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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 20, 1981)
SPILYAY TYMOO AUGUST 29, 1981 PAGE 5 ATNWI in Arlee, MT______________ Few show for annual meeting in Indian Country Representives from 18 or so tribes from the North West, traveled to Arlee, Montana to attend the annual meeting of Affiliated Tribes of North West Indians. Attendance was down this year due to conflicting meetings elsewhere. Highlight of this year’s meeting was a visit by Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs Ken Smith. Smith arrived looking very much the busy man he is, being escorted by the Billings area director and the Billings superintendent. Smith’s speech follows: “I almost feel like I am home: again. All the familar faces out there quickly remind me of the times I was out there and I was on your side. N o—I haven’t changed sides. I am still on your side. It’s just that my bosses have changed. In fact, if I promise you anything today, it’s because I am ad libbing—it is sure not: written into my remarks! One of the reasons I wanted to make the effort to get up here to your meeting was because I thought it would really feel good to be with a group of tribes that come from a special p a rt of the co u n try —the Northwest, where the land is so productive that there are no budget worries, where there is plenty of water because it rains all the time, and where there is even a fish now and then. M ore seriously th o u g h , when I took a look at my schedule for today it was a welcome relief from yester day’s. Starting with a 7 a.m. breakfast, my staff had me b o o k e d s o lid ly — h o u r-b y hour— into the night last night. Between talking to BIA employees—the media—the National Tribal Chairmen’s Association—it was a full day. I want to focus my comments today as I did yesterday with NTCA on the challage to tribes to achieve self-determination. But I will take a few minutes first to talk about why I took the job as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs—how I plan to operate—some ideas I am working on—and the chal lenges and the new directions I see for myslef and for the seè for myself and for the Bureau. There are many factors. First, it is hard to turn down the President of our country. It was an honor for me and for my tribe; THAT certainly was a factor. My primary reason, how ever, fo r leaving the pleasant situation I had at Warm Springs to come to Washington DC was this: I thought I could do certain things in this job that would be truly helpful to the Indian tribes of the United States. I was asked to take this job because I was a manager with a record of success in the development and adm inist ration of tribal programs and {enterprises. Most of you, I think, would agree that the Bureau of Indian A ffa irs n eed s im p ro v e d ' managment. It also needs to work more closely with Indian tribes to help them develope their resources and achieve econom ic self sufficiency. My first challenge—and it will also be my first direction— is to give the BIA the kind of competent management that will enable it to more effective work with the Indian tribes it serves. I do not intend to put the BIA and the Indian people through another reorganiza tio n exercise. I am not interested in playing games with charts and titles. Sure, I will probably make some organizational changes, but my real concern is to get quality people and give them the chance to work with, but we are nonetheless, going to step up productivity and effectiveness. I intend, for the time being at least, to work with two deputies. Roy Sampsel, who many of you know,is my deputy for operations handling most of the former Commis sioner’s responsibilities. He is in charge of the day-to-day o p e ra tio n s of th e BIA. My b asic m an agem ent method or approach to getting things done will be manage ment by objectives. It’s not o riginal or unusual. I t ’s TOE NESS There was this guy who was making his first parachute jump. As he was going down he saw this other guy going up. He shouted to the guy, “Do you know anything about parachuting?” The guy going up said, “No, do you know anything about Coleman stoves?” YIKES!!! commonsense. You set goals to be ach iev ed . T hen you determine the steps that will take you to your goals; you assign responsibility and a deadline for each of these steps. People know what they are supposed to do and how much time they have. The manager works with his staff or his team to keep these steps or objectives on schedule— and the result is inevitable. Things get done and goals are reached. Some of the goals I have set for myself and for the Bureau o f I n d ia n A ffa irs a re : 1) As trustee, to provide for the protection and improved m anagem ent of A m erican In d ia n n a tu ra l resouces. 2) To help create greater opportunity for tribes to develope their reservations economies. 3) To encourage and support the strenghening of tribal government structures and tribal management capacities. 4) To improve education and social p ro g ra m s on the reservations by giving the tribes greater a u th o rity in the m a n a g e ria l pro cess, and 5) To make the BIA a more effective service organization through the use of sound management concepts and practices. I will be working with ail the BIA area directors and agency s u p e r in te n d e n ts fo r th e realization of these goals. I am sure that the area directors and the superintendents, in their turn, will be working with you at the local level to determine th e ste p s o r o b je c tiv e s necessary to achieve these goals. There is one substantial organization change that we are considering — though we are nowhere near making any decision. It is the consolidation of some of the area offices. We may have to reduce the number of area offices to achieve administrative cost reductions in the Bureau. I want it understood very clearly that we have made no decisions in this matter. I also think the area offices have important mid level management functions. I would hate to try to operate with 84 or more agencies reporting directly to Washing ton. The bottom line, however, is th a t area offices are vulnerable when budget cuts must be made. If we do have to reduce the number of area offices, you can be sure you will be informed and consulted. . I want you to know also 14m working toward improved coordination of all Federal programs for Indian tribes. The situation that has existed in the tribal relationship. past— with each department or * I believe that the fulfillment agency doing its own thing -on of the hopes and aspirations of the reservations—has been Indian people and their tribal o b v io u s ly • w a ste fu l a n d governments must come from inefficient. within—from their own will I discussed this matter— and and determination. the need for a national Indian * I believe Indian people and policy statem ent fo r this their tribal governments—not A dm inistration—with Secre the Federal Government— tary W att. The Secretary, have the prime responsibility for several weeks now,, has for improvement of their social worked quietly with the White and economic growth and House and has succeeded in development. elevating the issue of an Indian *T believe the proper role of policy statement to the Cabinet the Bureau of Indian Affairs Council level—only one step and other Federal Agencies, is away from the Presidential to encourage and foster an decision level. atmosphere that will enable Just last week, I was named tribal government to move Chairm an of the working toward less dependency on the group that will be responsible Federal Government. for developing an Indian policy * I believe the goal of moving for this Administration. This tribes away from dependence working group is a sub-unit of on the Federal government is in the Cabinet Council on Human complete accord with the Resources, chaired by the e x is tin g g o v e r n m e n t- to - S ecretary of H ealth and government relationship and Human Services. Represent does not in any manner atives of five other departments diminish or alter the Federal having Indian programs will be trust responsibility. on this working group and * And finally, I believe the R o b e rt C a rle so n , special g o v e r n m e n t a n d t r u s t assistant to the President for relationships will be more policy development, will be the m e a n in g fu l w hen tr ib a l p r i n c i p a l W h ite H o u se governments are strong and Representative. stable and . less dependent on I believe this development Federal funds. alone, re-emphasizes Secretary I realize that it is frequently W att’s desire—and that of easier to talk about beliefs and President Regan— to keep nbilosonhv than, it is to apply specific concrete Indians in the mainstream of Lhem o u r so ciety d u rin g this situations. For example, I Administration. know that all of you are At my confirmation hearing concerned about the budget some weeks ago before the r e d u c t i o n s f o r I n d i a n Senate Select Committee on programs. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, I told members Indian Affairs and tribal of the Committee some of my governments are going to have beliefs and my philosophy to make some hard decisions. about Indian people and We must do these things Indian self-determ ination. knowing that less dependency I would like to address these on the federal government is same statements to you. I think desirable and is a goal that they might provide some useful Indian tribes should seek. g r o u n d w o r k f o r f u r th e r I think the Indian tribes can thinking about this conven find ways to use their resources tion’s theme and about the more effectively and to solve challenge of the 80’s for tribal their problems. The successful goverment—achieving true self efforts of many of the tribes d e t e r m i n a t i o n a n d s e lf that belong to this organization sufficiency. certainly demonstrated that I told the members of the point. It also seems to me that a Senate committee: substantial amount of the * I believe in the strengths of federal funding in the past has Indian people which have not been truly helpful. Money enabled them to endure— has been wasted in programs through times of adversity and that were not thought out well, oppression unparalleled in n o t in te g ra te d in to any history. (I am sure that you r e s e r v a t i o n p la n a n d , belive in that strength too. The consequently, had no lasting Indian people are not weak! effect. They can and they will meet the The tribal governments now challenges of the present time.) are challenged to come up with * I believe Indian people better ideas, better planning have the will and the ability to and better management. Their self-govern and exercise wisely enterprises and development their sovereign powers within the framework of the Federal- Continued on page 12 * * SS SS SS SS There are three ways to do things—the right way, the wrong wav and the BIA way.” YIKES!!! SS SS SS SS SUBSCRIPTION TO SPILYAY TYMOO SEND SUBCRIPTION TO SPILYAY TYMOO P.O. Box 735 WARM SPRINGS, OR 97761 CONFUCIUS SAY: “Honeymoon over when husband start look into paper instead of her eyes! YIKES!!! NAME_______________________________________________ SS SS SS SS ADDRESS_____________________ _____________ _________ A father was telling a friend how he finally cured his 17 year-old son of habitually being late to school: “I bought him a car.” “But how did that help?” “Well,” replied the father, “he has to get going an hour earlier to find a place in the school parking lot. ” YIKES SS SS SS SS Dave: “Boy, oh boy! Did I catch a fish! It was tremendous! Why, it was that long! I never saw such a fish!” Jack: “I believe you.” YIKES CITY--------------------------------- -S T A T E ______ ZJP_________ SUBSCRIPTION RATES: ONE YEAR $6.00 All Warm Springs tribal members will receive the Spllyay Tymoo at no cost. Spllyay Tymoo is published bi-weekly by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
