SPOKANE, Wash. – We’re now into Day 2 of the Indian Land Consolidation Symposium, a three-day conference that began Tuesday morning. Speakers are addressing issues central to the protection and preservation of natural resources, including land and water as they pertain to Native peoples.
The “Protecting & Preserving Mother Earth and Her Resources” symposium panelists have been discussing issues, such as the American Indian Probate Reform Act, status of the Cobell settlement, probates, appraisals, fractionation and land acquisition. The event ends Oct. 28.
The 20th Annual Land Consolidation Symposium is hosted by the Kalispel Tribe and sponsored by the Indian Land Working Group. The conference is taking place at the Northern Quest Resort and Casino.
If you go to Buffalo’s Fire on USTREAM, you can view a live Internet stream of the panels. It’s a work in progress, so, thanks for being a part of it. All the shows are also being recorded for later viewing.
The goals of the Indian Land Working Group are to:
- Restore and preserve the native land base
- Promote native use and management of the land and resources
- Educate tribal communities about land restoration, use, and management options and models
- Support native land policy reform at the local and federal level
Here’s a look at Day 2:
Wednesday, October 27th
8:00 am Continental Breakfast
General Session Begins 9:00 am
9:00 am – 9:45 am
Panel VI – American Indian Probate Reform Act: implementation and possible legislative remedies and initiatives
Panelists:
Judge Sally Willett
Gloria Koehne, BIA Realty, Southwest Region
Helen Sanders, Chehalis Landowners Association
9:45 am – 10:45 am
Panel VII – Appraisals
Speaker: Iris Crisman, deputy director, Office of Appraisal Services
10:45 am – 11 am Morning Break
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Panel VIII –Book project on trust reform
Panelists:
Helen Sanders, Chehalis Landowners Association
Kristin Ruppel, assistant professor, Montana State University
Judge Sally Willett
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Lunch on your own
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm
Panel IX – WA State Dept. of Revenue Real Estate Tax Exemption
Panelists:
Sindy Armstrong, WA State Dept. of Revenue
Sharon A. Redthunder, ILWG Interim Director
1:45 pm – 2:45 pm
Panel X– Leases/Rights of Way – Using GIS to locate improvements, rights-of-ways, and to identify possible trespasses
Panelists:
Bill Austen, Attorney at Law
Dave Lundgren, Attorney at Law
Marcella Giles, Attorney at Law
2:45 pm – 3:00 pm Afternoon break
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Panel XI – Cobell v. Salazar updates
Panelists:
Judge Sally Willett
David Hobbson
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Evening break
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm ILWG Banquet & Fundraiser Auction
