Page #4 BIA talks about Blackfeet crisis Nov. 18, 2013 8:06 PM | 0 Comments A A Written by David Murray Tribune Staff Writer FILED UNDER Local Local News (Page 4 of 4) ANSWER: Level 1 sanctions means the Tribe’s audits did not meet audit standards and requirements under the Single Audit Act — a corrective action plan was put in place and the Tribe is working to address the deficiencies and be removed from sanctions. Level 1 sanctions usually means the Tribe is allocated funds monthly rather than the full amount or substantial amounts (subject to continuing resolution allocations) up front of the contract or grant start dates. QUESTION: Does the BIA have the authority to suspend or cancel 638 contract agreements with the Blackfeet Tribe? If so, under what circumstances would the BIA consider such an action. Is the BIA concerned about the level of risk associated with the Blackfeet Tribe’s core business management systems? ANSWER: Yes. The BIA can re-assume the PL. 93-638 contracts or grants it has with the Tribe for cause. For cause usually means the Tribe is not providing services as provided in the contract or grant scopes of work. The BIA is concerned but no action to suspend or re-assume contracts has taken place at this time. QUESTION: Is the BIA confident in the BTBC’s current ability to engage in federal contracting processes? Are there time-sensitive negotiations regarding the renewal of 638 contracts on the Blackfeet Reservation that have been delayed or are at risk of being delayed due to the current divide within the BTBC? ANSWER: Yes. We maintain that the Tribe can still contract with the Federal government and are confident they will resolve their internal impasse. QUESTION: During a previous fractionation of the BTBC in July 2012, public affairs specialist Nedra Darling said that “Based upon the Blackfeet Constitution we recognize the Sharp administration as the duly elected government of the Blackfeet people.” The members of Chairman Sharp’s faction at the time included only five members of the BTBC — not a legal quorum — yet they went on to use the BIA’s endorsement as evidence of their legitimacy as the governing body of the Blackfeet Reservation. However, in recent communications Acting-Superintendent Crowe has declined to recognize either Chairman Sharp’s or Councilman Augare’s faction, referring instead to recognition of the “BTBC in its entirety as the governing body of the Blackfeet Tribe.” How does the BIA explain this inconsistency and does the BIA believe it was a mistake to outwardly recognize the Sharp administration in July 2012 under very similar circumstances? ANSWER: When BIA says we recognize the Sharp Administration we include all nine Council members who have been elected or appointed under the Tribe’s Constitution and Ordinances. We don’t recognize factions because those can change. QUESTION: What does the BIA believe should be done to reconcile the two factions within the BTBC? What is the BIA willing to do to help achieve that end? ANSWER: We believe the solutions must come from the Council itself. We still give great weight to the BTBC in working through these impasse problems themselves. We have and continue to offer mediation services to help resolve the impasse
Posted on: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 03:47:03 +0000