A. LORETTA AFRAID OF BEAR~COOK
“Anpetu Luta Win”
:::: BIOGRAPHY ::::
An enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Nation of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota, Loretta is an elder and Medicine Carrier for her Tiospaye (extended family). She is a 20-year volunteer on Running Strong’s Advisory Board and President of the Slim Buttes Agricultural Development Program, which she runs in partnership with her husband Tom. She also serves as the Public Relations Director for the Oglala Sioux Tribe and is a member of the OST Internet Website & Development Board of Directors. Loretta is the coordinator and translator for her two mothers, who are members of the International Council of Thirteen Grandmothers. As faith keeper and holder of the Afraid of Bear/American Horse Sundance Pipe, Loretta is a cultural consultant and interpreter. Fluent in Lakota, she speaks what she calls, “my old peoples’ language.”
ORGANIZATIONS:
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• Running Strong For American Indian Youth: Advisory Board
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• Slim Buttes Agricultural Development Program: President
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• He Sapa Reparations Alliance: Ah-hoc Working Group
OGLALA SIOUX TRIBE AID TO TRIBAL GOVERNMENT
:::: PROGRAM OVERVIEW ::::
Through this program, the Bureau provides funding and technical assistance to tribal governments and tribal organizations, enhancing their ability to successfully contract Bureau programs. The program promotes American Indian and Alaska Native self-governance and self-determination through provision of resources to foster strong and stable tribal governments, which empowers them to exercise their authority as sovereign nations. Program assistance is provided in such areas as policy matters, administrative matters, administrative processes, judgment awards, tribal membership rolls, tribal secretarial elections, approval and monitoring of tribal attorney contracts, comprehensive planning and priority setting, and economic development opportunities.
As prioritized by the respective Tribes, funds are used to provide staff at the BIA agency office, or hire staff under a tribal self-determination contract to perform tribal government services at the tribal/agency level. Support provided includes research and preparation of Certificate of Indian Blood forms, review of tribal resolutions to ensure compliance with Tribal constitutions, liquor ordinances, proposed governing documents requiring action by the BIA line officials, preparation of membership rolls for special tribal (secretarial) elections or for per capita distributions, and administration of special elections per 25 CFR 81. The staff also meets with tribal enrollment offices or enrollment committees on enrollment/disenrollment matters and appeals.
In support of Indian self-determination, the Bureau provides training and monitoring assistance to tribal governments in the assumption of new programs and the operation of existing contract programs. The Bureau’s field locations will exercise local delegated authority to approve and award new and expanded contract awards, and monitor existing contracted programs.
Reference: The United States Department of the Interior Budget Justifications and Performances Information for Fiscal Year 2010 Indian Affairs (http://oglalalakotanation.org/Public_Relations.html)