Fifth Tribal Consultation Tomorrow at Choctaw Casino Resort

Native News Network Staff in Native Briefs. Discussion »

DURANT, OKLAHOMA – The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education are seeking tribal input on ways to streamline their respective organizations to meet budgetary constraints and increase efficiency.

The fifth of seven government to government tribal consultations to draft a report on Indian Affairs Administrative Organizational Assessment and Bureau of Indian Affairs/ Bureau of Indian Education streamlining plans will be held tomorrow and Friday, May 10 & 11, at the Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, Oklahoma.

The first tribal consultation in this process was held in Miami on April 12 and 13.

The tribal consultations are being held in reaction to tribal leaders concerns that organizational changes are needed in the administration of Indian Affairs programs and services to better meet the needs of the federally recognized tribes throughout Indian Country. The Department of the Interior's Indian Affairs officials have heeded these concerns and undertaken an extensive review of the organization of the Office of the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education.

The culmination of this review will be a draft Administrative Organizational Assessment Report compiled by an independent, third party contractor. The draft report identifies several ways to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of delivering services to Indian Country. The goal is to support a consolidated organization while improving Interior responsiveness to all Tribal needs.

WHAT:   
Fifth Regional Tribal Consultation on the Indian Affairs Administrative Organizational Assessment Draft Report and BIA & BIE Streamlining Plans.

WHO:   
Tribal Leaders from the Eastern Oklahoma, Southern Plains Regions and other regions
Bryan Newland, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior
Mike Smith, Deputy Bureau Director-Field Operations, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior
Brian Drapeaux, Chief of Staff to the Bureau of Indian Education, Department of the Interior

WHEN:   
Thursday, May 10, and
Friday, May 11

Registration will begin at 7:00 am (local time)
Consultation will begin at 8:00 am

WHERE:   
Choctaw Casino Resort
4216 S. Hwy 69/75
Durant, Oklahoma 74701

posted May 9, 2012 6:00 am edt