8/8/2014

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Mail - Comments on proposed BIA regulations 1076-AF18 & Tribe Endorsements Indian Affairs/ OFA

Consultation, IA <consultation@bia.gov>

Comments on proposed BIA regulations 1076-AF18 & Tribe Endorsements

Indian Affairs/ OFA
james simien <nativeresearch@yahoo.com>
Thu, Aug 7, 2014 at 11:24 AM
Reply-To: james simien <nativeresearch@yahoo.com>
To: "consultation@bia.gov" <consultation@bia.gov>, "elizabeth.appel@bia.gov" <elizabeth.appel@bia.gov>
Aug 6, 2014
Kevin Washburn
Assistant Secretary- Indian Affairs
Department of the Interior
MS-3701-MIB
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240
Elizabeth Appel
Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action- Indian Affairs
U.S Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, NW
MS 141 MIB
Washington, DC 20240

To: consultation@bia.gov

number 1076-AF18

Docket ID BIA 2013-0007

From: James Simien, Southwest Louisiana Native American researcher and Chitimacha descendant

Subject: Tribe Endorsements and Comments to the Proposed Draft Changes to the Federal Acknowledgement Rules

I FULLY ENDORSE the Grand Caillou/Dulac Band of Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Indians and the Isle de Jean Charles
Band of Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Indians for Federal Recognition. The Chiefs and tribal researches strive for their
unique tribal histories to be accurately represented to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. With respect to documented history
and Federal Criteria the Grand Caillou/Dulac Band of Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Indians and Isle de Jean Charles
Band of Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Indians are entitled to a Government-to-Government relationship.

I submit the following comments to the Bureaus proposed changes to the Federal Acknowledgment Criteria.
Maintain the letter of intent: The letter of intent is necessary for unrecognized Tribes and Communities to fairly
introduce themselves to the BIA/OFA. The Bureau should have a two-step approach:
1.
The letter of intent secures the petitioner a position on a bureau-managed list of intent for
no longer than three years.
OR
2.
The petitioner files the required narrative and documented petition and remains on a
bureau-managed list of intent until the bureau reviews said files.

https://mail.google.com/mail/b/308/u/0/?ui=2&ik=7daba62326&view=pt&search=inbox&msg=147b114832233c48&siml=147b114832233c48

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8/8/2014

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Mail - Comments on proposed BIA regulations 1076-AF18 & Tribe Endorsements Indian Affairs/ OFA

Phase one Review: The phase one review is a quick method for the bureau to work through the long list of Intent and
Documented petitions. An improved alternative would be preferred because Tribes and Communities may be denied
with no opportunity for future action thus multiple generations of Native history is annulled.

Change the definition of tribe: The proposed rule-Criteria 83.11(a) slide 13 requires a narrative of petitioners
existence as a TRIBE pre 1900. However, research shows that not all tribes self-identify . There exist present day
Native American communities that descend from a historical Tribe , who have lived in the same location since historical
times (last 220 yrs) , and have historically been misidentified and continue to be misidentified . These Natives live
among themselves in separate and distinct communities; for the bureau to remove this definition is to exclude these
people.

Finally, Unrecognized Tribes, Distinct Communities, Indian Groups, Bands, Pueblos or Villages deserve fast
track status in the Acknowledgement Approval Process if they:
1.
Validate their ancestors affiliation with a Historical Tribe pre treaty signing and post treaty signing
OR
2.
Validate their ancestors membership during historical times, to a now current Federally recognized
tribe

I pray that all ancestors are recognized .

Sincerely,
James Simien
Nativeresearch@yahoo.com

https://mail.google.com/mail/b/308/u/0/?ui=2&ik=7daba62326&view=pt&search=inbox&msg=147b114832233c48&siml=147b114832233c48

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