Vermont native affairs panel seeks new members

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) – Vermont's commission on Native American Affairs is seeking nine new members.
A new state law that sets up a process for state recognition of Native American tribes also has revised the makeup of the commission and expanded it from seven to nine members.
Gov. Jim Douglas' office says he'll be appointing nine new members to the commission by Sept. 1, provided that a sufficient number of qualified candidates have submitted applications to the governor.
The new law requires that eligible applicants must have lived in Vermont for a minimum of three years and that appointments should reflect a diversity of affiliations and geographic locations in Vermont.