Spilyay tymoo., November 19, 1981, Page 3, Image 3

SPILYAY TYMOO
NOVEMBER 19,1981 PAGE 3
A convention is a convention is a convention b u t.. .
by Donna Behrend
budget and the end of the
present extreme inflation. “In
anticipating of these future
reductions we are considering
closing or consolidating several
Area Offices by the end of fiscal
year 1982. Because of the«
lengthy lead time and cost of
implementing such changes, no
savings could be expected to be
achieved until 1983. We also
anticipate that we can effect
future savings through the
closure of some of the off-
reservation boarding schools.
We will be discussing these
expected changes with you to
obtain your views.”
These federal cutbacks, said
Smith, “lead to one very
obvious conclusion: Indian
tribes “must become more self-
sufficient and less dependent
on the federal government...the
budget cuts may break us of a
harmful addiction to easy-
come, easy-go federal money
and push us into taking some
of the necessary steps tor
ach iev in g real econom ic
development.”
Past reservation economic
development programs have
failed, said Smith. “These
failures have sometimes left
tribes worse off than they
would have been if they had
never received the federal
assistance. I cannot repeat too
often that the key ingredient—
the absolute essential—for
solid economic development
on a reservation is a strong,
sta b le , c o m p e te n t trib a l
government.”
Smith also told of some the
future financial intentions of
the Department of the Interior.
Smith said the department was
requesting $5 million to assist
small tribes which do not have'
an adequate government. In
addition to that, the BI A is also
requesting $10 million for seed
money grants to assist Indian
e n t e r p r i s e s to “ r e a liz e
opportunities for development
of Indian resources. These
grants will be more strictly
managed and enforced than
any previous BIA grants for
economic development. We
anticipate requiring that at
least 75% of the project funding
be non-federal.”
Concluding his remarks.
Smith stated, “I think we will
help you to more efficiently use
a v a ila b le fu n d s th ro u g h
im proved coo rd in atio n of
programs from all the federal
agencies. As you know, I am
heading up a Cabinet Council
working group that will be
reviewing an Indian policy for
the Reagan Administration.
This gives me the opportunity
to work closely with leaders
from the other agencies. I
believe there is much that we
can do together to eliminate
waste and increase productivity
of programs for the Indian
community....I look forward to
working with you to help
Indian tribes achieve increased
self-determination, economic
independence, and direction of
their own affairs.”
Following the numerous
speeches, the crowd once again
broke for lunch—the same long
waiting lines and the same high
prices.
D u rin g th e a f te r n o o n
session, Jose Morales spoke
about the world Council of
Indigenous Peoples organiza­
tion of which he is president.
Morales spoke with the aid of
It was a convention like most
o th e r c o n v e n tio n s I ’ve
attended. Lots of people doing
lots of things in lots of places.
But the 38th annua) National
Congress of American Indians
convention held October 12
through 16 was extra-special in
one respect. It was held in
Anchorage, Alaska—a city
many of us had not had the
good fortune to visit until
NCAI.
It appeared that the location
of this year’s convention was a
drawing card, for nearly 1,200
native Americans and native
Alaskans crowded the meeting
room. Nearly 50 representa­
tives from Warm Springs
attended the convention.
NCAI had not been held in
Anchorage since 1969.
Long lines of delegates
crowded the lobby' of the
Sheraton Hotel waiting to
register on the first day of the
d in n e r W ll H I HL SECRETARY— Warm Springs delegates and visitors to Anchorage during
convention. Though most had
pre-registered, they were still N CAI dined with Assistant Secretary of the Interior of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Ken Smith.
required to wait through the Pictured here is Smithffourth from right) with tribal members who dressed in regalia fo r the
middle of ’‘Your name please, occasion. Nearly SO people attended the dinner held at Captain Cook's Hotel.
Spilyay Tymoo photo by Behrend
tribal affiliation etc., etc.”
Because of the delay with c e n t e r s a n d a d e q u a t e and lunches ranged from $7 to d e t e r m i n a t i o n a n d th e
$10—just a bit higher than our importance of good tribal
r e g is tr a tio n , N C A I vice transporation systems.”
Continuing, M allot said, local Deschutes Crossing or the g o v e rn m e n ts to fa il to
p re sid e n t D elfin L o v ato
recognize the value and
couldn’t call the meeting to “Alaska natives had the highest Deli!
The a fte rn o o n session necessity of an effective
order until well after the unemployment and underem­
scheduled 9 a.m. convention ployment figures in the state. consisted of business reports consultation process. We want
opening. Once the large crowd Up to 2/3 of Alaska’s 60,000 in c lu d in g th e e x e c u tiv e you to be involved in the
was settled, the officers were natives were still engaged in director’s message, treasurer’s making of decisions that affect
you. • We need your recom-
introduced, the colors were subsistence, living off the and committee reports.
m e n d a tio n s an d y o u r
presented by the National land,” Life expectancy and Day Two: •
Among the several sneakers suggestions. Bureaucrats don’t
Guard and the invocation was infant mortality among Alaska
natives were significantly on the second day of the know all the answers.”
given.
Of the 1982 budget. Smith
The major theme address higher th an the national convention was Ken Smith,
-was d eliv ered by B yron average, said Mallott. Services Assistant Secretary of Indian said, “it’s tough.” He said the
Mallott, chairman of Sealaska rendered to the Alaskan people Affairs. It was obvious that all B1A fared better than most in
Corporation. This year’s theme was greatly hampered, said tribes across the nation were, the first reduction, but then the
w as “ S p ir jt- S o v e r e ig n ty - M a llo tt, “ n o t o n ly by and still arç, concerned about P re sid e n t asked fo r an
Survival,” a theme which inadequate funding and poor th e a p p a r e n t la c k o f ad d itional 12% reduction.
M a llo tt p ra ise d fo r its o r n o n -e x iste n t p ro g ra m communication between the “ ....We took an additional 12%
timeliness. “It is a theme that d e liv e r y , b u t a ls o by tribes and federal government from each of our major
courses through the thinking, misconception and lack of and the proposed budget cuts. a p p r o p r ia tio n s : p ro g ra m
the very fiber of every native understanding of the real needs Smith, looking very much the operations, construction and
and aspirations of the very busy man he is, and quite irrigation and road construc­
American any time he or she
dapper, dealt very well with tion. As a consequence, we
pauses to consider the future,” people to be served.”
M a l l o t s t r e s s e d th e those concerns.
couldn’t ease the cut in
stated Mallott.
After a few hectic weeks in program operations by taking
Mallot urged the convent­ importance of careful cultural,
ionnée™ to let the 1981 NCAI racial and financial planning to office, Smith realized the need most of it in construction.”
He continued, saying, “We
convention to be a time of ensure the future for all to formulate a consultation
reflection, “...consider our natives—both Alaskan and policy. A task force was had to make hard decisions
collective futures, ...take the American and that any changes assigned to draft such a policy. quickly and we had to make
w ords sp irit-so v e re ig n ty - must come from within and be Smith stated, “I soon found out these budget revisions without
survival and transform them originated by natives them­ that, 1) I had to make some the o p p o rtu n ity for any
into a vision—a vision that selves. “...We must re-educate im m ediate decisions th a t consultation. vVe tried to
cloaks us in the mantle of the ourselves to lead. Leadership is couldn’t wait for a task force to protect those activities which
Indian spirit, a vision of the most difficult responsibility grind out a process, and 2) we consider basic to our
sovereignty that shapes and for an individual to accept for it there were complications in the mission. These included our
transforms our destinies, a requires both personal sacrifice consultation concept that I (elementary and secondary
vision of survival that takes our .and the making of judgements learned about after I started schools, law enforcem ent,
spirit and our sovereignty and that are often displeasing to fu n c tio n in g as A ssista n t general assistance for needy
shapes a world in which we many. Not to accept this Secretary.”
p e o p l e , p a y m e n ts f o r
Continuing, Smith said, d e p e n d e n t a n d a b u s e d
survive as Indian people; a responsibility, however, will be
world to which we contribute acquiring to the forces of “Today I want to reassure you children, trust and natural
that I firmly believe in the resource programs, and the
our racial and cultural beauty, economic, environmental and
principle that Indian leaders b a s ic m a in te n a n c e a n d
our philosophy and our cultural destruction.”
religion, our dance and our
M a llo tt co n clu d ed his should participate, and have a operation of facilities and
oneness with the n atu ral comments with a statement voice in the planning of policies roads. We know that we had to
environm ent—a world in made by late-senator Robert and programs that affect your c u t som e v ery p o p u la r
which racial and cultural Kennedy, who Mallott felt communities and your lives. I programs—Johnson O’Malley,
diversity is celebrated and understood that “two seperate intend, to the best of my ability, for instance. JOM , as you
honored rather than ridiculed spirits could fly the same to implement that principle in know , is a supplem ental
m y r o le a s A s s i s t a n t program for Indian students in
and destroyed.”
wind.”
public schools. It is very useful,
M a l l o t w e n t o n to
Kennedy said, “Our future Secretary.”
Smith said his department but not absolutely essential,”
summarize the struggles of may lie beyond our vision. But
Alaska natives. He explained it is the impulse of America that wilL in the future, work much he said.
Furthering his comments,
the 1971 Alaska Native Claims neither fate nor nature nor the more closely with agency
Settlement Act and the status irresistible tides of history, but Superintendents and Area Sm ith said, “ By cutting
of the Alaska natives at that the work of our own hands Directors. “ How else can we s u p p le m e n ta l k in d s o f
better communicate with you programs, we were able to hold
time. “The average level of m atch ed to re a so n and
education was 8th grade. principle, that will determine in the field than through the the reduction in the education
line officers who work with you formula budget to two percent
Children from the 203 villages destiny;”
were still being sent many
Thus ended the morning and with us. We will make the below 1981 levels. They are not
miles, some thousands, away session of the first day of the communications role of the cosmetic, they are essential.”
superintendents and Area
Smith further explained the
from home to attend high c o n v e n t i o n . F o llo w in g
school, and even grade school a d jo u r n m e n t, th e h o te l Directors a factor in their proposed budget trimming.
The entire federal government
in some instances because their restaurant was flooded with performance evaluations.”
Smith continued, stating, “It is anticipating further cuts in
village lacked these facilities. convention-goers. It was tough
Most lacked running water, to get a seat but even tougher to would be clearly inconsistent 1943 and 1984 to achieve tne
Continued on page 16
sew er, e le c tric ity , h e a lth pay the bill. Most breakfasts with my strong belief in self­ President’s goal of a balanced