And now:[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1999 15:39:05 -0600
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: Liz Pollard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Red River Boundary Compact update
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KCA OPPOSITION TO RED RIVER BOUNDARY COMPACT
DRAWS SUPPORT FROM MANY IMPORTANT SOURCES
ANADARKO, OK, November 20, 1999. -- The Red River Boundary Compact
(H.J.Res. 72), introduced to Congress on October 19, is under heavy fire
from the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache Tribes of Oklahoma, backed by some
influential supporters.
The Compact, devised by the Boundary Commissions of the states of Texas
and Oklahoma, would change the boundary between the two states.
Historically, that boundary is specified by a Supreme Court decision of
1925 as the south bank of the Red River. The Compact proposes to change
that border to the vegetation line on the south bank.
The controversy results from the fact that the Boundary Commission contained
only one Indian in its membership, while several sovereign Indian nations
hold property on that existing border. A considerable proportion is public
land, derived from the tribes' former reservations, held in trust for the
tribes, including Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache (KCA), but it is known that
Texas does not recognize public land.
The KCA Intertribal Land Use Committee registered its opposition to H.J.Res.
72 shortly after its introduction in Congress. It also asked for help from
the National Congress of American Indians. The latter granted its support
and wrote to influential members of Congress, as well as to Secretary of
the Interior Bruce Babbitt, on their behalf.
Babbitt suggested a strongly worded amendment to the Compact, which was
subsequently supported by KCA, by the Oklahoma Boundary Commission, and by
the Chickasaw Nation, which also holds property along the Red River. While
no official word has come from the Choctaw Nation, it also holds land in
the area, and it is believed they will support this position, according to
Mary Pewo, KCA staff member.
The amendment requested by Babbitt reads:
"The compact shall not affect or diminish any present or future
rights and interest of the Kiowa, Comanche and Apache Tribes, the Chickasaw
Nation and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and their members or successors
in interests, nor any boundaries that are now, or may be established, under
federal law, nor shall this Compact affect or abate the sovereign rights,
jurisdiction, or other governmental interests, of the Kiowa, Comanche and
Apache Tribes, the Chickasaw Nation and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma,
presently existing, or which may be acknowledged, by federal and tribal law."
Currently, H.J.Res. 72 awaits further deliberation on the floor of Congress,
which may not come until the next session after the first of the year.
FOR MORE INFO:
Liz Pollard * Smoke Signals Enterprises
505 W. Louisiana Ave., Anadarko, OK 73005
(405)247-2251 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Elizabeth "Liz" Pollard * Smoke Signals Enterprises
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * On the Web: http://www.smokesig.com
Web sites designed and developed include:
American Indian Exposition: http://www.indianexpo.org
Moccasin Telegraph: http://www.indianexpo.org/moccasin.html
Housing Authority of the Apache Tribe: http://www.apachehousing.org
Wichita & Affiliated Tribes http://www.wichita.nsn.us
Soil and Plant Laboratory, Inc. http://www.soilandplantlaboratory.com
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