Riverside County Official Calls for Change in Soboba Leadership

Third District Supervisor Jeff Stone is calling for a change in leadership for the Soboba Band and he suggested that there could be a repeat of the recent violence at the reservation if that does not take place.

Stone, whose district includes the reservation, made his remarks at a meeting of about 150 residents, but no tribal members, according The Press-Enterprise.

“This pressure pot has been simmering for a long time,” Stone said. He suggested that part of the problem was tribal leadership, which he said needs to be more sophisticated in the way it does its job.

Stone is running for re-election on Tuesday.

Interior Leery of Strong Tribal Advocates

Personnel conflicts at Interior may have lead to Carl Artman’s early departure from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. His duties will be assumed by George Skibine, who will maintain his post deputy assistant secretary for Policy and Economic Development.

According to an article in Indian Country Today, Skibine won out over Artman’s heir apparent Majel Russell, because Russell’s strong advocacy for tribal governments did not set well with Interior Department officials. Artman too was viewed as too supportive of tribal governments, the article said. Hmm ... you’d think that would be viewed as a good quality for the assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs. Indian leaders told ICT they expect Skibine to demonstrate the same commitment to tribes.

U.S. Civil Service Laws Don’t Protect Tribal Employees Performing Contracted Services

A tribal police officer who was fired by the tribal government appealed his dismissal to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). He argued that since his duties for the tribe were in fulfillment of a Self-Determination contract with the Department of Interior, he should be considered a federal employee. The MSPB ruled that although the employee’s alleged misconduct had been investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and even though his duties were related to a self-determination contract with the BIA, he was not considered a federal employee. The board noted that he might be considered a federal employee for the purposes of certain laws -- for example he was covered under the Federal Tort Claims Act – but that did not make him a federal employee entitled to a hearing before the board.

What Not to Say to Your American Indian Co-Workers

If you’re working with American Indians on a daily basis and you happen not to be one, inviting your co-workers to an office “powwow” or asking them to “hold down the fort” while you're away, is a sure way to get yourself into trouble, according to an article in Diversity Inc.

Among the other things your American Indian colleagues may find offensive:

Being called “chief,” “Indian-giver” or “Squaw”
Being asked how Indian they are
Being asked if they live in a teepee

But it occurs to us that this doesn't even begin to cover it. If you are American Indian, we know you’ve heard it all. Help your non-Indian colleagues out. Raise their awareness by sharing your stories of workplace insensitivity. Post your comments here.

Native Unity: Uranium Link To Kidney Ailments In 'Navajo Uranium Assessment'

Native Unity: Uranium Link To Kidney Ailments In 'Navajo Uranium Assessment'

Skibine to Assume Duties of Assistant Secretary at BIA

We're still waiting for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to confirm, but it's already out in Indian Country that George Skibine will assume the duties of Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. The job was left open last week when Carl Artman's resignation became effective on May 23.

Skibine, an enrolled member of the Osage Tribe of Oklahoma, has served as acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary since April 2007. Prior to that, he was Director of the Office of Indian Gaming Management and acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Economic Development – Indian Affairs. His experience at the Interior Department includes having served as an attorney and later as Deputy Associate Solicitor for the Division of Indian Affairs within the Office of the Solicitor after having spent several years at the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Skibine holds an economics degree from the University of Chicago and a law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.

Snoqualmie Banish Former Chairman

The Snoqualmie Tribe has banished former Chairman Bill T. Sweet and several of his family members, among other supporters, according to Indian Country Today. The decision was made final during a closed-door general membership meeting at the Issaquah Hilton April 28. In addition to voting on the banishments, the tribal council announced that the 43 individuals purged from the rolls failed to meet the blood quantum requirement for membership. According to a tribal press release, some members have already appealed the decision, while others have accepted it.

Councilmember and Chief Nathan Patrick Barker said that Sweet and some of his supporters recently attempted to seize control of bank accounts, shut down health and social programs, fire the entire staff and reach out to the BIA in an effort to receive backup on the effort. They are accused of running a ''shadow government.'' For Sweet’s side of the story check this article on Reuters.