Fifth Tribal Consultation on Draft Indian Affairs Administrative Organizational Assessment Report and BIA & BIE Streamlining Plans

DURANT, OKLA. — The fifth government-to-government tribal consultation regarding the draft report on Indian Affairs Administrative Organizational Assessment and Bureau of Indian Affairs/ Bureau of Indian Education streamlining plans starts Thursday, May 10, 2012 at the Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, Okla. The two-day consultation is the fifth of seven that will take place around the country in Arizona, Florida, South Dakota, Washington, California and Alaska. The first was held in Miami on April 12 and 13, 2012.

Tribal leaders have said 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 (BIA) and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE).

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. The BIA and BIE are seeking tribal input on ways to streamline their respective organizations to meet budgetary constraints and increase efficiency.

More information and materials can be found at: http://www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/AS-IA/Consultation/index.htm

WHO: Bryan Newland, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs, DOI

Mike Smith, Deputy Bureau Director-Field Operations, BIA, DOI

Brian Drapeaux, Chief of Staff to the BIE, DOI

Tribal Leaders from the Eastern Oklahoma, Southern Plains Regions and other regions

WHAT: Fifth Regional Tribal Consultation on the Indian Affairs Administrative Organizational Assessment Draft Report and BIA & BIE Streamlining Plans. WHEN: Thursday, May 10, and Friday, May 11, 2012

Registration will begin at 7:00AM (local time)

Consultation will begin at 8:00AM WHERE: Choctaw Casino Resort

4216 S. Hwy 69/75

Durant, OK 74701