1980-09-01 Char-Koosta News

              PABLO, MONTANA 59855 ISSN: 0528-8592
VOLUME 10 NUMBER 9
FULL MOON OF THE HARVEST OF RIPE THINGS
SEPTEMBER 1,1980
WHO OWNS THE RAIN: Report From the Water Conference
"The land is no damned good without water," is how Kesley Edmo, Council member for the Fort Hall Reservation, summarized the issue of Indian water rights at the Inter-Tribal Water Conference held in Portland, Oregon on August 1-2.
130 representatives from 12 northwest tribes whose reservations are in the Columbia River Drainage Basin - Burns - Paiute Indian Colony, Coeur d'Alene Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Kalispel Indian Community, Kootenai Tribe of the Idaho, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation, Spokane Tribe of Indians, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation,, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakima Nation, and Con-
federated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation - participated in the two-day conference entitled "Who Owns the Rain?". People from government agencies, the media and interested individuals brought the total attendance at the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commisssion sponsored conference to nearly 200.
See related article
on page four»
The topic for the first session, federal water policy and tribal water, erupted into a dynamic and often heated exchange between implementators of
council highlights
Here are a few of the high spots from the August 15th and 22nd council meetings:
August 15 — The Housing Rehabilitation Department underwent some streamlining of operations and will soon have a new director in the wake of John Vallee's resignation.
Some preliminary ideas were voiced concerning changing the Division of Enforcement and Wildlife's name to include the concept of conservation. (This topic came up again at a later (Continued on page 3)
federal water policy and tribal leaders. And after hearing from these planners and federal policy purveyors, the tribal participants had reason to believe that land without water is exactly the issue.
Bearhead Swaney, council member for the Flathead Reservation, characterized the plans of water policy planners as, "in fact, schemes whose final outcome would be the taking of Indian water."
Tribal members are concerned because the Carter Administration is pressing for action on determination of Indian water rights. Federal, state and local governments as well as private users want to know how much water is available in the future for power generation, irrigation, fish habitat, navigation, recreation, industrial development, mining and municipal water supplies.
(Continued on page 14)
Inside this issue.
Kootenai Falls Dam.............................Page 2
"Letters to the Editor"..........................Page 6
Freedom Friendship Race Results..................Page 8
Health Corner.................................Page 9
Standing Arrow II Dance Winners................Page 10
Calendar....................................page 15
SKCC Fall Semester Schedule....................Page 15