Special Guest — Larry Echo Hawk, the assistant secretary-Indian Affairs U.S. Department of Interior, pictured second from the right in the bottom row, visited the Redding Rancheria tribal facilities and council as part of his California tribal tour.

Larry Echo Hawk, the assistant secretary-Indian Affairs U.S. Department of the Interior, visited the Redding Rancheria Tribal Council and Executive staff on April 27.

The Tribal Council had previously invited Assistant Secretary Echo Hawk to personally visit the Redding Rancheria so that he could become familiar with their tribe, including the uniqueness of their small land base.
Echo Hawk was on the West Coast visiting California tribes. He had held a meeting at Blue Lake Rancheria the day prior to arriving in Redding where he met with several different tribes.

According to a press release, the Redding Rancheria was fortunate that he came to visit their tribe and tribal council was able to talk with him about the history of the Redding Rancheria as well as some of the priorities of the tribe, which included issues such as a lack of funding for tribal courts and law enforcement for California tribes and the complex process and lack of resources to aid tribes in putting their lands back into trust.

After the meeting with the tribal council, several council members joined Echo Hawk on a tour of all of the tribal properties and businesses.

The tribal lobbyist, Holly Macarro, attended the meeting as well as outside legal counsel, Sara Setshwaelo-Dutschke, stated the press release.

Traveling with Echo Hawk were Brian Newland and Burton Warrington, policy advisors to the deputy assistant secretary, as well as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Del Laverdure and Amy Dutschke, Regional Director of the BIA’s Pacific Regional Office.

“The Redding Rancheria was pleased that Assistant Secretary Echo Hawk took time in his busy schedule to meet with our council and staff to discuss issues that are unique to California tribes and the Redding Rancheria,” said Tracy Edwards, CEO Redding Rancheria.