Tribal leaders say Senate measures would deal blow to Indian rights
Story-Date: 06:31 p.m. PST Saturday , August 30, 1997

Tribal leaders say Senate measures would deal blow to Indian rightsBY DOUG
JOHNSON
Associated Press Writer


ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -- Tribal leaders in New Mexico contend
congressional leaders are trying to destroy Indian sovereignty with a
proposal to require tribes to divulge all business revenue.

Leaders of the state's 22 tribes met Friday to attack the measure
introduced last month by Sen. Slade Gorton, R-Wash., and approved by a
Senate subcommittee.

Gorton's plan would change the way federal money is distributed to tribes.
Money would be given based on economic need, rather than a tribe's size.

Some Indian leaders say the proposal is a backlash against casinos.

Tribal leaders plan to travel to Washington this week while the full
Senate debates the issue.

``There is some serious animosity toward the tribes by a certain senator
from Washington,'' said Roy Bernal, chairman of the All-Indian Pueblo
Council. ``But this measure could destroy our culture and traditions, and
we will fight it.''

The proposal would require the Bureau of Indian Affairs to develop a
formula for the distribution of federal money used for roads, schools and
safe housing.

Gorton has said the tribal size formula ``provides alarming unequal funding
(and) increases the economic disparity among Indian tribes.''

Rodger Vicenti, acting president of the Jicarilla Apache Tribe, said the
measure may be popular with senators who believe tribes are ``getting
filthy rich from casinos.''

``Why should the tribes be asked to divulge how much money they are making
when the federal government doesn't ask any one else to do this?'' said
Wendall Chino, president of the Mescalero Apache Tribe.

``Why don't they subject General Motors to this means of testing?''

If approved, the measure would withhold an increase of more than $76
million President Clinton had requested for the 1998 budget until
the Bureau of Indian Affairs develops the formula.

A second measure introduced by Gorton would waive sovereign immunity for
any tribe that accepts money under the current formula. It would subject
all civil lawsuits against Indian tribes to federal court.

``This measure just adds insult to injury,'' Bernal said. ``It is offensive
discrimination and is seen as a threat to our status as tribes.''



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