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Show Friday, December 8, 1972 States Position, Rejects AIM Actions NTCA Office furniture, machines and disassembled file cabinet barricade entrances ef BIA Building Trail of Brohen Treaties Leaves Badly Damaged BIA By John Tiger WASHINGTON, D. occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs here ended quietly Nov. 8 seven-da- y at court eviction deadlineas about 500 members of the Trail of Broken Treaties Caravans began to return to homes and families across the nation. As the main body of Indians left by bus, cars, trucks and campers, a small team of Caravan negotiators remained behind to confer with White House officials concerning grievances and the position paper issued by caravan leaders during their stay. On Monday, Nov. 13, however, bilateral negotiations were called off by the White House with the recommendation that Caravan negotiator Hank Adams open talks with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) concerning missing documents. A White House negotiator said an interagency task force would continue to analyze the paper and would respond by Jan. 8. Now pending on Capitol Hill are hearings on the BIA affair in the House Subcommittee on Indian Affairs in December, and in Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's Senate Subcommittee on administrative practices sometime in January. Adams planned to remain here to work with both congressional committees. The negotiations had started with the formation of a special task force of interagency officials a week earlier, formed in the heat of the seizure, headed by Leonard Garment, special minority affairs consultant, and Frank Carlucd, deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), following unsuccessful talks with Interior Department officials Harrison Loesch and John 0. Crow. The White House in responding to Caravan negotiations had, however, set up a transportation fund of $66,650 to assist Caravan members to get home.. A badly damaged and ransacked BIA stayed behind. NTCA President Webster Two Hawk on Nov. 10 deplored destruction of the BIA records, demanded the immediate arrest and full prosecution of leaders, and demanded the firing of all Interior and BIA officials who had faded to act swiftly enough to prevent physical damages to 9 p.m.-t- he 20-poi- nt 20-poi- nt the building. NCAI Executive Director Charles E. Trimble on the same day also deplored the destruction of Irreplaceable records but proposed that NCAI assist in the reconstruction of Indian affairs through the creation of an impact survey team which would emphasize governmental reform, new legislation, and consideration of the paper. 20-poi- nt In support of the BIA seizure here, Indian demonstrators staged interruptive actions at 10 local and area BIA offices. Affected were Seattle, Spokane and EverettWash.; Pine Ridge, S. D.; Ft. Robinson, Nebr.; Portland and Camp Adair, Ore.; San Francisco and San Diego, Calif.; and Phoenix, Ariz. . The Interior Department hurriedly ordered strengthened police forces at all local agency and area office installations. And, on Nov. 9, a full FBI investigation was ordered both here and across the country. Still in question was the whereabouts of certain files which were reported to have been removed into hiding. A Caravan spokesman during the occupation said Incriminating files and documents had been found there and removed. The Caravan coordinators had planned a peaceful gathering here to sensitize the administration and the Democratic Party on election eve to the continuing needs and problems of Indians and had negotiated for a period of 10 days with officials prior to the Caravans arrival. The BIA occupation began two days after arrival after members gathered in the BIA auditorium to present a need for adequate housing facilities to Interior and District of Columbia officials. A housing problem arose when only one church had opened its doors to them for food and . lodging, and complaints of sleeping with rats prompted the group to gather at the BIA. Near 5 p.m., a scuffle broke out in the rear between two Indians and BIA security men. As other police arrived, members fearing a forced removal, began to barricade the entrances and hold the building. Deadlocked negotiations with Interior lasting four days resulted in the formation of the White House interagency task force. The Indian children and older women found lodging and food at the nearby YMCA three blocks away, and a few slept in a distant auditorium. But the majority throughout the week slept and ate within y BIA building itself. the Negotiator Hank Adams said damages inside the building occurred Monday, Nov. 6, as police surrounded the building under a court order to evict the Caravan people. Official Inteior damage estimates of 82.3 million to the BIA building included 8250,000 in structural damages, 8280,000 four-stor- for damaged furniture, equipment and machines, 8700,000 in damaged or missing records, 8750,000 in missing art and artifacts, and 8297,000 in lost time by The Board of Directors of the National Tribal Chairmens Association issues the following position paper in regard to the recent illegal entry and occupation of the Bureau ef Indian Affairs Building in Washington, D. C., by dissident, urban oriented Indians and the wholesale and senseless destruction of that building and contents. The Board of Directors of the National Tribal Chairmens Association makes the fallowing statements: 1. The National Tribal Chairmen's Association is an organization made up of publicly elected leaders ef the reservation Indian people and Federally recognized tribes. The Federal Government has recognized the sovereignty of the Indian tribes through treaties, legislation, and judicial decisions. The members of the National Tribal Chairmens Association represent the constituted authority of the several tribes and as such are the legitimate voice of the Indian peoples. 2. The Board calls for the rebuilding of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the continuation of the services provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. 3. The Board requests that the President accept the resignations of those officials of the Interior Department and the Bureau of Indian Affairs responsible for the failure to take proper measures to protect the Bureau of Indian Affairs building and the vital records it contains. Hid affirmative and timely steps been taken by the Administration, the Interior Department and the Bureau of Indian Affairs could have avoided the initial occupation of the building and subsequent senseless destruction and theft of valuable tribal records. 4. The Board strongly rejects the recognition and support of this and other dissident groups who claim to represent reservation people and Federally recognized tribes by leaders of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and calls for the immediate dismissal of those who recognize and support such groups. 5. The Board has been appalled and sickened by the senseless acts of the group of dissident, urban oriented Indians who took control of the Bureau of Indian Affairs building and calls for the fullest and immediate investigation of those responsible and their prosecution by the Federal Government. Failure to prosecute would establish a precedent which would lead to further illegal actions by such groups both here in Washington and in other parts of the country. 6. The Board protests negotiations by the Federal Government with any such illegitimate group and affirmatively urges that all negotiations relative to the status and problems of Indian tribes be carried on by the Government with the recognized and legally elected tribal leaders of which the National Tribal Chairmen's Association represents the vast majority. No negotiations should be conducted by the Government with a group of urban Indians concerning the needs and desires of reservation Indians and Federally recognized tribes. Such urban based Indians have resources from which to obtain any assistance they may desire, and the facilities and programs of the Federal Government open to Indians reservations and Federally recognized tribes. 7. Any recognition iff dissident Indians would lead to the undermining and breakdown of the authority of the duly elected representatives of the various tribes. Tribal government must continue as a democratic institution and must be supported by the Federal Government. 8. The records that wore stolen from tbe Bureau of Indian Affairs building contain many that are essential to the Indian tribes and the Board demands that the Federal Government take all steps necessary to see that the records are returned. Furthermore the Federal Government must take necessary steps to protect the tribal records in the future both here in Washington and at the various tribal agencies and offices across the Nation. 9. The Board demands immrdiatr investigation by the Federal Government of n for Indian groups that use all sources of funding, whether Indian or intimidation and the threat of violence. Further, the Board demands that all existing contracts between the Federal Government and such groups be rescinded where legally possible and all present negotiations for further contracts be terminated. 10. During the course of the invasion of the Bureau of Indian Affairs building, the lives and safety of some of the tribal leaders were threatened by members of the dissident group. The use of force and duress must not.be condoned by Government officials. The very appearance of any such condonation would have serious repercussions for elected tribal leaders in the peaceful and orderly path to progress which tribal leaders are attempting to achieve. 11. The board requests that a Congressional investigation be conducted into the destruction of the building and the destruction and theft of valuable tribal records and equipment. 12. The Board completely condemns the actions taken by these dissident Indians. In rebuilding the Bueau of Indian Affairs building it would be sad and unjust to use funds allocated for Indian reservations and Federally recognized ' tribes. The reservation Indians and the Federally recognized tribes should not be penalized for the acts of Indians who do not represent the feelings and beliefs of those living on reservations and Federally recognized tribes. 13. , The Board recognizes that the large majority of those who came to Washington to participate in the Trail of Broken Treaties activities did so in good faith and the belief that the demonstration would be peacefully conducted. They were betrayed by the leaders of the demonstration. The leaders enjoyed the privilege of catered food while the rank and file ate out of cans. We condemn the leaders for their betrayal of the purposes of the demonstration and for turning it into an orgy of wanton, senseless destruction. We sympathize with the rank and file followers for their betrayal, and trust that they have learned from their experience and will not again allow themselves the embarrassment of being Indian leaders. manipulated by ruthless, 14. Finally, the Board wishes to make it clearly understood that it recognizes the problems that exist in achieving progress and bringing to Indian peoples the fruits of American society enjoyed by other American citizens. We are working for that goal and will continue in o.w programs and operations. There have been many injustices in the past The Indians have suffered much. Many of the problems mentioned by the dissident group do exist. We recognize those problems and are working toward their solutions. However, senseless, near treasonable acts of destruction and violence will not serve to accomplish any good end. It is our desire to work peacefully with the United States Government and the various segments of American society in order that together we might bring peace and prosperity not only to the Indian peoples, but to all Americans. Statement by Webster Two Hawk, President of the National Tribal Chairmen's Association, before a Press Conference held November 10, 1972, in Washington D. C. National Press Building, East Lounge. . . non-India- . self-seekin- g, self-appoint- |
