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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 1983)
\ February 8 ,1983 Policy continued— Development of Reservation Economics The economies of American I n d ia n r e s e rv a tio n s a re extrem ely depressed with unemployment rates among the highest in the country. Indian leaders have told the A d m in istra tio n th a t the development of reservation economies is their number one priority. Growing economies provide jobs, promote self- sufficiency, and pro v id e revenue for essential services. Past attempts to stimulate growth have been fragmented and largely ineffective. As a result, involvement of private industry has been limited, with only in fre q u en t success. D e v e lo p in g r e s e r v a tio n economies offers a special challenge: devising investment procedures consistent with the trust status; removing legal barriers which restrict the type of contracts tribes can enter in to an d re d u c in g th e n u m e ro u s an d c o m p le x regulations which hinder economic growth. Tribes have had limited opportunities to invest in their own economies because often there has been no established resource base for community investment and development. Many reservations lack a developed physical infrastruc tu re in c lu d in g u tilitie s , tran sp o rta tio n and other public services. They also often lack the regulatory, adjudica to ry an d e n fo rc e m e n t m echanisms necessary to interact with the private sector fo r reservation econom ic development. Development on the reservation offers potential for tribes and individual entrepreneurs in manufactur ing, agribusiness and modern technology, as well as fishing, livestock, arts and crafts and other traditional livelihoods. Natural resources such as timber, fishing and energy p r o v id e a n a v e n u e o f development for many tribes. Tribal governments have the responsibility to determine the extent and the methods of developing the tribe’s natural re so u rc e s. T he fe d e ra l governm ent’s responsibility should not be used to hinder tribes from taking advantage of e c o n o m ic d e v e lo p m e n t opportunities. W ith regard to energy resources, both the Indian tribes and the nation stand to g a in fro m th e p ru d e n t development and management of the vast coal, oil, gas, uranium and other resources found on Indian lands. As already demonstrated by a n u m b er of trib e s, these resources can become the fo u n d ation for econom ic d e v e lo p m e n t o n m a n y reservations while lessening our nation’s dependence on imported oil. The federal role is to encourage the production of energy resources in ways consistent with Indian values and priorities. To that end, we have strongly supported the use of creative agreements such as joint ventures and other non lease agreem ents for the development of Indian mineral resources. It is the free market which will supply the bulk of the capital investments required to develop tribal energy and other resources. A fundam ental p re re q u isite to econom ic d e v e lo p m e n t is c a p ita l formation. The establishment of a financial structure that is a part of the Indian reservation community is essential to the development of Indian capital formation. Federal support will be made b ailable to tribes to assist them in develo p in g the n e c e ssa ry m a n ag e m en t capability and in attracting private capital. As a first step in that direction, we provided funds in the FYI983 budget to provide seed money to tribes to attract private funding for e c o n o m ic d e v e lo p m e n t ventures on reservations. As more tribes develop their capital resource base and increase their m anagerial expertise, they will have an opportunity to realize the maximum return on their investments and will be able to share an increasing portion of the business risk. It is the policy of this Administration to encourage private involvem ent, both Indian and non-Jndian, in tribal economic development. In some cases, tribes and the private sector have already taken innovative approaches which have overcome the legislative and regulatory im pedim ents to econom ic progress. Since tribal governments have the primary responsibility for meeting the basic needs of Indian communities, they must be allowed the chance to succeed. This Administration, therefore, is establishing a P r e s i d e n t i a l A d v is o ry C o m m is s io n on I n d ia n Reservation Economics. The Commission, composed of trib a l and private sector leaders, is to identify obstacles to economic growth in the public and private sector at all levels; examine and recom mend ways for the private sector, both Indian and non- Indian, to participate in the development and growth of reservation economies. It is alo to be charged w ith the responsibility for advising the private sector, both Indian and non-Indian, to participate in the develoment and growth of reservation economies. It is also to be charged with the responsibility for advising the President on recommended actions required to create a positive environment for the development and growth of reservation economies. Numerous federal agencies can offer specialized assistance and expertise to the tribes not only in economic development, but also in housing, health, education, job training, and other areas which are an integral part of reservation econom ies. It is to the advantage of the tribes, and in the interest of the taxpayers, that the federal role be fully reviewed and coordinated. Therefore, this Administraton directs the Cabinet Council on Human Resources to act as a mechanism to ensure that federal activities are non- duplicative, cost effective, and consistent with the goal of encouraging self-government with a minimum of federal interference. ï During a breakfast meeting, the Tribal Council m em bers discussed various program s that needed attention during the week long meeting in Washington, D .C . on January 25-28,1983. Indian Policy Summary This Administration intends intend to continue this dialogue to restore tribal governments to with the tribes as these policies their rightful place among the are implemented. governments of this nation and The g o v ern m e n tal and to enable tribal governments, economic reforms proposed for along with state and local the benefit of Indian tribes and g o v ern m e n ts, to resum e their members cannot be control over their own affairs. achieved in a vacuum. Fhi£ Adm inistration has This n a tio n ’s econom ic sought suggestions from Indian h e a lth — and th a t o f th e leaders in forming the policies tribes—depends on adopting which we have announced. We th is A d m in is tra to n ’s full Economic Recovery Program. T h is p ro g ra m calls fo r eliminating excessive federal spending and taxes, removing burdensome regulations, and establishing a sound monetary policy. A full econom ic recovery will unleash the potential strength of the private sector and ensure a vigorous e c o n o m ic c l i m a t e f o r development which will benefit not only Indian people, but all other Americans as well. Policy Initiatives * Request that Congress repudiate House Concurrent Resolution 108 of the 83rd Congress which called for term ination of the federal-tribal relatio n sh ip . The A d m in istratio n w ants this lingering th re a t of termination replaced by a resolution expressing its support of a government- to-government relationship. * Ask Congress to expand the a u th o riz e d m em b e rsh ip of the Advisory Commission on Intergovern m ental R elatio n s to include a re p re s e n ta tv e o f In d ia n trib a l governments. In the interim, request that the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs join the ACIR as an observer. * Move the White House liaison for federally-recognized tribes from the Office of Public Liaison to the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. * Establish a Presidential Advisory Commission on Indian Reservation Economies to identify obstacles to economic growth and recommend changes at all levels; recommend ways to e n c o u r a g e p r i v a t e s e c t o r involvement, and advise the President what actions are needed to create a p o s itiv e e n v ir o n m e n t f o r th e development and growth of reservation economies. * Support direct funding to Indian tribes under the Title XX social services block grant to states. * Sought and obtained funds for FY 1983 to implement the Small Tribes Initiative to provide financial support needed to allow small tribes to develop basic trib a l ad m in istrativ e and management capabilities. ♦ Sought and obtained funds for FY 1983 to provide seed money for tribes for economic development ventures on reservations. ♦ Supported and signed info law the Tribal Governmental Tax Status Act which will provide tribal governments with the same revenue sharing and saving mechanisms available to other governments. ♦ S upport the use of creative agreements such as joint ventures and other non-lease agreements for the developm ent of In d ia n m ineral resources. * Direct the Cabinet Council on Human Resources to act as a review and coordination mechanism to ensure, th a t federal activities are non- d u p lic a tiv e , c o st e ffectiv e an d consistent with the goal of encouraging tribal self-government with a minimum of federal enterference.
