Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Digital Library Collections This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections. Collection: Blackwell, Morton: Files Folder Title: [Indians] Box: 32 To see more digitized collections visit: https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit: https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected] Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/ WITHDRAWAL SHEET Ronald Reagan Library Collection: BLACKWELL, MORTON: Files Archivist: cas/cas File Folder: [Indians] Box 8409 Date: 12/10/96 lil\ll\lllll■l. 1:1\:\ 1. note (1 pp., partial) 4/29/83 '· ·, RESTRICTION CODES PrnldtnUal Rtconls Act• (44 U.S.C. 2204(10 Fl'H<lom of Information Act• [S u.s.c . 5l52(bD P-1 National security clauified Information ((a)(1) ol the PRA]. F-1 National security clauified Information [(b)(1) of the FOIA). P-2 Relating to appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) ol the PRA]. F-2 Release could disclose internal personnel rules and practices ol an agency ((b)(2) ol the P-3 Release would violate a Federal mtute [(a)(3) ol the PRA]. FOIA]. P-4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or financial information F-3 Release would violate a Federal a1atue [(b)(3) of the FOIA]. [(a)(4) ol the PRA). F-4 Release would disclose 1rade secrets or confidential commercial or financial information P-5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President and his advisors, or [(b)(4) of the FOIA]. between such advisols ((a)(5) of the PRA]. F-8 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy ((b)(6) ol the . P-8 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion ol personal privacy ((a)(6) ol FOIA). the PRA). F-7 Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement purposes ((b)(7) c:A theFOIA]. C. Closed in accordance with restriction• contained In donor's deed ol gilt F-8 Release would discloH information concerning the regulation c:A financial institutions [(b)(8) c:A the FOIA]. F-9 Release·would disclose geological or geophysical information conceming -us ((b)(9) of the FOIAJ. THE NEW YORK T IMES, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1983 Working Profile: Kenneth L. Smith Tending th·e Indian Alfairs Tinderbox By SETII S. KING Special to The New York Times WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 - When Kenneth L. Smith, Assistant Secre­ tary of the Interior for Indian Affairs, was asked why his people were still so suspicious of the agency he heads, he produced a letter that had been dis­ patched to all Indian tribes in 1923 by one of his predecessors. The letter, from Charles H. Burke, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, com­ plained that Indians were wasting too much working time performing tribal dances that were offensive to mission­ aries and to the Office of Indian Af. fairs. The letter warned that unless these depl_orable practices were stopped voluntarily, drastic measures would have to be taken to halt them. " Certainly nothing like that has gone out of the Bureau of Indian Af­ fairs in many years," Mr. Smith said In an Interview recently. "But a lot of Indians are still not convinced there Tl\e New York Times / Georae Tames won't be even worse attempts by KeMeth L, Smith, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs. Washington to destroy our native cul­ ture. Today the Bureau of Indian Af. fairs still follows regul>itions/si: more immediate predecessors had the more than 70 percent. Many Indians were adopted clear back in 89 . same objectives, but that few had got­ on reservations have little chance of Those pratices were stupid the d ten very far. fi nding nonfarm work eithe r on or off they're stupid now.'' But last month an Indian Policy the reservation, he said, and there Controversy over the Indians' cen­ Statement prepared by Mr. Smith was have been di ffi cul ties fo r the small in­ tury-long struggle to perserve their issued by President Reagan. It prom­ dustries, especially given the reces­ special status under Federal law, sui>­ ised to support tribal governments in sion. The severe unemployment on posedly guaranteed by treaties their their efforts to achieve greater inde­ most reservations has increased alco­ fathers signed with the white man, pendence; it also promised to end the holism, drug abuse and broken fami­ has flared for years. It did so again re­ excessive Federal regulations and bu­ lies, Mr. Smith said. cently when Interior Secretary James reaucracy that the President said " I do not pretend to know all the an­ G. Watt declared that the reservations were strangling tribal councils. swers to these problems," he added. had become worse exa mples of "In the 1950's the Interior Department t "failj!d socialism" than the Soviet Indian ttibal leaders welcomed this tried to train some reservation In­ Union. He also accused tribal leaders declaration, although they said they dians and move them into city jobs. of fostering Indian dependence on had often heard similar ones. But they That did not work at all. So some way Federal handouts so they could retain asked why it had taken the Reagan has got to be found for more develoi>­ political control over their own peo­ Administration so long to produce it. ment on the reservations. Maybe ple. " My answer is that we have made a more by private companies.'' Watt's Remarks Praised start," Mr. Smith said. " But with my One promise made in the Indian people, any time you try to make real Mr. Smith, who took over the bu­ Policy Statement was the appoint­ changes in the way things have al­ ment of a special economic develoi>­ -eau In 1981 , said that while Mr. ways been done, many of them fear 1/atts's language might have been in­ ment committee of tribal leaders and you are moving toward termination, non-Indian business executives. emperate, his message was valid and toward talcing their reservations 'good for the tribes." He said he was away from them. " Impact of Budget Cuts lisappointed when tribal leaders de­ The younger generation of Indians Also, bureau lawyers are reviewing nanded Mr. W11.tts's resignation. wanted to make these changes, he "The tribes should have welcomed all Indian statutes with the intent of said, but the older leaders were afraid asking Congress to repeal some, Mr. us message," Mr. Smith said . " They that if the bureau " pulled out" they ,hould have said, let's use it to get the Smith said. And he expected legisla­ would somehow be forced off their tion soon giving tribal governments hlngs we need. Instead, some of those lands. eaders were in here the next day with special standihg in applying directly Before he came to Washington in for Federal bloc grants. heir hands out." the spring of 1981 , Mr. Smith, had Mr. Smith says that he has two ol>­ He conceded that the Administra­ spent virtually all of his 46 years on tion's cuts in social aid had hurt In­ ectives as an Indian In running the the reservation of his Wasco tribe in ,ureau. The first is to reduce his peo­ dians more than others, because "we Warm Springs, Ore., the latter part of have become so dependent on it. " le's need for special treatment from them as general manager of tribal af­ /ashington. The second Is to promote Mr. Smith said that the Federal fairs. Government, through his bureau, 1ore self-government on the reserva­ In recent years, Mr. Smith said, a .ons and less day-to-day supervision would continue its statutory trustee­ number of tribes having saleable re­ ship with the Indians. f tribal activities by the bureau. sources such as timber, oil or coal on He concedes that a number of his " But ifwe Indians are really sold on their reservations have made consid­ greater self-government," he added, erable economic and social progress . " we had better start movmg more But too many other tribes, he S!lid, B.l.A. people off those reservations . If were living on unproductive land. And any tribal council comes to me and because of better health care in the says we do not want the B.l.A. on the last decade, tribal populations on reservation running all our affairs , I many reservations have incrP.ased by will move them all off, right away." 'l \ ··• : ,- >-,r-.,;:, ', - , .:: ·.,· ;.. , --- , • · . µ H .L.. 1 w. - ·-·~ • 1 .. ....... ,,~ ·'- • • :., .,.. •..., ~.. # , 'I' • - , - THE SAN JUAN STAR Tuesday January 25 1983 •/ ..;.. ~10 _: -~-;- 1 ~ ~ , . ..,,... .,-~:;.:;:-;.•'·' . ,:-,·••: v<t- .,_·:-'-'~"f-; ,.,., .\':, "· .. , . , I . ' . - , . ~ ' ~ ' ,,, .., . .. .•·· .. (;i .. "' , .. .·.. -/ ·" ., ~nf;lian $~~~~~:---:_'Pe~~e ·Yfit~ .wa~-i~ked · ··:tr~-~~Qirj ~:;::, 1 ._ · ·. By (lENE' GOLD~NBE~G.,<. -',,·. ><: .·:.- ·. ·,-' E_ve~ ·as the Jribal groups met, the tribes. · ·• · in that interview that he hasn't said be- , - ~f'pps-Howard News Sery,ce · .• ··•. '' 1, ·'•• t ·•;_;_ White House released the text of Presi~- . Watt had breakfast at the Interior · fore." · · · · 1 ., ~. "· .) VASHINGTON_,.,_;.~.Thet R . d- ~,;: ~ent Reagan's long-awaited 1ndi~n pol- , Department Monday with Martin, De- - ·.. w Id . , , --'. "imstratii>n"•h-s move·d,to"m~t~~:e:cef.·ffl~Y · statemd e~t, th.e ;!f eta~s of whicb.,,. La Cruz a~d Wilfor~ Scott, chairman of · ~olve~ -~ith ~~~~~f~~~~~~~ ~:!ldt be ' "' with-_;Jndian·~ l-eadersVan red -,'b- In-~t..,r_w~re ma_ e pubhc:• las! wee~. The..,..: / ·the Cou~cil of En~rgy Resource Tr bes. _ ., . '. i · ·;ctefiot.$eci;etary.'Jani'es,J:ttrs 'ch!rgest~l~s~atement r~asser~ the ·comf!l'1tment : -.:.