Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 16, Number 12, 1 December 1999 — Reconciliation talks begin [ARTICLE]

Reconciliation talks begin

JOHN BERRY, Assistant Secretary, Policy, Management and Budget for the Department of the Interior and Mark Van Norman, director, Office of Tribal Justice of the Department of Justice have announced the schedule for public consultations to implement reconciliation efforts as called for in the Apology Resolution. The week-long series of events begins with a lei-draping ceremony at 'Iolani Palaee. Berry and Van Norman will then proceed to the neighbor islands for outreach to Native Hawaiian eommunities and to observe programs benefitting them. Meetings open to the publie have been scheduled on eaeh island during the Dec. 5-9 time ffame and those attending are invited to bring a brown bag meal. As previously announced, the pubhc is invited to attend discussions on the reconcihation process to be

held at the Keoni Auditorium of the East-West €enter on the campus of the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa on Dec. 10 and 11,8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Written testimony submitted to Berry by Nov. 22 will contribute to promoting productive discussions. Issues to be covered on Dec. 10 include housing, heahh, education. culture, eeonomie development, land, natural resources; on Dec. 1 1, the reconciliation process and the poUheal relationship between Hawaiians and the federal government. Participants in the panels and round tables will have been notified by Nov. 29. However, all interested parties are encouraged to provide input through pubUc comment and written testimony whieh, if received by Jan. 7, will also be included in the official record to be maintained by the Department of the lnterior. ■ 1 H1 I W I I

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