VOLUME 18 EDITION 1
United Methodists bring Christmas to Standing Rock
Comanche Nation Public Information Office, Lawton, OK www.comanchenation.com
Spreading Christmas Cheer
January 2017
Interior Department to Remove Liens on Tribal Lands Returning More Than $14 Million in Proceeds to Tribes
Submitted by Netra Darling/ Dept. of Interior Press
can bring back our Nursing Program, Testing Centers, and all kinds of services, with Governmental Money.” The Comanche Nation College Fee-To-Trust Application has been a combined effort of the entire Comanche Nation Realty office since it was established in 2013. The initial Fee-To-Trust application for the College was submitted to the Anadarko Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) several years ago. The Resolution adopted by the Comanche Business Committee authorizing the Fee-To-Trust application was approved in February 2005. The file documents indicate at that time the Tribe's Law Firm was representing the Tribe by submitting additional supporting documents and affidavits to the BIA upon their request. In June 2013 the Realty
As part of President Obama’s commitment to help American Indian leaders strengthen self-sufficiency and self-determination, U.S. Department of Interior officials will remove liens placed on thousands of acres of tribal lands acquired under the Indian Land Consolidation Act (ILCA) program and return the revenues generated by these liens to tribal communities to use for reacquiring tribal homelands. The announcement was made today by U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior Michael Connor, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Lawrence S. Roberts, who leads the Office of the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs, and Michael S. Black, Senior Advisor to the BIA Director. Because the ILCA land acquisition program is no longer in operation, the waiver of the liens ensures that the economic productivity of those restored tribal lands directly benefits the Tribes. The return of more than $14 million existing lien proceeds will be used by the 20 Tribal nations who participated in the ILCA acquisition program to purchase lands from willing sellers within their reservations to further consolidate tribal homelands. “Our action today is a result of our engagement and meaningful consultation with Tribal leadership, respecting their judgement that waiver of ILCA liens and return of lien proceeds will spur economic development within their territories and enable them to restore tribal homelands,” said Deputy Secretary Connor. “Our trust and treaty responsibilities include ensuring that federal programs are tailored to work effectively and efficiently for Indian country. Tribal nations spoke clearly about the benefits of waiving ILCA liens and their effective and efficient ability to reacquire tribal homelands from willing sellers.” On the lien waiver and return of lien proceeds, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Roberts said, “Tribal nations have repeatedly proven that if an Administration works with them, tribal solutions can ameliorate the impacts of now repudiated policies that sought to end tribal culture and communities. Our action today is another example of Tribes determining what is best for their communities.” “By releasing the outstanding liens and returning lien proceeds, we are supporting the Tribes in determining the best use of their lands, and continuing opportunities for economic development, housing, and restoring tribal homelands,” BIA's Senior Advisor Black said. Congress enacted the ILCA land acquisition program in 2000, authorizing the Interior Secretary to acquire fractional interests in trust or restricted lands and require the Secretary to place a lien on those lands to recoup the purchase price. Since the program was established, more than
See TRUST, Page 3
See LANDS, Page 7
Courtesy Photos/ Allen Buck
Members of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, including the Rev. David Wilson (left, in truck) and Justin Phillips, deliver supplies to water protectors at the Standing Rock Sioux base camp near Cannon Ball, N.D. By Ginny Underwood/UMC
Members of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference braved subfreezing temperatures Dec. 15 to deliver 700 Christmas stockings to water protectors still camped near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in North Dakota. Even though the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers denied a construction easement under a dammed section of the Missouri River, temporarily halting the Dakota Access Pipeline, many members of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and other protesters have chosen to stay at the camp to make sure construction does not continue. “We sent out a call for help and raised nearly $5,000 to purchase toys, socks, gloves and basic items for cold weather,” said the Rev. David Wilson, superintendent of the Oklahoma Missionary Conference. In addition, OIMC churches contributed donations and stockings. “People want to do what they can to be a part of this great effort, whether it be contributing money, praying, assembling the stockings, and more. It has been very affirming and heartwarming,” Wilson said. Wilson, along with four church members, loaded up the stockings and other supplies in a U-Haul truck and drove 14 hours to the reservation. The stockings, designated for babies, children, youth, adults and elders, will be distributed later this month. “A child from a family staying at the camp asked if Santa would be there this year,” said Jen Mattel, a Standing Rock Sioux tribal member. “I was happy to tell him yes.” Water protectors began camping near the construction site in July after the Standing Rock Sioux took its first legal action to block the pipeline by filing a complaint against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over its permitting process. The pipeline would carry a half-million barrels of oil daily from the Bakken oil fields in northwest North Dakota to Patoka, Illinois. The Standing Rock Sioux tribe says the pipeline would destroy sacred burial sites and threaten its water supply. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is working with the tribe to make sure water protectors are safe during the winter weather.
Photo by Jolene Schonchin/News Staff
Photo by Stacey Heminokeky/News Staff
Photo by Jolene Schonchin/News Staff
Photo by Jolene Schonchin/News Staff
From Top: Seven-year-old Trinity French shares a laugh with Comanche Nation Policeman, Kyle Kessner, during the Shop With A Cop Dinner December 12 at Los Tres Amigos Restaurant in Lawton, Okla.; Comanche Elder, Judy Gordon was very proud of her prize she won at the Comanche Nation Elder Center’s Christmas Celebration December 15; Elders Rose Pennah and Rose Nauni visit family and friends at the Comanche Elder’s Council Christmas Gathering December 5 at the Ft. Sill Apache Casino’s Ballroom in Lawton, Okla.; Children from the Comanche Nation Daycare Centers sing “Jingle Bells” in the Comanche Language at the December 9 Elder’s Day Celebration.
Comanche Nation College is Signed into Trust Land
TOP: Comanche Nation Chairman, William Nelson, signs the document that places the Comanche Nation College on to Trust Land December 1 at the Comanche Nation Auditorium.
Members of the Comanche Nation College Board, Comanche Business Committee, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Comanche Nation Realty Department all took part in the signing the Comanche College into Trust Land Status. Story and Photos by Jolene Schonchin/News Staff
December 1 marked another historical day for the Comanche Nation, as it signed the Comanche Nation College’s land to Trust Land The documents was signed on December 1, 2016 transferring the property to the United States Of America to be held in "Trust" for the Comanche Nation, Oklahoma. A room full of Comanche Nation College Faculty, Comanche Office of Realty, Bureau of Indian Affairs Southern Region Representatives, Comanche Business Committee, and several tribal members, were witness to the signing and celebra-
tion.
“Lawton, Okla. is on Comanche Nation Land,” said Chairman William Nelson. “For us to have trust land of our original lands is monumental. Our trust lands is our sovereignty. We would not be a sovereign nation unless we have Trust Land. Now we can go forward with Block Grants, Federal Grants, and actual State Grants that can come to us and help us. Now we can make it a pure Comanche Nation Education Center. It will be a Mecca for our students, from students that study in college classes or technical trades. We