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He reiterated his perception that "there is this mass confusion
over jurisdiction, where do you go and who can investigate [a case]
and who was the perpetrator, who's the victim...?" Even experienced
investigators get confused, Mr. Gibbons stated. There is a need
to clarify these distinctions because Oklahoma has no reservation
boundaries and Indian lands are a patchwork.

CHUCK CHONEY AND ROY FOREMAN,-SPECIAL AGENTS,
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, OKLAHOMA CITY

Mr. Choney told the Committee that the FBI has worked closely with
Bureau of Indian Affairs investigators and tribal police departments.
In addition, there have been many educational initiatives undertaken
with local law enforcement agencies and county district attorneys
to secure cooperation and assistance in criminal cases in rural
areas. "Once word got out that [crimes on Indian land] were exclusive
Federal jurisdiction, we had a lot of problems with the law enforcement
officials out in rural areas saying "We don't have jurisdiction
out there, therefore, we're not going to send people out there," Mr. Choney said.

He also discussed FBI efforts to recruit more American Indians in
law enforcement. Mr. Choney actively recruits at colleges and universities
in Oklahoma. When he first joined the FBI in 1976, he recalled,
18 special agents were American Indian. "Now we have 40, and its
a slow increase, but the increase is there."

Roy Foreman, who is a supervisor on the desk which handles civil
rights cases, said that the FBI has had very few civil rights cases
in Oklahoma, ranging from about "five to eight police brutality
cases in the State at any time, which I consider very, very good."
The FBI representatives at the forum all stated that they receive
few complaints from American Indians. "No matter what we do," Mr.
Choney observed," the Indian people will not come forward...I believe
its a feeling that nothing is going to get done." In response to
an inquiry from the panel, the U.S. attorney and the FBI representatives
stated that no complaints or referrals have been directed to them
alleging tribal violations of the Indian Civil Rights Act (ICRA).