1984-06-12 Char-Koosta News

              Special Issue
KERR DAM - A LOOK AT THE PAST
Teresa Wall wrote the following report, the first of two parts, about Kerr Dam Discerning readers will note the parallels between now and "the good ol' days".
The name Char-Koosta is derived from Chief Charlo's and Chief Koostatah's names. They were the Tribes' last traditional chiefs.
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As early as 1910, Tribal members recognized the potential of the "Water Powers" located within the Reservation boundaries. Even then Tribal members had differing opinions concerning the disposition of the water powers and power sites.
On June 14, 1910, five Tribal members posed a variety of questions to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C. The majority of the questions revolved around water rights, power sites and the irrigation project
Duncan McDonald, one of the Flathead delegates, stated, "We want to have all the water powers and power sites reserved for the benefit of the Indians. We want corporations to acquire these power sites to pay the Indians, instead of the Indians paying them"
Another Flathead delegate, Charlie
Allard, disagreed, saying he did 'not agree* with McDonald as to the reservation of the water powers for the benefit of the Indians. "The title of the water power should never pass from the Indian to any corpor-atioa I am willing to have it leased, but never to be sold"
And now 74 years later, the controversy continues with certain Tribal members calling for a one-time lump sum payment in exchange for a 20-year lease on the Tribal "Water Powers". Tribal members who are opposed to a one-time lump sum payment perceive this action as a sell-out of Tribal resources.
Many Tribal members are aware that the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes currently receive a $2.6 million annual rental from Montana Power Company for the Kerr Dam site.
(Continues on the next page)
District meeting reminder
A combined Poison-Pablo-Ronan district meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday (tomorrow), June 13, in the Council Chambers in Pablo.
On the informal agenda will be discussions about Kerr Dam, per
capitas, secretarial elections, economic development, and any other concerns the audience may have
Dinner will be served, and all Tribal members are encouraged to attend and speak to their district representative.