1982-12-01 Char-Koosta News

              David Lm Moore
Star Route
Big Arra, MT 59910
I 4-83
PABLO, MONTANA 59855 ISSN: 0528-8592
Big SKY Oovhtry
Chief Charlo
Chief Koos ta ta h1
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NEWSPAPER OF THE SAUSH. PEND cTOREILLE AND KOOTENAI TRIBES OF THE FLATHEAD INDIAN RESERVATION   WESTERN MONTANA
VOLUME 11 NUMBER 14    NEW MOON OF THE CONTINUOUS SNOW     DECEMBER 1, 1982
Council bows to pressure, votes 6 - 3 for per capita
The Tribal Council voted Nov. 24 to distribute a $100 per capita, in spite of predictions that it would cause more trouble than good
A delegation of three dozen Tribal members representing "a good cross-section of the Reservation population", in Joe Felsman's estimation, met with the Council to ask that its Nov. 2 decision not to pay out any dividends be reconsidered
Councilman John McClure said he and E.W. Morigeau were instrumental in filling the chambers with the delegation. He was overheard early in the day predicting a 5-to-4 vote in favor of the December payment
Spokesperson Sybil Butler, Dixon, explained that the members she had spoken to were concerned that a relatively small number of people ~ Tribal welfare recipients
Move to Portland may have BIA afoot
Recent meetings with various BIA officials have uncovered a number of snags in the transfer-of-jurisdiction process from the Billings area office to Portland
There's the matter, for example, of a fleet of government-owned vehicles, most of which are used by the forestry program. Although the local BIA agency has the use of 16 to 28 vehicles, Billings holds the titles on them and apportions them out according to federal guidelines. Once Flathead switches jurisdiction, it will be Portlands job to furnish wheels. If Portland has none to share with its newest 'ward
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and employees - were preventing the majority of members from receiving money for Christmas gift buying. Too much
money was being spent for administration of Tribal affairs,
she felt
Councilman Jim Steele pointed out that it wasn't good business to dip into the reserve fund right now, because the income picture was very bad He said interest rates for investments were down from 16 or 17% to 10%. Executive Treasurer Vern Clairmont's figures were slightly higher.
Between this fact and the continuing depressed timber market, the Tribes are actually running 'in the red until the Kerr Dam payment is received in February of 1983, when a break-even point will be reached, Steele said
Half-an-hour's debate between Butler, Clairmont, and four or five especially verbal councilmen, led to a drawn-out vote reversing last month's decision: Tribal members will receive $100 for Christmas, maybe as soon as Dec. 10. Voting for the motion were E.W. Morigeau, John McClure, Noel Pichette, Sonny Morigeau, Joe Felsman, and Al Hewan-korn. Voting against it were Jim Steele, Bob McCrea, and Tom Pablo. (Vic Stinger was on jury duty.)
The December payment will cost the Tribes over $670,000 - $600,000 for the disbursement itself, $70,000 in lost interest, plus miscellaneous expenses for writing out and mailing the checks.
As we go to press, it was unknown whether or not the payment would be approved at the BlA's area level.
Also in question is the 'no-holds' clause in the motion:
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