The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1961-12-14
Report Of Task Force On Indian Affairs
OFFICIAL REPORT

This distribution Of functions
raises serious questions Of uni
formity in such administrative
areas as budgeting, program plan.
ming. coordination of eligibility
standards, and relationships with
the State governments.
The Task Force recommends
that an interdepartmental liason
committee be formed with repre-
sentatives from the Departments
of the Interior; Health, Educa'
ton. and Welfare: Agriculture,
and the Bureau of the Budget.
This committee would meet reg
ularly until uniform standards
have been arrived at and pro
gram coordination has been
achieved.
ADVISORY BOARD
In its hearings and on its trav.
els. the Task Force found a gen
eral lack Of understanding OF
the completely of the Indian
problem. No one organization
speaks for all Indians. No one or.
ganization represents all the var
led interest groups which are at
tempting TO help the Government
and the Indians find solutions 10
their problems. The Indians and
their friends frequently find
themselves pitted against other
special interest groups concern
ed with mineral exploration and
development, power, tim b r,
grazing. and water. There has
never been complete agreement
as to the detectives and programs
among those concerned with In
dian affairs and the lack of il
has made IL difficult for the De-
partment TO fulfill its mission.
From 1859 until 1893 the Secre-
tary of the Interior was assisted
In the performance of his duties
by a Board of Indian Commission
ers, set up by statute, appointed
by the President, and provided
with modest appropriations.
Many of the witnesses in the
Task Force hearings urged that
q Board of Advisors or Commits
sioners again be created, with
the objective Of aiding the Sec
Rotary, improving administration,
and broadening representation.
The Task Force does not favor
the reestablishment of the Board
of Indian Commissioners at this
time. This board was created be-
cause Of scandalous practices by
Indian agents in the purchase Of
supplies. The modern Bureau of
Indian Affairs with its system of
inspection and audits and its pro-
grams of technical assistance
bears little resemblance of a CEN
tury ago.
On the other hand, other Gov
eminent agencies, including some
in the Department Of the Inter
ior-such as the National Park
Service-have found IL helpful
10 be guided in their activities
by an Advisory Board with statu-
tory authority and an appropria-
ton About 1850 the Bureau of
Indian Affairs had such an adj
visory board, based upon Secre-
tarial rather than statute author
ity. However, il has not had such
q board in the intervening years
and does not have one at the
present time.
The Task Force thinks the De-
partment needs to improve I'M
derstanding Of Indian affairs and
that this can be partially accom-
plished through more citizen par
ticipation in Indian affairs at the
highest level In addition, the Blu
reau Of Indian Affairs can bene-
fit from the advice of interested
and public-spirited citizens, both
Indian and non-Indian. Further
more. continuous policy research
such as that begun by this Task
Force is needed in the normal
evolution Of the Bureau Of Indian
Affairs and the Department of
the Interior.
The Task Force recommends
that there be created by statute
an Advisory Board to the Secre-
tary Of the Interior. 10 consist
of fifteen persons 0both Indian
and non-Indian), who are broadly
representative Of the spectrum
Of interest in Indian Affairs.
Members Of the board should not
receive a salary, but should be
provided reimbursement for ex-
penses- One Of the principal func-
tons Of the Advisory Board
should be TO evaIuate policy re-
search in the field of Indian az
fairs. which can originate in the
Department or can come from
private sources, such as founda-
tons.
BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
Operating under delegations Of
authority from the Secretary of
the Interior. the Bureau Of Indian
Affairs is one Of the oldest units
in the Federal Government. III
antedates the Department itself