1981-09-01 Char-Koosta News

              PABLO, MONTANA 59855 ISSN: 0528-8592
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VOLUME 10 NUMBER 8
Tribes must lessen dependency on D. C.
NEWSPAPER OF THE SAUSH, PEND d^OREILLE AND KOOTENAI TRIBES OF THE FLATHEAD INDIAN RESERVATION, WESTERN MONTANA FULL MOON OF THE HARVEST OF RIPE THINGS
SEPTEMBER 1,1981
Federal official addressed Affiliated Tribes on the Flathead
A Washington, D.C. biggie, Ken Smith, Assistant Secretary of the Interior - Indian Affairs, highlighted the first day of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNWI) annual convention, held this year at the Arlee Pow-Wow grounds on the Flathead Reservation. In Montana to attend the National Tribal Chairmen's Association meeting in Billings, Smith spent the better part of August 12 addressing various issues concerning ATNWI-member tribes.
Here on the Flathead, for example, Tribal Councilman E.W. Morigeau questioned Smith about tribal water
Date set for pilgrimage
Sunday, September 13, has been set for this year's pilgrimage to St.  Mary's Mission in Stevensville.
The annual journey takes place early each fall in memory of the Salish people's many years in the Bitterroot Valley before they were forced to relocate here on the Flathead Reservation. Many tribal elders are buried in the Mission's cemetery.
Plans call for a noon-time mass, followed by a potluck dinner and inter-tribal war dancing.
Transportation will be available to whoever needs it. (Head Start has loaned two buses.) Departure time will be 9:30 that morning. Call Clarence Woodcock at 745-4572.
A good turn-out is hoped for this year for the traditional journey to the homeland of our ancestors.
codes, in light of the fact that Smith's boss, James Watt, keeps turning them down. Smith answered that the time is nearing when a code will have to be approved, but "we'll have to be very sure of our legal grounds so we can't be assured of denying anyone due process".
One of our Kootenai tribal members, Vernon Finley, asked Smith about the hydroelectric development taking place up around Kootenai aboriginal grounds near Libby. "Our spirits say they want that area left alone," he said. Smith wasn't familiar with the Libby dam issue but assured Finley that his office has to support each tribe's side of various issues and that he'll follow up on the Kootenai situation.
Two pieces of Indian legislation were brought up during the question-and-answer period: the Indian Child Welfare Act and the Indian Religious Freedom Act.
Secretary Smith was frankly not optimistic about the first piece of law because funding for its implementation looked extremely doubtful. Allocations for the next fiscal year haven't been decided, he explained. If Indian programs are funded at 95% of 1981 's level, there may be money available. The expected level is 90°7o, though, and there's definitely no extra money to be had then.
ATNWI President Russell Jim (Yakima) expressed his concern that the Religious Freedom Act "had no teeth". He also asked Smith if he could "give us some reassuring words" about James
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Inside this issue
FAD in trouble................................Page 3
"Letters to the Editor"..........................Page 8
Health Corner................................Page 10
Is there oil on the Rez?.........................Page 14
SKCC fall quarter class schedule...............Page 15-18
August Calendar..............................Page 22
Council Meeting Minutes....................Pages 24-26