Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Legislative Hearing Affecting Alaska and Texas Native People

Steve Mohan in Native Currents. Discussion »

Live Webcast Thursday

WASHINGTON – The US Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will hold a legislative hearing on two bills affecting tribes in Texas and Alaska Natives on Thursday. The first, S 1898 is a bill that will provide for the conveyance of land from the United States to the Maniilaq Association in Alaska.

Maniilaq Association provides health and social services to residents of Northwest Alaska. A non-profit corporation, Maniilaq Association represents twelve federally-recognized tribes located in Northwest Alaska. The Association manages social and health services for about 6,500 people within the Northwest Arctic Borough and the village of Point Hope (Inupiaq Tikiġaq).

The second bill is to amend the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama-Coushatta Indian Tribes of Texas Restoration Act. It will allow the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Tribe to determine blood quantum requirements to become a member of their tribe.

The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, "the Pueblo", is a federally-recognized Native American tribe and sovereign nation. The Pueblo is one of just three tribes located in Texas and the only Pueblo located in the state. The Tribal community, known as "Tigua", was established in 1682 after the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. Since then, the Tribe has retained a significant presence in the El Paso region that helped pave the way for the development of the area. The Tribe maintains a traditional political system and ceremonial practices and continues to flourish as a Pueblo community. Tribal enrollment is over 1,600 citizens.

The hearing will be webcast live.

To view the webcast Live use this Link.
Choose the Video tab. The webcast will not appear until the hearing broadcast begins.

WHEN:     Thursday, March 22

TIME:     2:15 pm est

WHERE:   Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 628

Witnesses

The Honorable Carlos Hisa
Lt. Governor
Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo, El Paso, TX

Accompanied by:
Ms. Janette Hernandez
Tribal Member
Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo
El Paso, TX

Mr. Paul Hansen
Special Projects Coordinator
Maniilaq Association
Kotzebue, AK

Ms. Jodi Gillette
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Indian Affairs
US Department of the Interior
Washington DC

Mr. Robert McSwain
Deputy Director, Management Operations
Indian Health Service
US Department of Health and Human Services
Rockville, MD

posted March 21, 2012 7:40 am est