Box 67

Scope and Contents The Justice Department will not be testifying at the upcoming three-day hearing probing the takeover of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) headquarters by the American Indian Movement (AIM). This is because the FBI is still investigating the matter and seeking to prosecute those responsible for the destruction and theft of Indian artifacts and records.Morton said that negotiations between the Indians and Interior officials quickly broke down when the Indians demanded to talk to...

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The Yakima Tribal Council is unhappy with the Bureau of Indian Affairs' relationship with self-styled Indian leaders, who they feel do not represent the interests of reservation Indians. They are concerned that the BIA is more focused on urban Indians than reservation Indians, and that this could lead to a repeat of the situation in 1970, when priorities were shifted away from reservations.

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The Indian Affairs Subcommittee held hearings on April 9, 10, and 11. Witnesses included representatives of the Treaty Council, the Oglala Sioux Tribe, and the American Indian Movement, among others. Topics of discussion included the Pine Ridge Reservation, the Wounded Knee incident, and Native American rights.

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The White House has reached an agreement with the Trail of Broken Treaties Indians, whereby a task force will be created to review federal Indian policy and needs. The task force will be led by Frank Carlucci and Leonard Garment, and will include representatives from various federal agencies. The task force will seek input from a broad cross-section of the Indian community, and will make recommendations to the President by June 1, 1973.

Scope and Contents Jerry V. Wilson, Chief of Police, testified before the House Subcommittee on Indian Affairs on December 5, 1972 regarding his involvement in the decision-making process surrounding the government's response to the occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) building by a group of Native Americans. Wilson stated that it has been longstanding policy for his department not to take positive police action against demonstrators or trespassers, except at the request of the officials in charge...

Scope and Contents The General Counsel of the General Services Administration testified before the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs regarding the recent occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Building by a group of Indians known as the Trail of Broken Treaties. He explained that the GSA is responsible for maintaining, operating, and protecting Federal buildings and other property, and for appointing special policemen to enforce laws on Federal property. He stated that the GSA had been...

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The Subcommittee on Indian Affairs of the US House of Representatives will be holding hearings on December 4-6, 1972 to investigate the circumstances surrounding the recent occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Headquarters building by the Trail of Broken Treaties organization. The Subcommittee expects to hear only from government witnesses at this time, but plans to hold further hearings involving Indian leaders from the Trail of Broken Treaties and other tribes at a later date.

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The document contains a letter from Overton James, President of the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes, to Congressman Camp. In the letter, James thanks Camp for his remarks about the situation at the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and assures him that the Five Civilized Tribes are opposed to the activities of the militant Indians who have taken over the Bureau of Indian Affairs building.

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The document contains a telegram from Jim Holt to Congressman Camp regarding the occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs building. Holt urges Camp to support the prosecution of the Indians involved, calling the occupation a national disgrace.

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Don E. Smith to John Happy Camp expresses outrage at the recent takeover of a Washington Bureau of Indian Affairs office by a group of Native Americans. He feels that the government is being too lenient with the protesters and that someone needs to speak out against this type of lawlessness.