“Buy Indian Act” Tribal Consultations Scheduled

Tribal consultation meetings on draft regulations to implement the Buy Indian Act (25 U.S.C. 47) have been scheduled for later this month, according to a press release issued on April 16 by Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk.

The Buy Indian Act provides the authority to set aside procurement contracts for qualified Indian-owned businesses. It was first enacted in 1910 to promote the employment of American Indians and the sale of American Indian-made products.

The Indian Affairs Office of Acquisition and Property Management is developing a rule to describe uniform administrative procedures that Indian Affairs will use at all of its locations to encourage procurement relationships with eligible Indian economic enterprises in the execution of the Act.

The consultations, to be conducted by OAPM, will be held in Portland, Ore., on April 26; Rapid City, S.D., on April 28; and Tulsa, Okla., on April 30.

The deadline for written comments is May 15, 2010. They can be sent to OAPM by email, regular mail or overnight carrier.

For more information, go to: http://www.indianaffairs.gov/WhoWeAre/AS-IA/Consultation/index.htm.

Swearing-In Ceremony for Larry EchoHawk

On May 22, Larry EchoHawk was officially sworn in as the Department of the Interior’s 11th Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. This morning, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar administered the oath of office to EchoHawk at a Swearing-In Ceremony in Washington, D.C.

EchoHawk is an enrolled member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma. He joins the Department of Interior in D.C. after a move from Utah where he was a Professor of Law at Brigham Young University’s J. Reuben Clark Law School. EchoHawk is a former U.S. Marine, served two consecutive terms in the Idaho House of Representatives, and was the very first American Indian to serve as a state attorney general (for Idaho, 1990).

Hosted by Nedra Darling, Director of Public Affairs for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the event gave tribal leaders, family, friends, congress and Native organizations the opportunity to celebrate this momentous appointment.

Salazar expressed that while he and EchoHawk stand at a new beginning, they will be met by many difficult challenges; however, he is sure that, “Indian Country will not be forgotten” by the United States.

During his remarks, EchoHawk stated that “things are lined up just right to do something special, something magical.”

Director of Public Affairs for the BIA Nedra Darling
After a cedar blessing performed by Marshall Gover of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, Darling welcomed EchoHawk and Salazar to the “Indian family of this country.”

Lee Juan Tyler of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Ft. Hall Reservation of Idaho
Lee Juan Tyler led a prayer.

Assistant Secretary Larry EchoHawk, Wife of Larry EchoHawk Terry EchoHawk, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar

EchoHawk

EchoHawk, Salazar, President of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma George E. Howell

Photo Credit (All): Cerissa Hontiveros