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1103378
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Form Letters
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1103378
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Form Letters
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Bradley H. Patterson Files (Ford Administration)
Bradley Patterson's Native American Programs Files
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Indians of North America
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1103378
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1976-08-01
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8
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1976
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1976-08-01
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8
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1976
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The original documents are located in Box 2, folder "Form Letters" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
BHP-1
RESTRICTED USAGE
RE: Problems of American Indians
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 27, 1976
Dear /s/
This is in response to your letter to the President concerning
the problems of American Indians.
I assure you that the President is very seriously concerned
with the welfare of the Native Americans, and has been very
actively involved in efforts to improve their situation. In
November, 1975 he met with Chief Fools Crow and eight other
traditional chiefs of the Oglala Sioux Tribe from the Pine
Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The nine chiefs met for
approximately four hours with White House Staff members and
representatives of the Justice Department and the American
Arbitration Association, in a review and discussion of the
economic and social conditions on Pine Ridge.
On June 8, 1976, Dr. Theodore Marrs, Special Assistant to the
President for Human Resources, met for three hours with Chief
Frank Fools Crow; Mr. Albert W. Trimble, the elected President
of the Oglala Sioux Tribe on Pine Ridge; Mr. Morris Thompson,
Commissioner of Indian Services, Department of the Interior;
and representatives of the Justice Department, and the Depart-
ments of Labor, HUD and HEW; members of the National Congress
of tion. American Indians and the National Tribal Chairman's Associa-
On July 16, 1976, the President spoke to a delegation of 242
national Sioux Indian leaders, including representatives of the Oglala
Tribe. Prior to that they met with representatives of the
Department and of the Interior, HEW, Labor, HUD, Commerce, Justice,
tions were represented at this meeting.
the White House Staff. All of the national Indian associa-
meeting. sent He has asked me to succeed Dr. Marrs and has now
I enclose a copy of the President's remarks at the July 16
the memorandum to the Cabinet to which he referred.
would In view like of your own warm interest in Indian affairs, I think you
Message to know that since a landmark Special
policies of July, 1970, we have made many changes Presidential in government
and programs to assist Native Americans.
FORD LIBRARY is
Digitized from Box 2 of the Bradley H. Patterson Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
BHP-1
Ref. 02
2
We restored the Blue Lake lands to the Taos Pueblo, restored
Mt. Adams to the Yakima Reservation and fully supported the
Congressional action to undo the unwise termination of the
Menominees in 1961, restoring their lands to protected Reserva-
tion status. We proposed and persuaded Congress to pass the
Alaska Native Claims Act, confirming Alaska Native title to
40,000,000 acres there and providing for a billion dollars in
payments to them, half of this to come out of oil revenues.
At Pyramid Lake, for fishing in the Pacific Northwest and in
several important tax cases, we went to court with vigorous
briefs protecting and defending Indian natural resources rights.
Under the new Indian Self-Determination Act which we proposed
6 years ago, we are turning over the governing of Indian schools,
hospitals and similar functions to Indian Tribal governments
themselves -- at the pace Indian Tribal leaders desire. HEW,
Agriculture, Justice, Commerce and HUD are among the govern-
ment agencies which have special new Indian offices working
directly with Indian tribes and people. The money the Bureau
of Indian Affairs spends on Indians has gone from $261.8 million
in FY 1969 to $763.9 million in FY 1977 -- a 300% increase.
This acceleration is not exceptional, but typical of the other
agencies' Indian budgets over the same period of years. The
brand new Navajo Community College (government funded, with
Navajo should Tribal help) opened its doors three years ago. If
Southwest Indian Polytechnic Institute on its handsome 164
ever be near Albuquerque I hope you will visit the new you
acre campus; we built it in 1971.
Of in the course there is more to be done, but at last we are moving
right direction, with the President's firm support.
know Thank of you again for writing the President and for letting him
your own convictions.
Cordially,
FORD
Bradley H. Patterson, Jr.
/s/
///
cut 8/27/76 - mvm
111
proofed mah/mvm
///
Enclosure
(Rec. 8/27/76)
BHP: /s/
BHP-1
BHP-2
RESTRICTED USAGE
RE: Statement by the P to American Indian leaders
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
1976
Dear /s/
Thank you for your letter to the President expressing
concern about his jurisdictional statement to American
Indian leaders on July 16. It has been erroneously
reported that President Ford supports legislation to
give tribal governments criminal and civil jurisdiction
over all people living on Indian reservations. This is
inaccurate. The President does not support legislation
to alter the present legal status of non-Indians residing
within reservation boundaries.
In his statement to Indian leaders on July 16, President
Ford indicated that he supported the concept of allowing
certain Indian tribes (those which have been subject to
State civil and criminal jurisdiction under provisions
of Public Law 83-280 and related statutes) to decide by
tribal resolution whether they wish to continue under
FORD
State jurisdiction or return to Federal jurisdictional
status. This resolution is subject to the approval or
disapproval of the Secretary of the Interior under a
clear set of reasonable guidelines.
Under this concept, a tribe by itself could initiate a
request to the Secretary of the Interior for a return to
Federal jurisdictional status. In reaching his decision
on this request, the Secretary of the Interior would be
required to consult with the U.S. Attorney General and
with the governors of the appropriate States. Application
would be limited to tribes in States which have exercised
jurisdiction under P.L. 83-280 and related statutes.
The Departments of Justice and Interior are drafting
legislation on this subject, and the Administration
has asked the governors of 31 States for their views
on the draft legislation. It is the President's
(Rec. 8/27/76)
BHP-2 (Page 2)
2
intention to continue consultations on the draft and
to expand those consultations to include a wide range
of interested groups, including representatives of
non-Indians residing within reservation boundaries.
Sincerely,
Bradley H. Patterson, Jr.
/s/
cut 8/27/76 - ki
///
proofed nm /ki
///
BHP:/s/
Fake
BHP- 3
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Dear
:
The President has asked me to thank you for your
recent letter to him about the idea of a Presidential
Treaty Review Commission.
I have held several meetings with the members of the
Lakota Treaty Council, the most recent of which was
September 10 with Mr. Louis Bad Wound here in the
White House.
At that time I gave Mr. Bad Wound a letter which asks
his help in defining precisely what the functions and
authorities of a Treaty Commission would be. Since
you are sincerely interested in this matter, I am en-
closing a copy of that letter. We are looking forward
to Mr. Bad Wound's reply and hope then to be able to
present the matter to the President.
One should note that with respect to the Treaty of 1868,
it was the Congress rather than the Executive which
unilaterally made changes in that Treaty. If any additional
redress (other than the very important Black Hills claim
still pending before the Indian Claims Commission) is to
come concerning that treaty, the Congress will probably
have to be source of same.
We will keep in touch with Mr. Bad Wound and see what
C an be done.
In the last six years a multitude of new legislative and
executive actions have dramatically changed Indian policies
and programs for the better. I know you share our pleasure
that this is the case.
FORD
We appreciate hearing from you.
Sincerely yours,
LIBRARY
Bradley H. Patterson, Jr.
"BHP-3"
Dear
,
The President has asked me to thank you for
your recent
ANLY
letter to him about the idea of a Presidential
Treaty Review Eommission.
have
I MIX held several meetings with the members of
the akota Treaty Coyncil, the most recent of which was
September 10 with Mr. Louis Bad Wound here in the White House.
At that time I gave Mr. Bad Wound a letter
which asks
his help in defining precisely what the functions
and authorities of a reaty Commission would be. Since you are
sincerely interested in this matter, I am enclosing a copy of
that letter. We are looking forward to Mr. Bad Wound's
reply and
will then present the matter to the resident.
One zaukzz should note that with respect to the
Tr aty of 1868, it was the Congress rather than the Executive
which unilaterally made changes in that treaty.
will
probably have to be the Congress which
If any redress (other than the very important,
still
BALL FORD JERANY
Black Hills claim KW pending before the Indian Claims
concerning
Commission) is
to come XXXXX that treaty,
the Congress
will probably have to be source of same.
We will keep in tough with Mr. Bad Wound
and see what can be done.
In the bast six years a multitude
of new legislative and executive actions have dramtically changed
Indian policies and programs for the better. I know you share our
pleasure that this is the case.
We appreciate hearing rom you.
Sincerely yours,
BHPjr