Livestock now on the adjacent rangelands are required to concentrate on the remaining open creek of approximately one-half mile, which is not as readily accessible as the area sold. 6. No acquisitions in this category were made during the past 10 years. PART III-WIND RIVER 1. Positions, salary, and nature of work of tribal employees and employees paid from land and leasing enterprise funds: Realty officer-$5,710 per annum, based on civil-service grade GS-9. Salary is paid jointly by the tribes from tribal funds advanced to local individual Indian money account. The incumbent of this position is responsible for the direct supervision of the realty functions of the agency and is under the immediate supervision of the superintendent. The primary duties of the position, in addition to the direct management of all leasing, sales, transfers, etc., affecting tribal and restricted allotments, is the personal handling of all oil and gas and mineral leasing in all phases including preparation of notices of sale. As head of the realty section he deals directly with the business council on all matters pertaining to land transactions with the exception of contracts for tribal assignments covering base properties used by individual Indians in connection with their livestock grazing permits. Tribal assignments are supervised by Bureau employees in the branch of land operations, range management, in conjunction with the tribal range and assignment committee. Assistant realty officer, $4,525 per annum, based on comparable Civil Service Commission grade GS-7. Salary of this position is also paid from tribal funds advanced to local account. The incumbent of this position is an assistant to the realty officer and is in charge of the acquisition and disposal, tenure and management phases of the realty section in transactions affecting individual allotments. Assumes charge of realty section during absence of realty officer. Law clerk, $3,415 per annum, based on Civil Service Commission grade, GS-3. Salary is paid from local land and leasing enterprise funds. The incumbent of this position is responsible for maintaining basic land records, which are now being brought up to date, reporting land inventories of deceased Indians for probate, assisting in the preparation of wills, hearings, and all related duties in the proper recording of heirship determinations affecting the ownership of land. Position now vacant. Clerk-stenographer, $3,175 per annum, based on Civil Service Commission grade GS-3, salary paid from local land and leasing enterprise funds. Duties of this position are as indicated by the title. Performs stenographic work, mainly for the realty office and other clerical duties in land work as assigned. 2. Refer to item 1 of this part. 3. The tribes do not have a regularly employed real-estate adviser or consultant with respect to real-estate activities. Real-estate matters not originating in the business council are referred to the business council by the realty officer with his recommendations or comments. 4. The only tribal committee dealing with real-estate matters is the range and assignment committee composed of business council members appointed by the chairman of the respective Shoshone and Arapahoe Business Councils. The primary responsibility of this committee has to do with range matters; however, they do assist in reviewing and evaluating real-estate transactions involving only tribal lands and only recommending actions to the joint business council. 6. Under a contractual arrangement, with approval by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, the tribes employ Martin Toscan Bennett Associates, a firm of consulting engineers located in Washington, D. C. This firm is making a continuing study of the mineral leasing on the Wind River Reservation, past and present. At present they are consulted by the tribal council on all matters pertaining to mineral leasing, particularly with regard to pending sales for oil and gas leases. 7. The tribes have what is known as the Shoshone and Arapahoe Land and Leasing Enterprise. This enterprise was established in 1948 to assist in financing the real-estate work of this agency following a drastic reduction in appropriated funds for administrative positions. Since the time this plan was initiated and approved by the Commissioner's Office, all clerical work in the realty section has been paid from this account with the exception of the salary of the realty office position, which has been financed from tribal funds as explained under item 1 of this part, and during the past year only, the assistant realty officer's position has been paid from tribal funds. Fees charged on transactions performed in the realty and range management sections comprise the total income accruing to the credit of the enterprise account. The enterprise has provided funds for essential clerical assistance for realty work without cost to the Bureau or the tribes. Under the plan of operation, fixed fees are established and an annual budget based on anticipated income is prepared for tribal and Bureau consideration and approval. The enterprise also finances one clerical position to assist range management. 8. It is proposed to establish one position, that of realty officer, effective July 1, 1958, to be paid from appropriated funds. The business councils have been advised of this. The establishment of this position would of course obviate the tribal position of realty officer now paid from tribal funds. The incumbent of the tribal position is being considered for Federal appointment. It is further planned to establish additional positions if and when funds are available, in order that the Bureau may assume the full financial cost of real estate work for which it has trust responsibilities. The establishment of one position by the Bureau at this time would not eliminate the necessity for continuing presently the land and leasing enterprise or assistance from the tribes for the payment of salary for the realty assistant position or other positions required to fully staff the realty office. Sincerely yours, ARTHUR N. ARNSTON, Superintendent. SHOSHONE BUSINESS COUNCIL RESOLUTION No. 509 Whereas under the terms of Public Law 74, all expenditures from Shoshone tribal funds require approval of the authorized representative of the tribe and of the Secretary of the Interior; and Whereas on April 27, 1955, in a general council meeting at Fort Washakie, Wyo., the Shoshone Business Council was authorized to proceed with certain business: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Secretary of the Interior or his authorized representative be requested to approve the following item without time limitation: Land acquisition program, $150,000; be it further Resolved, That the above funds be advanced to the regional disbursing officer, Minneapolis, Minn., as required; be it further Resolved, That the chairman be authorized to sign this resolution on behalf of the Shoshone Business Council. ARAPAHOE BUSINESS COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 510 Whereas under the terms of Public Law 74, all expenditures from Arapahoe tribal funds require approval of the authorized representative of the tribe and of the Secretary of the Interior; and Whereas on May 12, 1955, in a general council meeting at Arapahoe, Wyo., the Arapahoe Business Council was authorized to proceed with certain business: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Secretary of the Interior or his authorized representative be requested to approved the following item without time limitation: Land acquisition program, $150,000; be it further Resolved, That the above funds be advanced to the regional disbursing officer, Minneapolis, Minn., as required; be it further Resolved, That the chairman be authorized to sign this resolution on behalf ́ of the Arapahoe Business Council. RESOLUTION No. 515 Whereas the Shoshone-Arapahoe Joint Business Council on June 16, 1955, considered a recommendation of the range and assignment committee that a draft of a proposed program to acquire allotted lands be presented to the tribal attorneys for their consideration and recommendations; and Whereas the tribal attorneys have considered the proposed program and have discussed it with proper officials of the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and Whereas the attorneys have presented a modified proposal which is believed to be acceptable to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Whereas the joint business council believes that adoption of the proposed program is advisable for the general welfare of the tribes: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the program as amended and submitted by the tribal attorneys is hereby adopted by the joint business council with the request that it be given prompt consideration and approval by the Secretary of the Interior or his properly authorized representative. Adopted this 22d day of July 1955, by a vote of 10 for and 0 against. RANGELAND PURCHASE PROGRAM, WIND RIVER RESERVATION, WYO., JULY 22, 1955 Use of tribal funds has previously been authorized to acquire allotted lands essential to the protection and use of tribal lands. The Shoshone General Council authorized the use of $150,000 on April 27, 1955, and the Arapaho General Council authorized the use of $150,000 on May 12, 1955. To achieve these objectives, so much of the authorized funds as are necsesary are made available for the following purposes, subject to approval of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs: 1. Preferential right to bid.-In each instance where an allottee requests that his allotment be sold, the Superintendent shall request the allottee to state in writing whether he consents to a preferential right for the tribes to meet the high bid. The superintendent shall promptly inform the range and assignment committee or joint business council of each application and where the allottee has not consented to a preferential right in the tribes to meet the high bid, the range and assignment committee, if the land is desired by the tribes, shall be free to persuade the allottee to request in writing such preferential right for the tribes. Where such consent is given, the advertisement shall contain a provision affording to the tribes the right to purchase such allotment at the highest price bid. The decision whether an allotment should be purchased by the tribes shall be made by the joint business council. 2. Exchange of lands.-Tribal and allotted lands of approximately equal value may, with the approval of the joint business council, be exchanged when, in the judgment of the joint business council and the Secretary of the Interior or his authorized representative, such exchanges are beneficial to the tribes and are fair to the allottees. 3. Negotiated sales.-In justifiable circumstances, allotments may be sold to the tribes by negotiated sale without advertising for bids. Such sales must be based on adequate valuations and must be approved by the Secretary of the Interior or his authorized representative. |