University of Virginia Library

Work With Indians

He wanted the American
Indians to have a full share of
the responsibilities in
developing their own programs.
Under his direction, a team of
American Indians led the
Bureau of Indian Affairs and
settled land claims, including
the return of the sacred Blue
Lake lands to the Taos Pueblo
Indians of New Mexico.

The Department of the
Interior, under Mr. Hickel's
direction, sponsored the first
environmental "teach-in."
Federal water pollution control
officials spoke to student
seminars on what the
government was doing to
combat water pollution.

Mr. Hickel was instrumental
in halting construction of a