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Show Friday, November Pege 4 Press Director To Executive Management Position NCAI Elects Indian (AIPA) The election of Oglala Sioux Charles E. Trimble as executive director capped a week of activities by delegates to the 29th annual convention of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) here Oct. 16-in the humid Florida sunshine. week-lonsession was conducted in g The of an atmosphere cooling tempers and a in marked contrast divisions of bridging to the previous year, which was paralyzed by divisions between urban and reservation constituents and racked by a period of organizational transition. Trimble, 37, was elected by acclamation, replacing Leo W. Vocu who earlier 20 CAUGHT IN A MOMENT OF GOOD HUMOR-Whi- le enjoyieg the Florida sunshine during the 29th annual NCAI convention in Sarasota are left to right, R. 0. Curry, Resource Officer; Mrs. Curry Dora; Wilbur Cuch, Business Committee member; and Frank Arrowchis, Outdoor Recreation Enterprise manager. resigned effective Nov. 1. Trimble, executive director of the American Indian Press Association (AIPA) since 1970, is a past newspaper editor and college instructor, scheduler for the General Dynamics Corp., of American Indian Development Inc., president of American Indian Scholarships Inc., and past chairman of Denver Native Americans United. Trimble pledged his administration to enacting the policies of NCAI members, vice-presid- Bulletin Staff Reports Tribal Group Active in NCAI in print-thIn person-anUte Tribe made an impression on the 29th convention of the National Congress of American Indians. e d Although among the smallest reservation tribes represented in Sarasota, they participated in nearly every event. In the parade which launched activities on Tuesday, Fred Conetah of the Business Committee carried the Florida flag while Gary Poowegup drove the car carrying Miss Ute Tribe, Kathleen Chegup. Tuesday evening the group was well represented at the main social event sponsored by the Seminole Tribe (see related story.) Wednesday found Utes in caucus with the Southwestern Tribes to Dromote candidates for NCAI offices and Maxine Natchees served as secretary for the NCAI resolution committee.' That evening the entire Ute delegation watched as Irene Cuch and Linda Garcia, in full costume, danced in the national pow wow, and Gary Poowegup sang with the Southwest Tribes. At the general session on Thursday, Rex Curry, Tribal Resources Officer, spoke on the water rights panel. That evening the delegation attended the banquet in the main convention room along with some 1000 delegates. Kathleen Chegup was presented in the pageant at the banquet (see related story.) On the concluding day, voting delegate Irene Cuch, was in session the entire day as were Gary Poowegup and Fred The Washington Merry-Go-Roun- d William mentioned position of cation in new Higher MacDonald Demmert (Tlingit) is being as the top candidate for the Deputy Commissioner of EduHEW for Indians under the Education Act of 1972. . . .Jim (Blackfeet) reportedly has the inside track to become the new executive director of Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO), a position currently Harris being filled by Ms. LaDonna following the departure of Ms. lola HayDr. Emory Johnden In late July son, director of the relatively, untroubled Indian Health Service, reportedly is set for a move upstairs, and several of his staff . . . Look for are prepared to resign. a return to Washington, D. C. of NCAI President Leon F. Cook from his position in Minneapolis, probably in November. .... Conetah. (Results of elections may be read in related story also.) The Sentinel", official magazine of NCAI, was distributed free at the convention center (along with copies of The Ute Bulletin). In The Sentinel, Bruce Davies, an Oglala Sioux, reported on the Miss Indian America pageant entitling his article The The making of an Indian Princess-1972- . of throne the article included a picture presented by the Ute Tribe to the MIA pageant and a cutline giving recognition to ' the Utes. When interviewing the candidates, Davies spoke with a militant coed from Milwaukee, Wis. who said Tm not hostile, I have historical inhibitions. His article went on to say, to quote: In contrast, most of the other candidates felt that Sheridan was hectic" but they were enjoying it and they had no criticism of the way it (the MIA pageant) was run. Annette Parriette, a Utah Ute, felt that young people instead should be concerned with education. I feel that in order to compete in a n world you have to have an education, in order for them to see that en if they your as good as they don't think so." With all the credit given to the Utes in the Sentinel, somehow the name of Glenna Jenks as alternate MIA was eliminated. This probably was a result of the fact the Alternate title originated only last year and was inadvertently left off the listing given to the reporter. The Sarasota newspapers followed the convention activities with daily spreads. Kathleen Chegup appeared several times in both Sarasota papers as Miss Ute Tribe. The Florida flag bearer, Fred Conetah, also was photographed during the parade and appeared in the paper. Utes also appeared in pow wow and barbecue photos. Newspaper coverage of the convention may be read in the Tribal Public Relations office where it is being included in the PR ent Improved communications between staff and members, setting of specific goals for each NCAI program, and a Rededlca-tlo- n of loyalty to the cause . of Indian people and their leaders." Retiring director Vocu described his ar administration as a monumental struggle just to keep the doors open" and cautioned members that "what weve gone through financially well go through Vocu said he would leave a again. "clean bill of health from the Internal Revenue Service" for his successor. two-ye- Named Vice-Presiden- ts Ronnie Lupe (White Mountain ion as first vice-preside- Apache-wo- n nt. George Goodwin (White Earth Chippewa) replaced Helen Mitchell (Quinault) as treasurer, and Angelita Medina (Acoma-Zldefeated Veronica Murdock (Mojave) for the post of recording secretary. Eleven area vice presidents are: Donald Wright, Athabascan (Alaska); Walter Moffett, Nez Perce (Portland); Dolly Akers, Asslnlboine (Billings); Margaret Powell, Hoopa (Sacramento); William L. Farrlson, Papa go (Phoenlx Victor Sarrldno, Laguna (Gallup); Alvina Grey Bear, Sioux (Aberdeen); Wynema a) Kiowa (Anadarko); Katherine Brown, Whitehorn, Osage (Muskogee); Victoria Gokey, Chippewa (Minneapolis); and, with the creation of a new area, Osley Eastern Cherokee (Southeast). In accord with recent electoral reforms, tribal votes were multiplied by ten, widening the Impact of tribal votes over individual votes so that tribal votes determined all elections. The credentials committee also ruled that no person would be allowed to act as official voting delegate for more than one tribe, thereby reducing any powers by any individual. Sau-noo- king-maki- ng Convention Clashes Two major clashes occurred during the course of the convention business: BIA water expert William H. Vee-der opposed Deputy Asst. Atty. General Walter Kiechel, Jr. and the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) over the impact of a suit filed by the federal government in behalf of the Pyramid Lake Pal-utof Nevada to protect lake waters. Veeder charged the suit would end protected Indian water rights "once and for all." Both NARF and Kiechel denounced Veeders interpretation of the suit; Closure of the Roswell, N. M. man- power training center sparked continuing debate through the week between employees and supporters of the center together with representatives of the Thlokol Corp. which administers the center, and supporters of the BIAs "new thrust" efforts. Closure was supported by the NCAI majority when a special resolution went down to defeat. In other major actions, NCAI opposed the Nixon administrations proposal to decentralize all Indian programs, "unless consented to by the member tribes," strongly opposed pending cutbacks of $50 million in the BIA budget, pressed for full funding of the new Indian Education Act, and commended Congress for enactment of the new revenue sharing bill which includes Indians as participants. The assembly also authorized Its national economic policy board to develop a policy on all tax matters affecting Indians, pushed for complete water Inventories on reservations, and threw total support behind Indian youth who choose to wear their hair long in traditional tribal fashion. es non-India- are-ev- ull-pag- e scrapbook. TheyArc Backing Us, Too! The National Congress of American Indians, in a general assembly meeting threw their total support behind Indian youth, who choose to wear their hair long in traditional tribal fashion. (Taken (rom American Indian Press Association release see complete story on Page 4.) saatss asssrs: , |
