NEWS November 15, 2004

COURTESY PERMIT FOR NL RESEARCH ON THE YAKAMA RESERVATION REFUSED.

The Executive Director of the Vogel Study reported to the Board - during its annual meeting on October 28 - that the thirty-two year relationship between principle researcher David Akers and the Yakama Indian Nation has apparently been terminated by the Yakama Nation Tribal Council.

Repeated calls to the individual responsible for approving permits have not been returned.  No formal notification that a courtesy permit has been denied has been received.   However, a source close to the Council reported that the permit had indeed been refused.

We regret that it will no longer be possible to gain access to the closed areas of the Yakama Reservation for research purposes.   We know that the Yakama Nation has in recent years become more protective of its sovereignty over its lands and resources.   In addition, concerns over personal safety have increased, because of rising drug trafficking and crime in the Toppenish area.   We thank the Tribal Council for their generous support over the previous years.

Despite the setback, research work will continue in the region.   We are presently formulating plans to restructure our studies and will report on them at a later date.   We will also be expanding research to other areas - mostly in Washington state - where ALP activity is known to occur on a fairly regular basis.

In the meantime, efforts to raise funds for field work and daily operations of the Study will go forward.  The Willard J. Vogel Study is designated as a 501(c)(3) public charity by the Internal Revenue Service.   As such, contributors to the Study can receive tax credits for their donations and grants.