parents and the President
recognizes that improved social services are needed to alleviate this
problem.
The Administration is encouraging Indian Tribal Councils to
adopt their own juvenile and family protection codes and has supported
the National Indian Judges Association in a three-year training program
3
to enable tribal judges more effectively themselves to handle divorce,
child custody and welfare cases.
It is definitely the Administration's policy to reduce the numbers of
younger Indian children who are at boarding schools for long periods of
time and in fact, total elementary age enrollment in these schools is
down by 6000, while most of the rest are Navajo children who go home
on weekends. But closing all the boarding schools would fly in the
fact of the strong desires of the affected tribes themselves, and of the
wishes of the Congress, and would in fact remove what is the only
educational resource for some Indian children.
At the direction of the President, the Departments of Interior
GRAAD R. FORD LIBRARY
Justice have given high priority to the protection of Indian natural
resources rights, especially including water rights.
Now pending in defense of Indian trust resources are 23 water
rights cases, 13 hunting and fishing cases and 21 land rights cases.
In this process the Government has helped win such milestone
decisions for Indian rights as those in cClananWashington, Mancari,
Mazurie, Bryan and Stevens. The President Is still awaiting action by
the Administration
the Congress on/proposal to create an Indian Trust Counsel Authority
which would be able to intervene in any court as a Federal Government
advocate for Indian natural resources rights.
In this decade of the seventies there has been an enormous advance
in Indian education with more than 16, 000 Indian students with Federal
grants now surging onto college and university campuses to gain the
4
professional skills needed in their communities.
The erosion of the tribal land base has been halted and restorations
achieved of Blue Lake, Mt. Adams, and the Menominee lands while the
historic Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act has become law.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs has been transformed from a non-
Indian organization providing services and running programs for Indians
to a predominantly Indian organization which works with Indian communities
to help them meet their program and service needs. New Indian service
sections have been built into many other agencies such as HEW, HUD,
Commerce, Agriculture, Labor and Justice.
QRALD FORD LIBRAR,
The Indian Financing Act is being implemented and having a marked
effect on economic development on the reservations. Revenue sharing
reaches Indian tribal governments directly; education monies are granted
or contracted so as to strengthen the role of Indian parent advisory
groups in having a say about the education of their children.
The policy of Indian self-determ ination has led to increased responsi-
bilities and roles for tribal governing bodies through the contracting of
erstwhile Federal programs and in other ways. The President expects
this to continue and to expand to the point that the Indian communities
are truly controlling their own destinies.
Funds under the National Indian Education Act, for instance, have
now reached 1200 school districts and 235 grantees.
The successful implementation of Indian self-determination,
5
President Ford believes, will lay the groundwork for the Indian com-
munities to effect solutions to numerous chronic problems which have
long afflicted the reservations.
Finally, President Ford had structured his own White House Staff
and government agencies so that Indian people meet with open doors
and sensitive, concerned federal officials wherever they come. These
officials are in daily contact with the responsible officers of the
national Indian leadership organizations such as the National Congress
of American Indians, the National Tribal Chairmen's Association, the
United Indian Planners Association, the Americans for Indian Opportunity
and a dozen others which have organized to assist their memberships
toward better opportunities.
As the President said when he met with a group of Indian leaders
in the White House on July 16, "Together we can write a new chapter
in the history of this land that we all serve and this land that we all share. 11.
MEMORANDUM
OF CALL
TO:
Brad
YOU WERE CALLED BY-
YOU WERE VISITED BY-
OF Bunny
(Organization) PFC- Rosen feld
PHONE NO.
PLEASE CALL
CODE/EXT.
459-1951 457- 1951
WILL CALL AGAIN
IS WAITING TO SEE YOU our
RETURNED YOUR CALL
WISHES AN APPOINTMENT
MESSAGE
? from Ssen
Am. Indian
Affairs
FORD LIBRARY 07WE
RECEIVED BY
DATE
m
9/13
TIME
iv
STANDARD FORM 63
GPO :1989-c48-16-60341-1 $32-889
63-108
REVISED AUGUST 1967
GSA FPMR (41 CFR) 101-11.6
TOP
Child Welface
Water Rights
53298
Self-Det
6 FORD 3
Sept. 13th
100 P.M.
MEMO
TO: BRAD PATTERSON
OLD EOB
ROOM NO. 134
FROM: BUNNY ROSENFELD
RESEARCH loth floor
PFC
RE: questionnaire from ASSOCIATION ON AMERICAN
INDIAN AFFAIRS, INC.
Thanks for researching piece on Native
Americans. Enclosed is original letter.
Please return as soon as possible with
the information. FYI": letterhead must be
sent out from PFC.
Many thanks
Bunny
Bunny Rosenfeld
FORD LIBRARY
DRAFT FOR PFC LETTERHEAD
Dear Mr. Unger:
Thank you for your letter of August 26 to the President
inviting him to contribute a 1000-word piece for the
Indian Affairs newsletter of the Association on American
Indian Affairs, Inc.
We are pleased to respond to your invitation on behalf of
the President and enclose the contribution requested.
It includes material which we believe is responsive to
the questions included in your letter.
Also enclosed is a picture of the President, as you
requested.
We would appreciate receiving a few copies of the
Newsletter when it appears.
Sincerely yours,
Rob Quartel
FORD & LIBRARY 02
PRESIDENT FORD'S POLICIES FOR AMERICAN INDIAN PEOPLE
When President Ford signed the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act in January, 1975, he described that legislation
as a "mile-stone for Indian people. "
The President has acted consistently to make Indian self-determination
effective and successful.
He has recognized the special trust relationship that Indian tribes
have with the United States and has repeatedly emphasized that his
support of self-determination includes an opposition to any termination
of this relationship.
Because of the many needs on Indian reservations--for economic
development, improved health care, increased educational opportunities,
better roads, liveable housing--President Ford has stressed the strengthen-
ing of tribal governments. In this new era of Indian self-determination
the elected leadership of Indian tribes is the key to successful achievement
of the goals of America's first citizens.
History has demonstrated, President Ford believes, that the Federal
government's domination cannot meet the needs nor solve the problems
of our Indian citizens. Paternalism of the past in Indian affairs is a
proven failure. The President has, consequently, sought to make
available to Indian tribes the resources and technical assistance needed
for the tribes to solve their own problems and achieve their own
goals. FORD VIBRARY
President Ford has backed up policies and promises with mone
2
the BIA budget in FY 1969 was $262 millions; today it is $764 millions;
the similar Indian health budget comparison is from $113 million to
$426 million. Other Departments' budgets for assistance to Indians
show similar increases. The Department of Commerce targets funds
for Indian economic planning and economic development. In FY 1969
Commerce's program was $17.3 millions; in FY 1977 it is $27. 7 millions.
The Comprehensive Employment and Training Act is administered by
the Department of Labor, and Indian people receive significant allocations:
before the CETA was enacted (in FY 1973) manpower allocations for
Indians totalled $17. 3 millions; today Indian manpower funds total
$75 millions, including $52.6 millions going directly to 157 Indian
prime sponsors. The Office of Education has special funds for Indian
education which have risen from $18 millions in FY 1973 to $42 millions
today.
There are many special concerns of the Indian people to which the
President has asked his Cabinet agencies to give particular attention.
Among these is the need for reform to protect Indian family life. Too
many Indian children are separated from their parents and the President
recognizes that improved social services are needed to alleviate this
problem.
The Adminis tration is encouraging Indian Tribal Councils to
adopt their own juvenile and family protection codes and has supported
the National Indian Judges Association in a three-year training program
3
to enable tribal judges more effectively themselves to handle divorce,
child custody and welfare cases.
It is definitely the Administration's policy to reduce the numbers of
younger Indian children who are at boarding schools for long periods of
time and in fact, total elementary age enrollment in these schools is
down by 6000, while most of the rest are Navajo children who go home
on weekends. But closing all the boarding schools would fly in the
fact of the strong desires of the affected tribes themselves, and of the
wishes of the Congress, and would in fact remove what is the only
educational resource for some Indian children.
At the direction of the President, the Departments of Interior and
Justice have given high priority to the protection of Indian natural
resources rights, especially including water rights.
Now pending in defense of Indian trust resources are 23 water
rights cases, 13 hunting and fishing cases and 21 land rights cases.
In this process the Government has helped win such milestone
decisions for Indian rights as those in Mc Clanalan Washington, Mancari,
Mazurie, Bryan and Stevens. The President Is still awaiting action by
the Administration
the Congress on/proposal to create an Indian Trust Counsel Authority
which would be able to intervene in any court as a Federal Government
advocate for Indian natural resources rights.
In this decade of the seventies there has been an enormous advance
in Indian education with more than 16, 000 Indian students with Federal
grants now surging onto college and university campuses to gain the
4
professional skills needed in their communities.
The erosion of the tribal land base has been halted and restorations
achieved of Blue Lake, Mt. Adams, and the Menominee lands while the
historic Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act has become law.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs has been transformed from a non-
Indian organization providing services and running programs for Indians
to a predominantly Indian organization which works with Indian communities
to help them meet their program and service needs. New Indian service
sections have been built into many other agencies such as HEW, HUD,
Commerce, Agriculture, Labor and Justice.
The Indian Financing Act is being implemented and having a marked
effect on economic development on the reservations. Revenue sharing
reaches Indian tribal governments directly; education monies are granted
or contracted so as to strengthen the role of Indian parent advisory
groups in having a say about the education of their children.
ERALD FORD VIBRARY
The policy of Indian self-determ ination has led to increased responsi-
bilities and roles for tribal governing bodies through the contracting of
erstwhile Federal programs and in other ways. The President expects
this to continue and to expand to the point that the Indian communities
are truly controlling their own destinies.
Funds under the National Indian Education Act, for instance, have
now reached 1200 school districts and 235 grantees.
The successful implementation of Indian self-determination,
5
President Ford believes, will lay the groundwork for the Indian com-
munities to effect solutions to numerous chronic problems which have
long afflicted the reservations.
Finally, President Ford had structured his own White House Staff
and government agencies so that Indian people meet with open doors
and sensitive, concerned federal officials wherever they come. These
officials are in daily contact with the responsible officers of the
national Indian leadership organizations such as the National Congress
of American Indians, the National Tribal Chairmen's Association, the
United Indian Planners Association, the Americans for Indian Opportunity
and a dozen others which have organized to assist their memberships
toward better opportunities.
As the President said when he met with a group of Indian leaders
in the White House on July 16, "Together we can write a new chapter
in the history of this land that we all serve and this land that we all share. "
SCRALD ? STD FORD
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
September 15, 1976
NOTE TOFRED SLIGHT
If there is still time, please
add this sentence to the big paragraph
ending on the middle of age 2 of the
Indian piece I gave you last night:
"The Law Enforcement Assistance
Administration's program for helping
Indian tribes has gone from $97,185
in FY 1969 to $5.7 millions in FY 1976."
(This doesn't have to be cleared;
I just got it from the LEAA computer.)
Fred, if any of the folks with whom
you are clearing that piece have major
changes to make, I wish to be informed.
Boad
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
9/17/76
TO: BRAD PATTERSON
FROM: FRED SLIGHT
The attached article was
sent to the Association
of American Indian Affairs
today, and I am enclosing
this for your information.
GENALD R. - FOR,