Office of the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs

For Immediate Release: October 24, 2003	Contact: Nedra Darling
	202-219-4152

MEDIA ADVISORY

BIA Consultation Meetings On Reorganization of Regional,
Agency Offices Set for October 27-30 in Las Vegas

WASHINGTON - Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs Aurene M. Martin will meet with tribal leaders October 27 through 30, 2003, in Las Vegas, Nev., at a series of consultation meetings on the realignment of the Bureau of Indian Affairs' (BIA) Alaska, Great Plains, Navajo, Northwest, Pacific, Rocky Mountain, Southwest and Western regional and agency offices. The meetings will be held at the MGM Grand Hotel (3799 Las Vegas Blvd.) starting daily at 9:00 a.m. (PST).

The realignment is a result of the reorganization currently taking place within the Interior Department's Office of the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs, the BIA and the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians. In June 2003, the Department held informational sessions across the country to brief employees, Indian tribes and interested parties on the status and structure of the reorganization. In September, the BIA held consultation meetings in Tulsa, Okla., with representatives from federally recognized tribes in the Eastern, Eastern Oklahoma, Midwest and Southern Plains regions.

The consultation meetings are opportunities for tribes and interested parties to provide oral and written comments regarding the organizational structure of the regional offices for consideration by the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs. On September 17, the Department published a notice in the Federal Register with dates and locations of the meetings. Comments are due two weeks following the consultation for each region.

WHO:       Aurene M. Martin, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs, USDOI

WHAT:     Departmental consultation meetings on the realignment of the BIA's Alaska,
                  Great Plains, Navajo, Northwest, Pacific, Rocky Mountain, Southwest and Western
                  regional and agency offices.

WHEN: (All times are local time)

October 27, 2003: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Great Plains Region
                               1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Rocky Mountain Region
October 28, 2003: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Southwest Region
                               1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Navajo Region
October 29, 2003: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Pacific Region
                               1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Northwest Region
October 30, 2003: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Western Region
                               1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Alaska Region

WHERE:   MGM Grand Hotel, Grand Garden Arena - Studio 6, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd.,
                   Las Vegas, Nev. Phone: 702-891-1111.

CREDENTIALS: Press registration will be provided. Please bring your sanctioned media credentials and if possible, wear on your shirt collar or around your neck for easy viewing. This will assist our staff. Press seating will be provided.

-DOI-

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