And now:[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 09:57:16 -0600 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: Liz Pollard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Red River Compact & KCA Tribes Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Message-Id: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE THREE OKLAHOMA TRIBES RALLY TO DEFEAT RED RIVER COMPACT ANADARKO, OK, October 26, 1999 - The Intertribal Land Use Committee (ILUC) of the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache Tribes (KCA) of Oklahoma is launching a mighty effort to defeat the so-called Red River Compact. This measure would change the boundary between the states of Oklahoma and Texas and has already been signed by Governor Bush of Texas and Governor Keating of Oklahoma. It was introduced in Congress last week for its approval and is expected to be in place by December 31, 1999. The commission which formed the Red River Compact contained one Indian member to represent three tribes with interests in this move. The boundary between the two states was set in 1925 by the Supreme Court as the south bank of the Red River, and it has remained so ever since. About one third of that boundary passes right through the old reservation lands of the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache tribes, land which is still public land held in trust by the federal government for the three tribes. Oil and gas revenues from the south half of the river were also set aside in 1926 as a trust fund to benefit the citizens of these three great Indian nations. The state of Texas does not recognize public lands, and the tribes fear they will lose that trust fund as well as considerable land and rights to its resources. Several committee members noted that the commission completely ignored native sovereignty when the proposal was devised. Emily Saupitty, Apache tribal official, also noted that many individual Indian allottees will lose considerable lands if this measure goes into effect. Noting that both governors have approved the measure already, Henry Kostzuta, Chairman of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, commented, "George W. Bush wants to be President, and he's already taking land from Indians!" In response, the tribes have formulated a campaign to defeat this measure in Congress. The National Congress of American Indians was contacted and is cooperating fully with the tribes. A position paper and letters from the committee are being sent to Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, to NCAI itself, and to all members of Congress in both houses. A concerted lobbying effort is being mounted, with support from NCAI. The three tribes are asking the support of other tribal members throughout the country by contacting your senators and representatives. FOR MORE INFO: Liz Pollard * Smoke Signals Enterprises 505 W. Louisiana Ave., Anadarko, OK 73005 (405) 247-2251 - Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 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 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
