T

Department of the Interior • Of

RUST 

fi ce of Special Trustee for American Indians 

MATTERS

Volume 13/Issue 4 Fall 2013

The Navajo Region of the Offi ce of the Special Trustee for American 

Indians (OST) supported the Department of the Interior’s Federal 

Indian Minerals Offi ce (FIMO) and First Nations Development Institute’s 

presentation of three fi nancial education workshops in July to members 

of the Navajo Nation. Workshop topics included budgeting, credit, and 

investing. Online resources were also covered. Th e training took place at 

San Juan Community College in Farmington, New Mexico. 

Navajo Region Fiduciary Trust Offi cer Virginia Moore had previously 

conducted seven trust asset outreach sessions for FIMO between May 

and July 2013. Th ese meetings informed benefi ciaries of their estate 

planning options, enabling them to make informed decisions about their 

trust assets. Sessions covered estate planning options and tools, such as 

wills, gift deed, joint tenancy, and selling to co-owners. Explanations of 

intestate succession, fractionation, and highlights of the American Indian 

Probate Reform Act were also part of the presentations. When helpful, 

topics were presented in the Diné language.

Due to increased oil drilling leases and signing bonuses, Navajo Indian 

trust benefi ciaries are among those receiving payments that may total 

millions of dollars. Financial empowerment through fi nancial skills and 

trust asset training are important to benefi ciaries. Th ey support a sound 

understanding of fi nances for building and protecting 

personal wealth.

OST holds fi nancial skills and trust asset training in many 

locations. To fi nd out what is being off ered near you, 

contact your local Fiduciary Trust Offi cer (FTO). Visit 

www.doi.gov/ost/ft o to locate your FTO. 

Most FTOs are also on Facebook.

OST Supports Financial Empowerment 

on the Navajo Nation

www.doi.gov/ost

Navajo Region Fiduciary Trust Offi cer Virginia Moore

presented fi nancial concepts at a trust asset 

outreach session for Navajo Indian trust 

benefi ciaries. 

Table of Contents

Financial Empowerment

OST Strategic Plan

Consolidating Space

Indian Trust Commission

Sim-Wing Gohard Award

New Tribal Advisors

1

2

2

3

3

4
2 TRUST MATTERS

With development of the fi rst strategic plan for the 

Offi ce of the Special Trustee for American Indians 

(OST), Principal Deputy Special Trustee Michele F. 

Singer thanked everyone throughout the organization 

for providing feedback and ideas that contributed to 

the fi nal product. A recent employee survey revealed 

that 85 percent agreed the plan will move OST in the 

right direction to achieve its mission, and 71 percent 

agreed the plan will help guide day-to-day activities as 

they relate to OST’s mission. 

Th e next step is implementation of the strategic plan. 

Each program offi ce completed templates that identifi ed 

operating plans — part of the Strengths, Weaknesses, 

Opportunities, and Th reats (SWOT) analysis — to 

develop goals, objectives, and strategies. Program 

offi ces are now positioned to execute their action 

plans. Communication and collaboration will be key 

to the success of the plan.

Th e strategic plan provides an opportunity for OST 

to strengthen services across the board for American 

Indian benefi ciaries. Th e plan becomes a model for 

best practices and a “best place to work” in the federal 

government.

Finally, OST has a new vision and a revised mission 

statement. Th ese powerful statements convey the 

message OST wants to send to all its stakeholders.

Vision: To be the premier public service organization 

dedicated to the Indian fi duciary trust.

Mission: To honor our trust responsibilities by 

incorporating a benefi ciary focus and participation 

while providing superior stewardship of trust assets.

For more information about OST’s strategic plan, 

please contact Chief of Staff Helen Riggs at 

505-816-1131.

Consolidating OST Office Space in Albuquerque

In an eff ort to consolidate space and save resources, 

the Offi ce of the Special Trustee for American Indians’ 

(OST) workplace located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, 

is planning to downsize. Employees are vacating about 

one half of the current space and will be consolidating 

into tighter quarters within their current location, the 

building on Masthead Street.

Renovations to downsize the current space are scheduled 

to begin mid November 2013 and will continue into 

early February 2014. Th e move, designed to accommodate another tenant in the same building, provides 

OST an opportunity to reduce its budget by eliminating 

inessential space.

According to Leon Craig, OST’s move coordinator 

located in Washington, D.C., the realignment of space 

meets the Department of the Interior’s requirements, 

with direction from the Administration. 

It provides for fewer employees working concurrently 

in the building.

Some OST employees are now teleworking one, two, 

three, or even fi ve days a week on a regular basis.

Fewer employees needing fi xed workstations enables 

OST to reduce space, which saves money in current 

and future budget cycles. 

Services to benefi ciaries and tribes will not be diminished by the move. Whether working from home or 

a workspace in an offi ce, OST’s 340 employees in Albuquerque will continue to provide premier fi duciary 

trust services to Indian Country.

onsolidating OST Office Space in Albuquerque

an eff ort to consolidate space and save resources,

e Offi ce of the Special Trustee for American Indians’

ST) workplace located in Albuquerque, New Mexico,

planning to downsize. Employees are vacating about

e half of the current space and will be consolidating

o tighter quarters within their current location, the

ilding on Masthead Street.

novations to downsize the currentspace are scheduled 

begin mid November 2013 and will continue into 

ly February 2014. Th e move, designed to accomodate another tenant in the same building, provides

T an opportunity to reduce its budget by eliminating

ssential space.

cordingto Leon Craig, OST’s move coordinator 

ated in Washington, D.C., the realignment of space 

ets the Department of the Interior’s requirements,

th direction from the Administration.

It provides for fewer employees working concurrently

in the building.

Some OST employees are now teleworking one, two,

three, or even fi ve days a week on a regular basis.

Fewer employees needing fixed workstations enables

OST to reduce space, which saves money in current

and future budget cycles.

Services to beneficiariesand tribes will not be diminished by the move. Whether working fromhome or 

a workspace in an offi ce, OST’s 340 employees in Albuquerquewill continue to provide premier fiduciary

trust services to Indian Country.
VOLUME 13, ISSUE 4 3

The Secretarial Commission on Indian Trust 

Administration and Reform (Commission) will 

transmit its report to the Secretary of the Interior 

in December 2013. Th e report was delayed due to 

the government shutdown. Th e Commission held 

two administrative working sessions in November 

to fi nalize their recommendations. Th eir work will 

conclude with a public webinar on December 10 to 

present their recommendations. Please visit www.doi.

gov/cobell/commission for details on how to participate in the public webinar or, aft er Decmber 10, to 

view the Commission’s recommendations.

Th e Commission was tasked by the Secretary of the 

Interior with conducting a comprehensive evaluation 

of the entire trust administration system. Th at system 

includes more than $4 billion in fi nancial assets, 

management of Indian trust land and resources of 

approximately 56 million surface acres and 57 million 

acres of subsurface mineral estates, and approximately 

109,000 leases on lands. Th e Secretary named fi ve 

prominent American Indians to the Commission in 

November 2011. Selected were Chairwoman Fawn 

Sharp, Quinault Indian Nation (Commission Chair); 

Chairman Tex G. Hall, Th ree Affi liated Tribes; 

Dr. Peterson Zah, former President of the Navajo 

Nation; Robert Anderson, Minnesota Chippewa 

Tribe-Boise Forte Band; and Stacy Leeds, Cherokee 

Tribe of Oklahoma. 

Over its two-year term, the Commission conducted 

an outreach campaign to give American Indians 

and Alaska Natives an opportunity to provide input. 

Prior to December 2013, the Commission held seven 

public meetings across the country and four webinars. 

Additional events geared to youth were conducted at 

three meeting locations. Summaries and transcripts 

from public and webinar sessions are available on the 

website. Th e Commission would have expired 

November 28, 2013. An extension was necessary due 

to the government shutdown.

Indian Trust Commission Concludes

Sim-Wing Gohard Receives Federal Manager Award

Sim-Wing Gohard, Supervisory Accountant with the Offi ce of the Special Trustee for American Indians (OST) 

Offi ce of Trust Funds Management (OTFM), received the 2012 New Mexico Federal Employee of the Year 

Medal from the New Mexico Federal Executive Board (NMFEB). Annually, the organization recognizes a federal employee whose professional contributions exemplify 

the highest attributes of public service. She received the award at the annual 

NMFEB awards ceremony on May 8, 2013, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Gohard was recognized for being an exceptional federal manager based on the 

following accomplishments: accountability to benefi ciaries, dedication to 

employees, and outstanding customer service during 2012. She created an overall 

change plan, which included a reorganization of OTFM and automation eff orts 

in order to reduce expenditures; specifi cally, elimination of a personnel 

contract for $750,000. When her plan was approved by management, 

there was a small window of opportunity to reorganize, train employees, 

and assume the accounting duties that had been handled under the contract. Th e plan also provided advancement opportunities for employees, 

increased morale, and improved accuracy of the work.

For more information, contact the NMFEB at www.newmexico.feb.gov.
4 TRUST MATTERS

Th e Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations has announced a small team of advisors dedicated to tribal 

relations that are committed to working collaboratively with tribal governments to guide Program implementation 

on each reservation in accordance with the tribe’s unique needs and priorities.

New Tribal Relations Advisors

Genevieve L. Giaccardo (GG) came to the Interior 

Department two years ago aft er having worked in 

Indian Country for more than 15 years. Her services 

to tribes and other American Indian organizations 

primarily focused on comprehensive planning, where 

she emphasized consensus building and culturally 

relevant strategies. Her work addresses key issues such 

as education, economic development, and land-use. She 

is a member of the Pueblo of San Felipe in New Mexico.

Andrea Patton joins the Program aft er working as a Policy 

Analyst within the Indian Health Service Offi ce of Tribal 

Self-Governance, where her focus included the fi rst Tribal 

Self-Governance Report to Congress; Aff ordable Care Act 

regulation reviews; tribal-federal workgroup initiatives; 

tribal consultation; and tribal delegation meetings. 

Ms. Patton is a member of the Sac and Fox Nation and a 

descendant of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Cherokee 

Nation, and Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Anthony Morgan Rodman comes to the Program 

aft er working nearly four years at the Offi ce of the 

Special Trustee for American Indians. Mr. Rodman 

has dedicated most of his career to working with tribes 

and tribal members, including his work on the recruitment and retention of Native American students at 

Harvard University and later, the University of 

Arizona. Mr. Rodman is a citizen of the Cherokee 

Nation and Osage Nation in Oklahoma. 

Full bios and other information, including 

updated cooperative agreement documents, 

outreach tools, answers to frequent questions, 

and potential steps that your reservation might 

pursue to get ready for the Program are available 

at the newly relaunched website. Did you know? OST processes and www.doi.gov/buybackprogram. reconciles, on average, over 35,000 

fi nancial transactions every day.