Sharon Wasson, Thomas Wasson, Andrea Davidson, and Elverine Castro (Appellants) seek review of a March 9, 2004 decision of the Western Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs (Regional Director; BIA), rejecting an application from Appellants
to contract Bureau programs under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDA), Pub. L. 93-638, 25 U.S.C. § 450 et seq., in part because BIA does not recognize Appellants as the tribal governing council (Council) of the Winnemucca Indian Colony (Colony). In a separate appeal, Appellants seek review of a July 26, 2005 decision of the Acting Western Regional Director (Regional Director) declining to recognize Appellants as the Colony’s Council. 1/ Because the two appeals share a common issue — whether BIA wrongly declined to recognize Appellants as the Colony’s Council — they are
consolidated for the purposes of decision. For the reasons discussed below, the Board affirms the Regional Director’s decisions.
