And now:[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 22:18:05 -0500 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Kansas: Graves names new director of American Indian affairs Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" http://www.ljworld.com/ Graves names new director of American Indian affairs 2:14:31 AM Tuesday, October 12, 1999 Appointment comes as American Indians are starting to enjoy greater visibility in state politics. By Peter Hancock, Journal-World Writer Topeka -- Gov. Bill Graves announced Monday the appointment of a new director of American Indian affairs to help the state deal with a growing number of state issues dealing with American Indian tribes. Graves named Brad Hamilton, of Hoyt, to the new position created within the Kansas Department of Human Resources. Hamilton, a member of the Apache and Yuma Tribe, previously served as minority affairs liaison at the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services and acted as Graves' own liaison for American Indian affairs. "He had a position in SRS, and it's basically being shifted to DHR and expanded to involve a whole range of Native American issues," said Graves spokesman Mike Matson. Matson said there was "no connection whatsoever" between timing of the announcement and the start of a Haskell Indian Nations University Board of Regents meeting today where issues about the South Lawrence Trafficway will top the agenda. State highway officials are expected to make their case for the road this morning during the regents meeting. Matson said the new post was created because a host of issues dealing with American Indians have come to the forefront of state government. Among the issues: * Casinos -- Gambling has brought new wealth to reservations and increased the tribes' place in state politics because the state is required to negotiate gaming compacts with them. * Autonomy -- State leaders have been forced to meet the tribes on a government-to-government basis and some tribes are asserting more autonomy over their reservations. At the Prairie Band Potawatomie reservation in Jackson County, the tribe is issuing its own vehicle license plates to tribal members, and tribal law enforcement officers have issued speeding tickets on a stretch of U.S. 75 Highway that passes through the reservation. "It's not just happening here, but all around the country as tribes have started to reassert their autonomy," Hamilton said. "It's something that has come in direct conflict with the state and its autonomy. We need to look for ways to work together to resolve these issues." Hamilton, 46, graduated from Kansas Wesleyan University with a degree in education. He said his first task will be to meet with tribal leaders in Kansas to find out what issues are most important to American Indians and what programs the state can offer to deal with those issues. He said land trusts, economic development, education, and health care for the poor and elderly likely will be among the top concerns named. Reprinted under the Fair Use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
