Department of the Interior

Offi ce of the Special Trustee 

for American Indians (OST)

Volume 10, Issue 3

Summer 2010

TRUST MATTERS

Table of Contents

High Recognition 1

Email 1

Beyond the Reservation 1

You Will Get a Statement 2

Appraisers Move It 2

Advisory Board 2

RTAs’ New Regions 3 

Your Trust: Priceless 3

Tribal Shares 4

Medicaid Provisions 4

High Recognition for Exceptional Service

Sometimes people do the right thing just because they know it is the 

right thing. Oft en, one’s contribution to the good is just part of the day’s 

activities.

Th ere are also those times when doing right is not 

only noticed but is the impetus for positive actions by 

others. Th at is exactly what happened when Fiduciary 

Trust Offi cer Stephen Coit (Pawnee Agency) was 

recognized “for his exceptional service not only to 

[a client] but to our system of justice.” Th ose words 

are part of a letter about FTO Coit’s “vigilance in 

ensuring proper disposition of Indian property.” 

Th e letter explains that FTO Coit’s steadfast research 

and perseverance brought about bestowal of an 

inheritance. Ultimately, that led to someone donating 

signifi cant funds for the establishment of the Jodi Marquette American 

Indian Wills Clinic in Oklahoma (see Trust Matters article, 2010 winter 

issue, page 2).

FTO Coit makes all of OST proud. His everyday attention to work and 

matter-of-fact approach to “attending faithfully to his responsibilities” is 

highly commendable. Again, as expressed in the letter, he is “an example 

of government service performing at its very best. Th is country [is] lucky 

to have government employees of his caliber.”

Some would say FTO Coit’s actions are not exceptional — not for him 

or most of his coworkers. He is the fi rst to declare that other FTOs 

with the Offi ce of the Special Trustee for American Indians (OST) were 

instrumental in the concept and establishment of the clinic. Th is does not 

diminish FTO Coit’s superb eff orts. Rather, it highlights how fortunate 

OST is to have many FTOs and other employees of his caliber. Like him, 

they are doing the right thing because they care about the eff ects of their 

work on the benefi ciaries they serve.

 Your Email Address

In today’s world of instant 

messages, email addresses 

and mobile phone numbers 

(not to mention, social media 

sites), being informed quickly 

and easily is possible and often 

preferable. It’s time for OST 

to better use these tools to 

communicate with individual 

and tribal beneficiaries.

OST is asking each beneficiary 

to provide an email address. (It’s 

voluntary, of course.) Contact 

either your FTO or the Trust 

Beneficiary Call Center, toll free, 

at 1-888-678-6836. TBCC hours 

are Monday through Friday 7 

a.m. to 6 p.m. and Satruday 8 

a.m. to noon, Mountain time. Or 

just email debby_pafel@ost.doi.

gov.

FTO Stephen Coit

Beyond the Reservation

“We are constantly making efforts to expand our beneficiary services to all parts, 

including large urban areas where beneficiaries may reside. For example, the Concho 

Agency is going outside its historical, geographical reservation boundaries and into 

Oklahoma City to reach our accountholders,” said Fiduciary Trust Officer Henry 

Ware. “We serve them all, regardless of tribal affiliation.” 

Clinics, post offices, urban Indian centers and other venues — outreach efforts by 

Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians (OST) personnel all over the 

country happen wherever beneficiaries may be. Without doubt, OST is taking trust 

services beyond the reservation. 
2 TRUST MATTERS

Yes, the Pacifi c Region Offi ce of 

Appraisal Services (OAS) moved 

to new offi ce space on Saturday, 

June 26. Please make a note of the 

address:

1751 Howe Avenue, Suite 210

Sacramento, CA 95825

OAS staff members are pleased 

with the change. The layout helps 

them work more effi ciently and, 

therefore, provide better service. 

You can contact them at their new 

phone numbers.

Delmar (Will) Armstrong, Regional 

Supervisory Appraiser: 

916-566-7022

Cheryl Noonan, Review Appraiser: 

916-566-7025

Linda Wise, Appraisal Program 

Specialist: 916-566-7028

Fax: 916-566-7021

No change to email addresses, 

which remain:

delmar_armstrong@ost.doi.gov

cheryl_noonan@ost.doi.gov

linda_wise@ost.doi.gov

To access current phone numbers 

of any Regional Supervisory 

Appraiser, visit the Offi ce of the 

Special Trustee for American 

Indians website at http://www.doi.

gov/ost/oas/contact_oas.html. 

You Will Get a Statement

A little quiz: You are receiving your 

trust disbursements electronically 

— that is, either by direct deposit to 

your bank account or to your debit 

card. Will a statement still be mailed 

to you?

Answer: Yes. You will receive a 

paper statement in the mail.

Account statements are generally 

mailed to Indian trust benefi ciaries 

on a quarterly basis. Th ese 

statements include account activity 

for the past quarter. If you receive 

income from an oil or gas asset, 

you will also receive an explanation 

of payment. (Note: If you have an 

account with a $15 or less and it has 

had no activity for the last eighteen 

months, you will receive a statement 

once a year.)

Why is this important? Your 

account could be added to the 

Whereabouts Unknown list if the 

Offi ce of the Special Trustee for 

American Indians (OST) doesn’t 

have your current mailing address. 

A mailed statement that is returned 

as undeliverable puts a stop on the 

account and moves the account 

to whereabouts unknown status. 

Even disbursements going out 

electronically are aff ected.

What should you do? Be sure your 

mailing address is current!

If there is any disruption in 

your mail or to your electronic 

disbursements, check with your 

FTO. Inform your FTO promptly 

if your mailing address changes. 

Locate your FTO online at www.doi.

gov/ost/ft o.

You may also use the Trust 

Benefi ciary Call Center (TBCC) 

to update your address. Call the 

TBCC, toll free, at 1-888-678-6836. 

Th e hours are Monday through 

Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 

8 a.m. to noon, Mountain time. 

Pacific Region Appraisers Move It

Special Trustee’s Advisory Board Met June 24, 2010

Principal Deputy Special Trustee Donna Erwin met with members of the 

Special Trustee’s Advisory Board late in June in Washington, D.C. Th e 

agenda included a conference with Department of the Interior’s Deputy 

Secretary David Hayes. He made several points, including mention 

of a potential nominee for Special Trustee. He described the nominee 

as someone with strong fi nancial and management skills as well as 

government experience. Th e Deputy Secretary expressed his appreciation 

for the patience of the Board’s members and thanked them for their 

ongoing service.

Some topics covered by the members during the Board’s meeting included:

 Department of the Treasury eff ort to disburse all federal payments 

electronically

 Whereabouts Unknown (account holders who do not have current 

address information on fi le) status

 DOI government-to-government consultation team, which includes 

designee Ethel Abeita, Director of the Offi ce of Trust Records, and 

alternate Pat Gerard, Management Analyst with the Offi ce of the 

Principal Deputy Special Trustee

 Tribal shares allocation formula tribal-federal workgroup (see 

article in this issue)

 Pay.gov implementation

For more information, contact your Fiduciary Trust Offi cer (FTO). Locate 

your FTO online at www.doi.gov/ost/ft o.
VOLUME 10, ISSUE 3 3

Fiduciary Trust Offi cers (FTOs) help resolve all sorts of issues faced by 

benefi ciaries. Th e following success stories, submitted by two FTOs, 

represent and demonstrate how FTOs work locally to earn the trust and 

respect of the benefi ciaries they support.

Story #1

I worked with a benefi ciary regarding a land exchange 

that was approved by the tribe in 1998. Although there 

was compliance with all requirements, the exchange was 

cancelled later when a moratorium was issued on all 

tribal exchanges. In the meantime, the benefi ciary had 

completed building a home on the property. Unfamiliar 

with the process, the benefi ciary was not successful 

when she challenged the cancellation of approval. When 

she came to me for assistance, my offi ce staff helped 

her complete a new application and then we worked 

with the new tribal administration to obtain approval. Ultimately, the 

request for the exchange was approved by the Chairman and he asked 

BIA to process the transaction quickly. You can only imagine how this 

benefi ciary felt! She was very thankful for the assistance we provided.

Story #2

I travelled to a community to visit an 81 year old tribal elder. For two 

weeks, she had been carrying around a check for $69,000. She informed 

me she did not trust government staff or anyone at the bank (the person 

with whom she always conducted business had passed away). I explained 

how her account works and told her that she would be receiving monthly 

checks. When she asked how I handle 

my funds and I told her I left mine in my 

IIM account, she stated, “Th at is what I 

will do.” She decided to have a voluntary 

hold on her funds until she requests them. 

Th en they will be direct-deposited into 

her bank account. Th is solution took place 

because she “trusts me.” I consider that 

priceless!

Your FTO is ready to help you. Locate your FTO online at www.doi.gov/

ost/ft o or call the Trust Benefi ciary Call Center (TBCC), toll free, at 

1-888-678-6836. Th e TBCC hours are Monday through Friday from 

7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, Mountain time.

(Storyteller artwork from www.fi rstpeople.us.)

Your Trust: Priceless Regional Trust Administrators 

Assigned New Regions

When Deputy Special Trustee 

Doug Lords was asked to take 

over Field Operations back in fi scal 

year 2003, he envisioned a rotation 

among Regional Trust Administrators 

(RTAs). He saw a stronger and 

more knowledgeable organization 

resulting from such a move. He also 

believed it would enhance services 

all Offi ce of the Special Trustee 

for American Indians (OST) staff 

members provide to benefi ciaries — 

tribal and individual Indians.

Eff ective October 1, 2010, OST 

will implement the following 

realignment:

RTA Rob Craff will be responsible for 

Southern Plains, Southwest and 

Eastern Oklahoma Regions.

RTA Jim James will be responsible 

for Navajo, Western and Pacifi c 

Regions.

RTA Cathy Rugen will be responsible 

for Great Plains and Eastern 

Regions.

RTA Tom Reynolds will be 

responsible for Rocky Mountain 

and Midwest Regions.

RTA Melvin Burch will be 

responsible for Northwest and 

Alaska Regions.

The Fiduciary Trust Offi cers (FTOs), 

who are local points of contact for 

benefi ciaries, will remain unchanged.

Visit the OST website for RTA and 

FTO contact information. Go to: 

http://www.doi.gov/ost/information/

individual/fi nder.html. 

Remember, after October 1, the 

website will refl ect the new RTA 

assignments. 
4 TRUST MATTERS

During the summer of 2009, the Offi ce of the Special Trustee for American Indians 

(OST) sponsored a series of six tribal consultation meetings to explore the development 

of a uniform tribal shares allocation formula. Currently, tribes that choose to compact 

or contract the Real Estate Appraisals Program (pursuant to P.L. 93-638, the Indian SelfDetermination and Education Assistance Act of 1975) receive federal funds to operate the 

program based on regional allocation formulas that, in some cases, were developed in the 

1990s.

OST’s tribal shares team reviewed the comments received at the consultation meetings 

and additional post-consultation comments/suggestions. Using these comments, the team 

recommended a workload-based formula, averaging tribal workload over the most recent 

fi ve years.

In a letter issued to tribal leaders on June 28, 2010, OST sought nominations for individuals 

knowledgeable about appraisals to serve on a small tribal-federal workgroup to help shape 

the fi nal decision. Th e workgroup’s recommendations, scheduled for September 2010 

completion, will be reported when available. OST also plans to publish the results in the fall 

issue of Trust Matters.

For more information, contact Offi ce of Appraisal Services Deputy Director Iris Crisman at 

505-816-1127 or iris_crisman@ost.doi.gov.

Tribal Shares Allocation Formulas Workgroup

Indian Specifi c Medicaid Provisions

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Your trust property has new Medicaid-eligibility protection. Th e American Recovery and 

Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), Section 5006, lists resources that states shall disregard 

when determining an Indian’s eligibility for medical assistance. Th ese resources include 

“...real property and improvements,...held in trust...[o]wnership interests in rents, 

leases, royalties, or usage rights related to natural resources....”

Regional Trust Administrators and Fiduciary Trust Offi cers (FTOs) with the Offi ce of 

the Special Trustee for American Indians (OST) are working with the federal Centers for 

Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and state personnel to help implement Medicaid 

eligibility changes that apply to trust benefi ciaries. OST is coordinating tribal personnel 

training with CMS to insure that tribes that contract or compact social service programs 

are aware of these provisions as well. Along with Bureau of Indian Aff airs staff , FTOs are 

reviewing detailed guidance from the federal Center for Medicaid and State Operations 

so regulations are applied consistently and accurately in every state. 

If you have concerns about the application of ARRA regarding Medicaid eligibility, 

contact your FTO. Locate your FTO online at www.doi.gov/ost/ft o or call the Trust 

Benefi ciary Call Center (TBCC), toll free, at 1-888-678-6836. TBCC is open Monday 

through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, Mountain time.