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TRIBAL ALERT! WASHINGTON, DC - In November 2001, on behalf of all California Indian Tribes and California Indians, California Indian Legal Services (CILS), a tribally-controlled not-for-profit, took the historic step of becoming the first legal services program and the first California Indian organization to open a DC office. Our tribally-selected Board of Trustees took this bold step because of the need to be constantly vigilant to protect our rights. Just one year earlier, with virtually no input from California Indians, Congress and the Administration enacted amendments to the Indian Land Consolidation Act (ILCA) that would place our scarce California trust and restricted lands in jeopardy of losing their status and protections. Implementation of the 2000 ILCA amendments could result in the loss of even more Indian trust land in California than was lost during the termination period of the 1950s-60s. Such congressional and Administration action simply reaffirmed what we all knew. California tribes and Indians needed CILS to do in DC what it had been so successful at in California for more than thirty-five years; doggedly protecting our rights and demonstrating on a daily basis that California Indian issues are complex and challenging to understand and should never be overlooked. Since opening the DC office, we have been wildly successful; even more than we imagined. The members and staffs of various congressional offices and critical House and Senate committees are now much more knowledgeable and concerned about issues of importance to California Tribes. Administration officials and staffs of various federal agencies are also better informed about California Indian issues and concerns. More importantly, California Tribes are more engaged in the legislative and administrative processes affecting their interests from afar in DC. California Indians are gaining greater notice and attention as we are now sometimes providing the most comments on a proposed action or policy where a short time ago we were largely silent. When the creation of a Bureau of Indian Trust Assets Management was proposed shortly before we opened the DC office, CILS responded to the call for help from California tribal leaders and the California tribal representatives who served on the Tribal Leaders Trust Reform Task Force which was organized to work with the Department of the Interior. As a result, California Tribes gained even more respect and admiration because of our willingness to pitch in and work for all Indians. There is no greater example of the importance of our work than what we have done to amend the Indian Land Consolidation Act. On January 28, 2004, California Indians took another step toward affirming our unique and special history and status and protecting the limited trust and restricted fee lands in California when the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs reported S. 1721, the American Indian Probate Reform Act of 2004, favorably out of the Committee and back to the full Senate. S. 1721 amends and redresses the harmful effects of the 2000 ILCA amendments that would limit the definition of "Indian" and place restrictions on owners’ rights to pass their interests to their lineal descendants in trust or restricted status. Recognizing the unique and special history and status of California Indians, S. 1721 incorporates a specific California Indian definition that is extremely protective of the rights of California Indians. If passed into law, S.1721 will provide greater protection to California trust and restricted lands than they had even before the 2000 amendments to ILCA. CILS has served as the primary organizer of the Indian communities’ successful efforts to influence amendments to the ILCA. CILS took the initiative to bring together and keep at the table a variety of voices and (sometimes competing) interests from throughout Indian country. The efforts have paid off thus far as S. 1721 moves forward with widespread support. CILS has organized an informal and extremely influential Task Force whose membership includes the National Congress of American Indians, the Indian Land Working Group, the Indian Land Tenure Foundation, other Indian legal services advocates, and representatives from various tribes and Indian organizations. CILS has made significant contributions to the drafting and editing of S. 1721 and has organized Task Force conference calls and meetings as well as meetings and briefings with Administration officials and staff and congressional staff. CILS has proven to be invaluable to this legislative effort and will be invaluable to achieving S. 1721's passage through both the Senate and the House. In order to continue its efforts on S. 1721, Tribal TANF Reauthorization, Trust Reform, ICWA amendments and other national initiatives of importance to California Indians, CILS needs the financial support of the California Indian community. CILS’ public policy work, both in California and DC, cannot be financed with any of CILS’ extremely limited and restricted public funds from the state and federal governments and their various agencies. Thus, in order to continue its public policy work, CILS must continue to raise funds from tribal governments and individual donors. CILS’ experiences and influence in DC during the past two years confirm and reinforce what many tribal leaders serving on CILS’ Board and supporting CILS have long believed. The long-neglected needs and interests of California Indians require the dedication and commitment of an organization with a long history, impeccable credentials, and shining integrity to champion them in DC. We hope you agree that CILS is such an organization and that California Indians should maintain such an influential presence in DC in order to claim numerous victories on behalf of all California Indians. Without your support, our DC office must close in May of this year. Given the relatively small amount of money we need to continue the office and continue the benefits and good will it has provided all California Indians, that would be a tragedy. These are dangerous times indeed, and the victories of the past should never be taken for granted. Please help support our fight and send your tax-deductible contributions to: California Indian Legal Services Please contact us if you would like more information. Thank you for your support. DocumentsAlert (PDF - opens new window) |