Historian

Anderson to Resign as Head of Indian Affairs

BY FREDERIC J. FROMMER - Tues. Feb. 1, 2005
ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON D.C. - Dave Anderson is resigning as head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs after one year on the job, saying he can do more to help American Indians by working in the private sector.

Anderson, 52, earlier removed himself from decisions on which tribes get federal recognition -- a designation that would allow them to run casinos, among other things. He also declined to be involved in American Indian gambling issues to avoid the appearance of any conflict of interest, given his past work in the gambling industry.

"I have concluded that I can have the greatest impact to improve the future of Indian country not by managing the day-to-day operations of BIA programs, but by focusing my time on developing private sector economic opportunities for Indian entrepreneurs," he wrote in a Jan. 27 letter to Interior Secretary Gale Norton, released Monday.

The BIA is part of the Interior Department. The resignation is effective Feb. 12.

Anderson was traveling Monday and unavailable for comment, said BIA spokeswoman Nedra Darling. She did not have more details on what Anderson wanted to do in the private sector.

Last month, Anderson told the Associated Press that he planned to stay through a second Bush administration.

"I very definitely do," he said in the December interview. "I think this is an incredible opportunity to get some things done. One of the reasons I'm here is to help create the change that's needed in the bureau."

Anderson founded Grand Casinos Inc., the former casino management company for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, in central Minnesota, before leaving the company to launch his Famous Dave's barbecue restaurant chain in Minnesota.

Anderson's decision to remove himself on key American Indian issues led to criticism in Indian country and on Capitol Hill. Sen. Chris Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat who had called on Anderson to resign after the removals became public, said Monday that the Bush administration should take the opportunity to find someone who can tackle the recognition process.

"I intend to carefully scrutinize the next nominee to determine if he or she will be able to address the serious flaws in the recognition process," Dodd said in a statement.

The chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, Arizona Republican John McCain, declined to comment Monday. But the panel's top Democrat, Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, said the bureau needs someone who can provide "consistent leadership over a longer period of time."

Anderson "had to recuse himself from a significant number of issues, which handicapped him from doing the job," Dorgan said in a telephone interview.

Jackie Johnson, executive director of the National Congress of American Indians, said the department wants someone who can resolve a lawsuit over money American Indians say they are owed by the federal government over mismanaged trusts.

"Given that emphasis, the timing probably wasn't best for what he wanted to get accomplished," Johnson said, referring to Anderson's focus on economic development.

__________________

"Be good, be kind, help each other. Respect the ground, respect the drum, respect each other."
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badmaninc

Betcha two to one he starts working for a casino for a whole wack of money.

Mr Bo Jangles

He should have stuck with bbq joints.

aye!

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AngelFeather

Hmmm...
Almost sounds like a case of instead of what he can do fer the Natives its what can the Natives do for him?? (referring to the enterpenureal road that he wants to take concerning Native people in the private sector)

"I have concluded that I can have the greatest impact to improve the future of Indian country not by managing the day-to-day operations of BIA programs, but by focusing my time on developing private sector economic opportunities for Indian entrepreneurs,"

that part makes me go Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. Id be careful with people like him... sounds like hes out to make things better for only one person, himself.

geronimo

i think his quote is referring to creating opportunities for indian-owned businesses and other private sector ventures that benefit indian people. that in itself is helping indian people, on individual and community levels.

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AngelFeather

Mybe it was taken out of context and forgive me if so.
his intentions seem good on the outside but whats in it for him? He couldnt even handle the day to day affairs of the people so it makes me go Hmmmmm to what underlying intentions, if any, that he may have.
Call me paranoid...but we just had a an outsider "white" person who claimed to love the Natives and want to help and NOW she is going to jail for embezzlement. This isnt the first time this has happend on our reserve and I know it happens on alot of other reserves. Outside people claiming to help us Natives become more independent and offering entrepreneurial
opprotunities for the people when in the end they were only looking out for themselves, thats my point. Our people struggle hard enough without the greedy people coming in thinking they can dip thier hands into the cookie jar, so to speak.

Coyot_In_The_House

All I have 2 say is Famous Dave's is Da Bomb! Goot Grub!

Joe G

YOT amen!