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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Blackwell, Morton: Files
Folder Title: Interstate Congress for Equal Rights and
Responsibilities
Box: 30
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File
Merrill B. Mecham
Chairman of the Board
Interstate Congress
Vernal, Utah
William Clendenin
for
President
EQUAL
Waquoit, Mass.
Equal Rights and Responsibilities, Inc.
RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
CURRENT
FEDERAL
Betty Morris
INDIAN
Vice President
POLICY
Hoquiam, Wa.
April 20, 1981
Blair K. Richendifer
Executive Director
Walthill, Nebr.
Mr. Morton Blackwell
Special Assitant to the President
Old Executive Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. Blackwell,
Earl Veeder of Franklin, La., an old college cohort of yours,
suggested that you might help in arranging a meeting with the
Secretary of the Interior, James Watt or his immediate subordinaces,
to discuss the present Federal Indian Policy and its affects on the
non-Indian population. A meeting in the latter part of May or in
June, at their convience, would be in order. Frankly, we are not
interested in BIA officials.
A brief run-down on our organization: The Interstate Congress
for Equal Rights and Responsibilities was formed in February of
1976 at Salt Lake City, Utah by people from 10 western states.
Including farmers, ranchers, businessmen, professionals, sportsmen,
and just plain property owning taxpaying citizens.
The basic need for our organization did not come about because
of the actions of people involed in ICERR, but instead was precipi-
tated by the actions of some tribal advocates and their programs
which can be viewed only as encroachments upon the constitutional
rights and guarantees provided to all citizens of the United States.
It was not ICERR that proposed to place people under a government
in which they could not participate - or that proposed to place
people uner a jurisdiction where they could not vote and have some
control - or who advocated tribal taxation over persons and property
without furnishing benifits fesulting from that taxation to all
residents - or who advocated land use planning and zoning over all
lands within the reservation boundaries regardless of ownership - or
who advocated total control over all water within an area by a
governing board in which only a privileged few could participate.
This organization advocates a program that places all people on
equal ground - equal rights with equal resonsibilities. We ask for
nothing more and will accept nothing less.
It is time for congress and the President to blow the whistle on
the encouragement of the theory of tribal sovereignty. That theory
is absolutly unacceptable - America is besieged with the guilt complex
over the Indian situation. While we have sympathy and understanding
for the down-trodden of the Indian race, we cannot accept the burden
of the Whole United States if perpetual repayment of past wrongs is
deemed necessary.
more
A NONPROFIT CORPORATION CREATED TO INSURE THAT ALL CITIZENS OF THESE
UNITED STATES SHALL ACHIEVE EQUAL RIGHTS AND BEAR EQUAL RESPONSIBILITIES
UNDER THE LAW
Page D
Mr. Morton Blackwell
Special Assitant to the President
All of America must pay in that case, rather than allow the
descendant of the white settlers who homesteaded on reservations
in the west, and innocent bystanders if the affected areas of the
east to be slowly digested into the new 'Indian Nation' as payment
for all of America.
This is not a fight between the Indian and non-Indian. Rather,
it is a fight between all citizens living on Indian reservations
and claim areas of the east and south, with the Judges, Bureauacrats
and Legal Aids that fail to see that all citizens are entitled to
equal rights under the constitution.
In June of 1976 several representatives of our organization
met with the Assistant Seceetary of the Interior and several
Interior and BIA policy makers. They seemed to understand the
problems, but, unfortunatly did not returnafter the election in Nov.
Since that time, we have had nothing but deaf ears listening to the
on-going problems. We are looking for a new begining and an end
to this fiasco.
Enclosed are two letters, from Elmer Winter a retired Pop and
beer distributor and from Betty Morris a retired school teacher,
both property owners on so-called Indian reservations, I would
appreciate your reading them and passing them along to any interested
party. Both tell most of the problems along with some solutions
to the present day Federal Indian Policy.
Thank you for your indulgence.
Yours very truly,
Blair K. Richendifer
Executive Director
Encls: 2
P.S. My phone number is ac 402-846-5005
INTERSTATE CONGRESS
for
EQUAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, INC.
EQUAL
WASHINGTON STATE CHAPTER
RIGHTS AND
CURRENT
RESPONSIBILITIES
FEDERAL
INDIAN
P.O. Box 17059
POLICY
Seattle, Wa. 98107
P.O. Box 2368
Bellingham, Wa. 98225
P.O. Box 555
Kingston, WA 98346
April 4, 1981
(206) 297-2195
Organizations
The Honorable James Watt
Assoc. of Property
Owners and Residents
Secretary of Interior
RECEIVED APR 1981
of Port Madison Area
P.O. Box 257
C Street between 18th and 19th, N. W.
Indianola, Wa. 98031
Washington, D.C. 20240
Civil & Equal Rights
for All
P.O. Box 153
LaConner, Wa. 98257
Dear Secretary Watt:
Concerned Citizens for
Constitution & Conservation
P.O. Box 7
During the last three administrations, I have made several
Richmond Reach. Wa. 98197
attempts to communicate with the Dept. of Interior over serious
Grays Harbor Poggie Club
900 River View Dr.
tribal jurisdictional problems. I can only assume my correspon-
Aberdeen, Wa. 98520
dence was intercepted by some one along the way sympathetic to
Green River Steelhead
Trout Club
Indian causes, and before it reached anyone in authority. Al-
28940 229th P1. S.E.
Kent, Wa. 98031
though my letters were never returned, I have yet to receive an
Lummi Property Owners Assoc., Inc.
answer. Other property owners report receiving form letters
P.O. Box 1266
Ferndale, Wa. 98248
totally unrelated to our problems or request for help. I trust
Puget Sound Gillnetters Assoc.
President Reagan's administration will restore our faith in
C-3 Bkig. Fishermans Term.
Seattle, Wa. 98119
justice and our government.
Quinault Property Owners
Assoc., Inc.
P.O. Box 887
I apologize for the length of this letter, but it barely touches
Aberdeen, Wa. 98550
Skagit River Guide Assoc.
the magnitude or seriousness of our problems.
P.O. Box 212 W. Nelson
Sedro Woolley, Wa. 98284
Steelhead Trout Club of Wash.
During the Carter administration, Senator Magnuson and Senator
Seattle Chapter
1212 Pacific Bidg.
Jackson arranged an appointment for our Kitsap County Comm-
Seattle, Wa. 98104
issioner and Prosecuting Attorney to meet with Sec. Andrus
Washington Trollers Assoc.
P.O. Box 771
for a discussion of tribal jurisdictional problems. On every
Port Angeles, Wa. 98368
point Sec. Andrus turned to the two Indians behind him for
Wildcat Steelhead Club
P.O. Box 435
direction. Only the Indian viewpoint was considered.
Sedro Woolley, Wa. 98284
Meanwhile our problems escalate. Hatred and outrage grow
as our cries for help are ignored and we are deprived of our
rights--the same rights of citizenship you and our fellow citizens
enjoy. WHERE DO WE TURN FOR HELP?
Just before the November election I was sent a copy of the Clary
Institute Newsletter (Indian press) in which President Reagan
answered questions posed by Indian reporters. His answers
A NONPROFIT CORPORATION CREATED TO INSURE THAT ALL CITIZENS OF THESE
UNITED STATES SHALL ACHIEVE EQUAL RIGHTS AND BEAR EQUAL RESPONSIBILITIES
UNDER THE LAW
ORGANIZED IN TWENTY ONE STATES OF THE U.S.A.
Sec. Watt
-2-
April 4, 1981
indicate his aides have little knowledge concerning the serious problems
those of us who live on or near an Indian reservation face daily.
I realize the Indians must be heard. However, it is important to point
out that every administration listens to the Indians and responds to their
emotional theatrics and the constant demands of a well financed Indian
lobby. OUR CONCERNS HAVE YET TO BE HEARD. We have no lobby.
Our money, of necessity, goes to lawyers as we seek to preserve our
property rights. It is time some one listened to fee patent land owners.
INDIAN PROBLEMS CAN NEVER BE SOLVED UNLESS OUR PROBLEMS,
TOO, ARE RESOLVED.
The sad plight of the Indian is well known. The equally sad plight of the
non-Indians who purchased or homesteaded lands made available by Con-
gress, is not. Just like the Indians, we are the victims of the vacillating
policies of Congress and the Dept. of Interior. We bought in good faith.
That trust has been betrayed. Indians never trusted the government; un-
fortunately we did. Today we are the innocent victims of our faith and
trust in the United States government. Will this administration listen and
heed our cry for help?
In their attempt to remedy the "plight of the poor Indian," I am sure that
Congress had no intention of placing countless thousands of innocent citizens
under the control of tribal governments in which we have no voice--a
government which is itself a ward of the United States government. How-
ever, that is the way the present policy of self-determination has been in-
terpreted and implemented by the Dept. of Interior.
"Come settle this land, our government urged. "Come homestead this
land, irrigate and farm the land, feed the nation, and educate the savages.'
Flyers were distributed across the nation by the Dept. of Interior, encour-
aging citizens to come purchase these surplus lands. Today, as a reward
for their industry and patriotism, these trusting American citizens are
being deprived of their constitutional rights in order to appease the militant
Indians of the nation.
In the name of justice for Indians, we are losing our homes, our businesses,
the use of our property, our water, even the air above our lands, and most
important of all, the rights and privileges that you, and our fellow citizens
enjoy. Often many liftimes of work are at stake. As Indian claims grow
state by state, so do the numbers of innocent victims. Who will be next?
Helplessly we watch as more and more innocent victims are held hostage
by the militant Indians of the nation. Connecticut citizens are currently
fighting a case which will affect Indian claims to millions of acres in the
eastern United States. I understand the Supreme Court asked the Justice
Department's views-the Reagan administration view on the Connecticut
Sec. Watt
-3-
April 4, 1981
case which ultimat ly could affect land claims involving Cayuga and Oneida
tribes in New York, the Catawba claims in South Carolina, the Maliseet
tribe in Maine, the Mashpee, Chappaquiddick and Gay Head Wampanoag
tribes in Massachusetts, the Narragansetts claims in Rhode Island and
the Western Pequot and Schaghticoke Indian claims in Connecticut.
Louisiana and Florida have large claims against them.
These claims and actions are no less ludicrous than Iranian militants
demands. Does any one in government have the "guts" to say no?
On the Quinault Reservation in Washington state, my fee-patent land,
which the Dept. of Interior had described before its purchase in 1967
to be "no longer under tribal jurisdiction free and clear of all encumber-
ances, whatsoever and out of trust in 1920, " is today useless and unsale-
able. The Quinault's, like many other Indian tribes across the nation, are
claiming jurisdiction over everything and everyone on, under, beside, and
above our land, including the water below and the air above. Need I remind
you that this is the land that they sold nearly a century ago?
Tribal leaders assure us that we have no rights. Our attempts to meet
with them were to no avail. They insist we do not exist. Unfortunately,
we do.
Tribes claim to be sovereign nations with the Jurisdictional power to zone,
the power to tax, and the power to police. You may recognize, as we do,
that these are powers to destroy, and we are being destroyed! These
powers are being effectively used to harass us physically, legally, and
emotionally. Tribal leaders assure us they will tax us off the reservation
and many of us have already been effectively zoned out of existence. Let me
remind you that this is the same land that the Dept. of Interior stated was
"no longer under tribal jurisdiction" before it was purchased.
Joe De La Cruz, tribal chairman of the Quinaults, would have the public be-
lieve this land was misrepresented by a realtor. Unfortunately, that is
not the case. We were "sold" by our faith and trust in the United States
government. County and state officials tell us they cannot (which trans-
lates into will not) help us. Many of us have used up our savings, attempting
to fight tribal lawyers and their battery of Justice Department lawyers.
We are the helpless victims of our faith and trust in our government, with
no where to turn for help.
Can you go back to your grandfather's or great-grandfather's land and
claim jurisdiction over the land that he sold several decades ago? I think
not--unless, of course, you are an Indian. Today tribes across the United
States are actively claiming jurisdiction over lands they sold decades ago.
The Muckleshoot tribe (Washington) owns less than an acre (.29), yet they
are claiming the right to zone the 22, 000 acres of their original reservation.
The 9th circuit court recently ruled in favor of the Muckleshoots (Trans-
Canada vs. Muckleshoots). We wonder about justice!
Sec. Watt
-4-
April 4, 1981
The very nation that fought a war 200 years ago over the principle of tax-
ation without representation, is guilty today of placing us under a tribal
government which claims the right to tax us--a government in which we
have no voice and no rights. WE ASK HOW A GOVERNMENT THAT
FOUGHT SO VALIENTLY FOR THIS UNIQUE PRINCIPLE, CAN TODAY
BE ACTUALLY ENCOURAGING THESE TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS TO
TAX US, ZONE US, AND REGULATE US OUT OF EXISTENCE? These
tribal taxes are in addition to --not in lieu of--our federal, state, and
local taxes.
As a friend remarked wryly, "Justice is not blind, she's dead.'
Outrage grows with the realization that we must not only provide services
and support tribal governments with our tax dollars, but we must watch
helplessly as our own tax dollars are used against us to provide free legal
services to the tribe-often batteries of the nations best lawyers--to aid
the tribe in suits which deprive us of our constitutional rights, our water,
and our property.
Meanwhile, we must provide for our own legal defense. For many of us
that is utterly impossible. We are being wiped out. Bankrupted. De-
stroyed.
This is not just a simple case of treaty rights. It well might be considered
consumer fraud, perpetrated and perpetuated by the federal government.
This same federal government would be the first to prosecute any business
or corporation for fraud that had victimized its customers as our own gov-
ernment has victimized and betrayed us--her innocent citizens. Let me
remind you again, that this was all done in the name of justice for Indians!
Repeatedly Indians tell us they are "going to take America back. " They
are doing just that with the help and blessing of our Dept. of Interior, the
Justice Department, and liberal judges who hope to go down in history by
regulating social change at the expense of their innocent fellow citizens.
Treaties are being re-interpreted in courts today by liberal judges who
give tribes rights never intended when the treaties were written.
However, these vocal militant Indian leaders are very selective in which
parts of the treaty they choose to claim for enforcement. When it serves
their purpose they are members of a sovereign nation. On other occasions,
when it is to their advantage, they loudly clamor for their rights as United
States citizens. Thus, they can "have their cake and eat it, too.
I was one of the few fee-patent owners in the nation to be allowed to testify
before the American Indian Policy Review Commission. As a teacher in
this great nation, I believed and taught that. the Congressional committees
Sec. Watt
-5-
April 4, 1981
came out to the "grass roots" to obtain an understanding of the problems
of the people in order to correct them.
The "democracy in action" I observed at this Congressional Committee
hearing was frightening and appalling. Certainly, what I witnessed was
a far cry from the democracy that I'd been teaching children of America
for the past 30 years to expect and believe in. Indians had weeks and
months to prepare testimony. They were on a first name basis with the
Indians who made up the Congressional Committee's panel. The non-
Indian officials (mayors, county commissioners, sheriffs) who had been
called to testify, invariably testified to three days notice and often they
were substitutes for the official who had a previous appointment.
Non-Indian witnesses were lectured, ridiculed, hassled, and their testi-
mony twisted to suit the preconceived goals of the panel. These commis-
sion members need not have left their offices in Washington, D.C. to
write their report--a $2,000,000 farce. Literature handed out at the front
desk as we entered, set forth their goals of sovereignty before they heard
the testimony. As I listened, the implications for America were fright-
ening beyond belief.
Today in Arizona, 25% of the citizens in Apache County must financially
support the schools and services for the other 75% who are reservation
Indians, --thus untaxed.
Ironically, the Arizona Supreme Court has ruled that, although a reser-
vation Indian has no allegiance to the state of Arizona, he must be allowed
to hold county or state office. This places him in the position where he
not only may determine the amount of tax the non-Indian citizens (Negro,
Mexican, or white) must pay, but he will determine where and how these
tax monies shall be used, though he is immune to the taxes he has imposed.
We keep telling each other, "This just can't happen in America!" But,
it is happening and it is scary. It is apparent to us that we have been
sacrificed to pay for the insatiable guilt of America--for the real and
imagined wrongs of the past. We wonder how many generations must con-
tinue to pay? Will our children still be obliged to pay? And their children?
Who is an Indian? Will we continue to subsidize people who are 1/128th
Indian--or even 1/1024th Indian (see pg. 8 of Legacy of Wounded Knee,
enclosed) ?
"Self-determination--without termination" is a unique form of "privileged
citizenship" which not only provides Indians with all the rights of United
States citizenship, but, as interpreted today, confers special privilèges
with none of the responsibilities of citizenship: In effect, a kind of special
privileged nobility has been established in our society, a status decried by
those who wrote the constitution and who believed so strongly in equal
Sec. Watt
-6-
April 4, 1981
rights and justice for all. Groups of victimized property OW ners and
concerned citizens throughout the nation, have been forced to join together
in defense of those precious rights. I am the National Vice-President of
this group--Interstate Congress for Equal Rights and Responsibilities
(ICERR). We seek justice--the same rights and privileges our fellow
Americans enjoy. ICERR now has chapters or representatives in more
than 20 states. That number grows as Indian claims deprive more and
more citizens of their property and their rights. It may surprise you to
learn that our membership includes Indian members who are being deprived
of their rights by their tribal leaders.
Mr. Secretary, we need your help. Someone must listen before it is too
late. Unfortunately, it is already "too late" for many of our fellow citizens.
Outrage--fear--hatred, all are growing where friendship and respect for
Indians formerly existed.
We did not create our problems. They were created by Congress, and since
the 60's, with a considerable amount of help from the Dept. of Justice and
the Dept. of the Interior. Our problems can be solved with your help, the
help of the Reagan administration, and the help of Congress. Justice must
prevail for Indian and non-Indian citizens alike.
I would like to suggest a meeting, Mr. Secretary, in which a few of our
fee-patent land owners from across the nation meet with you, your aides,
and members of President Reagan's staff to discuss our particular prob-
lems, and work out a solution. We are anxious to work with your staff, as
we seek justice for all people.
The annual meetin~ of Interstate Congress for Equal Rights and Responsi-
bilities (ICERR) will be held in Washington, D.C. this year, probably the
later part of May or in June. We have held the dates open in order to be
able to meet with you at your convenience.
Your secretary can contact me at 206-297-2195; Executive-Director Blair
Richendifer, P.O. Box 6, Walthill, Neb raska 68067 (402-846-5005); or
President William S. Clendenin, District Director N. A. S. D. Inc., 75 Fed-
eral St., Boston, Mass. 02110 (617-482-0466 or 617-888-1203).
We pray that you and the Reagan administration will do what no other ad-
ministration has done--listen--and help us work out our problems. I re-
peat, Indian problems can never be solved until our problems, too, are
resolved. Thank you, Mr. Secretary.
Sincerely,
Betty (Mrs.) Betty Morris Morris
Enclosures (3)
Mahnomen, Minnesota 56557
April 16, 1981
President Ronald Reagan
The White House
Washington, D. C. 20510
Dear Mr. President:
Needless to say, I along with millions of other citizens was
shocked beyond belief by the attempted assassination on your
life. I very sincerely wish you a speedy recovery to full
health.
Mr. President, we have some very serious problems here in
northern Minnesota and throughout the country within the ex-
terior boundaries of former so called "Indian reservations".
Among the problems are the following:
Jurisdiction. Tribal governments are asserting implied
powers to completely control all Indians and non-Indians
living within these areas.
Hunting and fishing. The courts have been very liberal
in construing century old treaties in favor of Indians.
Clouded land titles. When these areas were opened for
homesteading, the government freed up these lands and encour-
aged our forefathers to homestead them. Now after many years
of improvements and paying taxes, some of us are discovering
that our land titles are in jeopardy and that we may possibly
lose our entire life's savings.
The Tribes are also asserting jurisdiction over land use ordi-
nances, zoning ordinances, l'icensing businesses and taking, con-
trol of on and off sale liquor licenses, etc.
In 1911 President Theodore Roosevelt said, "The time is long
past for these people to be tribal members, they should be
citizens instead". Now it cannot be argued that he expected
them to be granted citizenship in addition to tribal status.
Thirteen years later, in 1924, congress did grant all Indians
full citizenship. For some unexplained reason, congress failed
to require them to relinquish their tribal status in return for
this privilege. It can now only be speculated whether this was
an oversight or whatever.
-2-
Indians have for as long as I can remember received free
health, dental care, and education. We have never complained
about this although we could not quite see the rationale behind
it. When the Tribes started asserting jurisdiction over non-
Indians, that is when we started to rebel! We refuse to allow
ourselves to become subject to a government in which we have no
voice or vote!
Suggested solutions to the problems - congressional action in
the following areas:
Jurisdiction. Congress must enact legislation that clearly
spells out that Indians do nothave jurisdiction over non-Indians
living within exterior boundaries of SO called Indian reserva-
tions. The former Mecd's jurisdiction bill of 1977, H.R. 9950,
should be amended and redrafted before reintroduction and enact-
ment.
Hunting and fishing. We need a sense of the Congress re-
solution, instructing the courts to refrain from legislating
and start interpreting the law instead. A case in point, the
Minnesota vs. Clark case decided by the Minnesota Supreme Court
in 1980, (with certiorari denied, so the lower court decision
stands). A brief explanation -- the court readily admits that
by "The treaty of 1855 the Chippewas agreed to cede, sell, and
convey to the United States all their rights, title, and inter-
est in and to the lands now owned and claimed by them, in the
territory of Minnesota". Thus the Court reasons, "We, neces-
sarily conclude that the treaty of 1855 extinguished all their
aboriginal hunting and fishing rights in the area in question".
However, the Court then reasons that these rights were reaquired
by the treaties of 1864 and 1867, even though neither of these
treaties even mentions hunting and fishing.
The court reasons that the Tribes thought they were reaquiring
these rights since hunting and fishing was necessary for suste-
nance at that time. I believe it. can be very effectively argued
that hunting and fishing for sustenance for the non-Indian home-
steader in that day and age was also very necessary for survival.
Today we have adequate welfare programs for all citizens in need
of sustenance.
Therefore, we need a "Sense of the Congress" resolution that
would instruct the Courts. In any treaties with the Indians,
if hunting and fishing rights were not specifically granted,
then those rights do no exist! If this legislation were to be
enacted it would have the immediate effect of overturning the
Minnesota VS. Clark decision plus more similar decisions through-
out the land.
Clouded land titles. A time limitation for Indian claims
was first imposed in 1966, and since has been extended at least
five times to December 31, 1982. Millions of dollars have been
expended in research, etc. It is our hope that the final exten-
sion has been granted and that our government will settle all
-3-
claims by the proposed deadline.
I can assure you, Mr. President, if the above suggestions were
enacted into law, a multitude of our problems would be resolved.
Thank you for your consideration and best wishes.
Sincerely,
Elmer W. Winter
Elmer H. Winter
Mahnomen, MN 56557
Telephone: (218) 935-5201
EHW:jcg
CC: Honorable James Watt, Secretary of Interior
Honorable David Durenburger, U.S. Senator
Honorable Rudy Boschwitz, U.S. Senator
Honorable Arlan Stangeland, U.S. Congressman
Merrill B. Mecham
Chairman of the Board
Interstate Congress
Vernal, Utah
William Clendenin
for
President
Waquoit, Mass.
EQUAL
Equal Rights and Responsibilities, Inc.
RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
CURRENT
Betty Morris
FEDERAL
Vice President
INDIAN
POLICY
Hoquiam, Wa.
April 20, 1981
Blair K. Richendifer
Executive Director
Walthill, Nebr.
Dear Elmer,
An excellent letter you wrote to the President. I believe we must
concentrate on the points you addressed in the letter.
From the Clary Institute News Bulletin for Indian Leaders 3/31/81:
" The Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs held hearings
Mar. 25 on Indian related budgets (BIA, IHS and Dept. of Ed.).
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Interior for Indian Affairs,
James Canan told the Committee, "I feel we were treated very well
by the Administration since the Dept. of the Interior took about
twice the cuts that BIA did."
Asked about his thoughts on the "BIA as 51st state" concept,
Canan probably set tribal sovereighnty back by at least 200 years.
He told the Committee that "block grants to states could go two
ways: (1) grants could flow through the states to the tribes, or
(2) from a department to BIA to the tribes" as do funds for
"highway Safety program and Title [ and Handicapped Ed., with
the Sec. of the Int. acting as governor.' Then, asked if this
wasn't like categorical grants, Canan replied that "tribes are
recognized as local governments Wether funds go through the states
or Interior."
In effect, the Reagan White House is treating Indians as a minority
and/or public interest group rather than as government entities on
a tribe-by-tribe basis.
During his campaign, Reagan promised to treat tribal governments
on a goverment-to-government basis, as they should be treated. If he
wants to make good on this promist Reagan should immediately place
responsibility for Federally-recognized American Indian tribes in
the functional area of Presidential Assistant for Intergovernmental
Affairs Richard Williamson. Secause Federally-recognized tribes
have sovereignty, they should be treated with the same dignity as
are states, counties and cities --- all of which are under Williamson."
"Suzan Harjo, Native American Rigks Fund, stated that eliminating
the Legad Services Corp. (which Regan is proposing to do) will
effectually block Indians from using the nations's court system,
since LSC is one of the few affordable legal services avialable to
tribes.
............
Elmer, I believe there will be a marked slow-down in Indian
activities. Many of the demands will be put on the back burner
for another time. Unless we push for legislation that corrects
the inequities that have been going on for the last 15 years, we
will be in the same position down the road. Yours truly,
Islan
A NONPROFIT CORPORATION CREATED TO INSURE THAT ALL CITIZENS OF THESE
UNITED STATES SHALL ACHIEVE EQUAL RIGHTS AND BEAR EQUAL RESPONSIBILITIES
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Morton:
attachedis a note I
took on this matter from
Earl Veeder.
of gave him Ken Smith's
name of phone # He will
get back with me if he
Can't get an appointment
with him
that
"m 4/28
Thinks BIA policies are redice lous
-
THE WHITE HOUSE
(b) 318-923-4409 after 6:30
WASHINGTON
(o) 318-828-3857
Earl Veeder
Franklyn hom La
wants metting with lec,Wast
M lifegation in La
on In dian affairs
Rusty Clouther suggested
he call you
Blair Richender
letter Manton apr. 20.
walt Hill tab
Internate Congress for EqualR ghtst Responsibler