BIA near decision on Little Shell Chippewa Tribe
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Filed Under:
Recognition
The
Bureau of Indian Affairs is "weeks" away from a decision on the federal recognition petition of the
Little Shell Chippewa
Tribe of Montana, a top official said on Wednesday.
The decision will be made by George Skibine, the acting principal deputy assistant secretary. Larry EchoHawk, the assistant secretary, is recused on Little Shell recognition because the
Native American Rights Fund, which is run by his brother, John, is handling the petition.
Skibine told the
House Natural
Resources Committee that a decision will come in the next few weeks. He asked Congress not to take action on
H.R.3120, a bill that would recognize the tribe.
Skibine added that he has only been working on recognition issues at the BIA for about a year.
The Clinton administration issued a preliminary decision in favor of the tribe in May 2000.
Get the Story:
Little Shell recognition bid seeks Congressional help
(The Great Falls Tribune 7/16)
Committee Notice:
Full
Committee Legislative Hearing On H.R. 2678, H.R. 1358, H.R. 3084, And H.R. 3120
(July 15, 2009)
Related Stories:
Audio: House hearing on federal recognition
bills (7/15)
Witness list for hearing on four recognition
bills (7/14)
House hearing on four
federal recognition bills (7/13)
House
panel tackles more federal recognition bills (7/8)
Little Shell Tribe hopes for recognition under
Obama (3/5)
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