Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs: Trail of Broken Treaties Caravan, Hearings, 1972-1973

In his letter, Mr. Kinsey expresses his outrage at the takeover of the Bureau of Indian Affairs building by rebels, and calls on Congressman Camp to take action to prevent such an incident from happening again. He argues that any group that takes over a government building by force should be removed by force, with no amnesty or ransom paid.

The text contains a letter from Ray Feagin to Congressman John Camp, expressing concern about the situation at the Bureau of Indian Affairs building. Feagin urges Camp to take action to improve the situation.

The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona is an organization of elected officials representing 16 Arizona Tribes. The group's president, Donald R. Antone, recently gave a press conference in which he condemned the actions of the self-appointed revolutionaries of the American Indian Movement. He asserted that these individuals do not represent the interests of reservation-dwelling Indians, and called on the government to take action to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

The Durant, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Club is composed of women of Indian heritage who are proud of their contribution to the American way of life. The club disapproves of the recent actions of Indian groups in Washington D.C., who have used violence and theft. The club believes that Indians have an important place in American society and that each individual should do their best to live up to the standards set by their ancestors.

A man writes to his congressman to express his outrage at the destruction of the Bureau of Indian Affairs building and to demand answers about who is responsible and what will be done to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The text contains a letter from Juanita West to various government officials, expressing her outrage at the actions of a group of militants who occupied the Bureau of Indian Affairs building in Washington D.C. last week. She calls for their prosecution and for an investigation into the American Indian Movement.

The text contains a letter from Gene Zaloudek of Zaloudek Implement Company to John Happy Camp. In the letter, Zaloudek expresses his outrage at the government's handling of a recent incident involving a group of Native Americans, and urges Camp to take action to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The writer is upset about the destruction of property at the BIA and wonders how the taxpayers will be stuck with the bill. They express their displeasure to Congressman Camp and hope he will do something about it.

The General Counsel of the General Services Administration testified before the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs regarding the recent occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Building by a group of Indians known as the Trail of Broken Treaties. He explained that the GSA is responsible for maintaining, operating, and protecting Federal buildings and other property, and for appointing special policemen to enforce laws on Federal property. He stated that the GSA had been assisting the Department of the Interior in planning for the proposed demonstration of the Trail of Broken Treaties, but that at no time was there any indication that the Indians' visit would be anything but orderly. He noted that the GSA had deployed additional officers in and around the BIA Building and had maintained a 24-hour standby force of Federal Protective Officers in the Interior Department Auditorium, but that no request had been made to evict or arrest the demonstrators who had begun to enter the main part of the BIA Building. He stated that

Jerry V. Wilson, Chief of Police, testified before the House Subcommittee on Indian Affairs on December 5, 1972 regarding his involvement in the decision-making process surrounding the government's response to the occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) building by a group of Native Americans. Wilson stated that it has been longstanding policy for his department not to take positive police action against demonstrators or trespassers, except at the request of the officials in charge of the premises or in support of an order from a court. He explained that his primary role in the situation was in planning for the aggressive repossession of the BIA building, in the event that a decision was made to take such action. Wilson indicated that he would be happy to answer any questions the subcommittee might have.

Don E. Smith to John Happy Camp expresses outrage at the recent takeover of a Washington Bureau of Indian Affairs office by a group of Native Americans. He feels that the government is being too lenient with the protesters and that someone needs to speak out against this type of lawlessness.

The text contains a telegram from Jim Holt to Congressman Camp regarding the occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs building. Holt urges Camp to support the prosecution of the Indians involved, calling the occupation a national disgrace.

The text contains a letter from Overton James, President of the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes, to Congressman Camp. In the letter, James thanks Camp for his remarks about the situation at the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and assures him that the Five Civilized Tribes are opposed to the activities of the militant Indians who have taken over the Bureau of Indian Affairs building.

The Subcommittee on Indian Affairs of the US House of Representatives will be holding hearings on December 4-6, 1972 to investigate the circumstances surrounding the recent occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Headquarters building by the Trail of Broken Treaties organization. The Subcommittee expects to hear only from government witnesses at this time, but plans to hold further hearings involving Indian leaders from the Trail of Broken Treaties and other tribes at a later date.

The text describes the efforts of officials to end the occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs building by a group of Native Americans. Officials were concerned about the possibility of violence and damage to the building, and eventually decided to pay the Native Americans to leave.

The text contains a resolution adopted by the National Tribal Chairmen's Association Board of Directors at a meeting in Washington, D. C. The resolution urges the Secretary of the Interior to take various actions relating to the administration of Indian affairs, including the designation of an Assistant Secretary for Indian and Territorial Affairs, the reorganization of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the consideration of a reservation-oriented Indian for the Commissionership of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The text describes the situation surrounding the seizure of the BIA building by a group of Indians known as the Trail of Broken Treaties. Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget Frank Carlucci describes the choices facing the government at the time and how they chose to negotiate with the Indians in order to avoid violence. They achieved their goals and averted disaster, but Carlucci notes that there are those who criticize them for not taking firmer action.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is planning to reduce the number of employees it has in Washington, D.C., by as many as 350, resulting in a savings of more than $5 million a year. The move comes as the government reassesses its relations with the nation's 780,000 Indians after a takeover of the BIA building by Indian demonstrators. Many important documents were damaged during the siege, but BIA officials are hopeful that most of the information can be replaced.

The Indian Affairs Subcommittee held hearings on April 9, 10, and 11. Witnesses included representatives of the Treaty Council, the Oglala Sioux Tribe, and the American Indian Movement, among others. Topics of discussion included the Pine Ridge Reservation, the Wounded Knee incident, and Native American rights.

The Subcommittee on Indian Affairs held hearings on December 4, 5, and 6, 1972. The witnesses included representatives from the Department of the Interior, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the National Council on Indian Opportunity, the General Services Administration, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Office of Economic Opportunity. The hearings were focused on the administration of Indian affairs and the provision of services to Indians.