Secretary Norton told congressional and American Indian leaders that her top priorities for the Bureau of Indian Affairs are to improve Indian schools, the Department's trust reform efforts, and Indian self-determination and self-government. She outlined her goals in testimony at a congressional hearing and in remarks to the executive council of the National Congress of American Indians, vowing to be an advocate for American Indians and Alaska Natives throughout the Administration.

At a Feb. 28 hearing before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, chaired by Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Secretary Norton said the Administration would immediately provide $136 million of fiscal year 2001 budget appropriations to replace six dilapidated Indian schools.

"The Congress appropriated $292 million, or an additional $159 million, to make a significant start in addressing this problem in fiscal year 2001," Norton noted, saying the Department has much more to do.

"President Bush and I will continue to work with Congress to eliminate the current backlog of school repairs by 2006, while replacing older and more dilapidated schools," she said. "Schools with the most urgent needs will be given priority in the budget requests."

The Bureau of Indian Affairs will also work with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and tribal governments to make needed capital improvements while preserving the historic character of many of the Indian schools, the Secretary added.

The BIA is responsible for 185 Indian elementary and secondary schools. About one-third of them are operated directly by the BIA while the other two-thirds are operated under contract or grants to Indian tribal groups. The schools enroll about 50,000 children and are spread throughout 23 states.

Secretary Norton joins members of the Executive Council of the National Congress of American Indians at their Winter Conference in Washington, D.C. From left, Diane Kelley, Secretary of the NCAI; Chief Perry Beaver, Creek Nation of Oklahoma; Chief Charles Tillman, Osage Nation; Secretary Norton; Margi Flute Cloksey, Cherokee Nation; Alma Ransom, Mohawk Nation; and Roy Ogden, Prairie Band Potawatomi. Photos by Tami Heilemann, NBC

"I share President Bush's philosophy that no child be left behind, and it will be my responsibility to help see that no Indian child is left behind," Norton said. Indian school facilities are generally in poor condition. Some of the school buildings are a century old, she added. The life expectancy of some of these buildings has been exceeded by decades.

"President Bush and I believe in Indian self-determination," Secretary Norton testified. "We want to make advances in self-determination and self-governance during our tenure, which we believe can be fostered through consultation and our mutual goal of better government."

Another top priority for the Department is Indian trust reform and providing needed services to Indian trust beneficiaries, the Secretary declared. "I take very seriously my responsibility as the Trustee for Indian lands, trust money, and federal obligations to the tribes under treaties and laws," she said. "We need to be certain that the requisite management skills are in place, including project management skills, for the critical work we are doing to reform Indian trust fund management."

The Secretary noted that this work ranges from the leasing of trust land to the collection and investment of income, and its disbursement and accounting to trust beneficiaries, whether tribes or individual Indians.

At both the congressional hearing and a Feb. 22 address to the executive council of the National Congress of American Indians, Secretary Norton noted that nearly one-quarter of Interior's funding is devoted to Indian nations, communities, and individuals.

"While this is a significant percentage, setting priorities for the Department in Indian Country is a monumental task. Which programs will best serve our Indian constituency, understanding that all programs require our attention and support?"

"There is no more important priority than our children, who are our future," she declared. "And a good education is key to a brighter future for America's children, families, and communities. We must give every Indian child the opportunity to learn the skills necessary for success in the 21st century," she told executive council members.

"I intend to advocate for Indians and tribal governments throughout this Administration," Norton said. "I propose to employ consultation, cooperation, and communication in my relationships with all tribal leaders, and tribal governments as well--in pursuit of creative problem solving, and improving Indian self-determination and self-governance."

Norton also assured congressional and Indian leaders of her commitment to the goal of improving the quality of life in Indian communities and providing direct services to assist tribes in strengthening public safety within Indian Country. "A safe community with a sufficient number of law enforcement officers who are properly trained and equipped is the basic foundation for the overall effectiveness of tribal governments. I will work with tribal governments in their law enforcement efforts and further pledge my full cooperation and assistance in this matter."

Secretary Norton noted that as Colorado's attorney general from 1991 to 1999, she had many positive experiences dealing with Indian issues. "I successfully negotiated two of the first Indian gaming compacts between the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribes and the State of Colorado," she said. "My office also played a large role in the ongoing negotiations over the scope and funding of the Animas-LaPlata project in Colorado. This project helped me to better understand the needs of the tribes, state, and federal authorities and to better assist in resolving economic, environmental, and political issues among these governments."

Norton also has dealt with issues relating to oil and gas development on and near the reservations in Colorado. "Through my experiences with the Southern Ute and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribes, and others, I came to better understand the challenges associated with both conservation and development on trust lands."

Regarding trust management reform. Norton said she recognized the important obligations of the Department to put in place those systems, procedures, and people to fulfill Interior's obligation to trust beneficiaries, both individual Indians and tribes. "This is an enormous undertaking in correcting the errors and omissions of the last 100 years," she said.

"Nonetheless, much progress has been made, including the financial accounting system within the Office of Trust Funds Management, which became fully operational early last year," Norton noted. "A majority of other identified milestones have been reached; however, much remains to be done, including several very critical elements."

These include completing the BIA Trust Asset and Accounting Management System (or TAAMS). This is a much needed automated system that will track the land ownership and trust management of 55 million acres held in trust or restricted status by tens of thousands of Indian landowners and tribes, Norton said. The implementation of this system is prefaced upon the cleanup of trust historical data dating back over a hundred years, and the reduction of the probate backlog that has occurred with the increasing fractionation of trust allotments.

The amendments to the Indian Land Consolidation Act enacted by the 106th Congress will permit greater efficiency in leasing of these lands, the Secretary noted. "These particular projects present huge challenges, but I have no doubt that they can be concluded satisfactorily," she said.

The Secretary also noted that she has been briefed on other major Indian issues, including concerns about Indian gaming, the federal acknowledgment process, and Indian land and water settlements.

"We will meet these challenges openly and will seek your guidance in these important issues," she said.