OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY |
Contact: Nedra
Darling, Indian Affairs
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For Immediate Release: May 30, 2003 |
202-219-4152
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INTERIOR TO BRIEF REGIONAL FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ON
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Special Trustee for American Indians
Ross O. Swimmer and Acting Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs Aurene
M. Martin today announced that the Department of the Interior (DOI) will
hold presentations beginning next week on the reorganization of the Bureau
of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Office of the Special Trustee for American
Indians (OST) for the agencies' regional employees. The Department is
seeking to increase accountability and efficiency in its trust management
functions by reorganizing the agencies that manage Indian trust funds
and assets. Presentations will take place in June at the Bureau's 12 regional
offices and other locations around the nation starting with the Southwest
Region on Tuesday, June 3, 2003, at the All Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The employees will be briefed on the Department's plan for reorganization of the BIA and OST, and on the Comprehensive Trust Management Plan (CTMP) at an 8:30 a.m. session on Tuesday. The CTMP describes how the new BIA and OST organizational structures will improve the delivery of trust services when the reorganization is completed. Tribal leaders from the region will also be briefed on the reorganization effort in a subsequent session. In 2002, the Department and the Tribes together undertook an ambitious effort to change the way the BIA and OST deliver trust and non-trust services to Tribes, tribal service populations and trust beneficiaries. The Plan is based on agreements reached with the Joint Tribal Leaders/DOI Task Force established by Secretary Gale Norton to examine and recommend proposals for improving service delivery to recipients and beneficiaries. WHO: U.S. Department of the Interior WHAT: Departmental presentations
on the reorganization of the BIA and OST to WHEN: Tuesday, June 3, 2003 (all
start times are local time) WHERE: All Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 22401 12th Street, N.W., Albuquerque, N.M. CREDENTIALS: Media registration will be provided. Please bring your sanctioned media credentials and, if possible, wear on your shirt collar or around your neck for easy viewing. This will assist our staff. Press seating will be provided. |