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Mohegan Tribe Returns Funding to the Bureau of Indian Affairs
Return and Redistribution intended to help other tribes of the Eastern United States
Contact: Charles F. Bunnell
Chief of Staff, External and Governmental Affairs
860.862.6120; cbunnell@moheganmail.com
Uncasville, CT (March 26, 2008) – The Mohegan Tribal Council has elected to return a significant portion of funding to the federal government’s Bureau of Indian Affairs, with the intention of helping other members of the Unites South and Eastern Tribe (USET) organization.
In an appeal to the eastern regional office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum, Chairman of the Mohegan Tribal Council, returned $105,680 of funding that had been earmarked for the Mohegan Tribe. That amount was awarded through a contract between the Mohegan Tribe and the BIA, pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (Section 638). In addition, Chairman Bozsum asked that another $518, 440 that has not yet been received from that contact be redistributed.
Chairman Bozsum asked that the monies be directed to tribes who “have demonstrated the greatest need and suffer from current or previous year shortfalls in funding” and “do not receive more than ten percent of their revenue from Class II or Class II gaming, or have substantial gaming projects under development that may generate such revenue.” The appeal also asks that these funds not be retained by the BIA or any other federal government agency, notwithstanding any budget cuts or underfunding of such an agency by the U.S. Congress. The appeal also recommended that the BIA work with USET to encourage other tribes who are enjoying economic development and diversification to re-direct their funding to non-gaming tribes.
In a separate agreement, The Mohegan Tribe has initiated a redistribution plan for funds awarded to Mohegan by Indian Health Services (IHS) grants and contracts, planning to direct the funds to other members of the USET organization.
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