1959-02-01 Char-Koosta News

              As Long As the
CHAR-KOOSTA    Wat°" F'™ • • •
PUBLISHED BY CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES, FLATHEAD AGENCY. MONT Vol. 3 — No. 3
ribal Ownership on Lake Shore Discussed* Hope to Issue Permits
In the December issue of the Char-Koosta, we carried an article on the elevation of Flathead lake and what it means to the Tribe. We have a meridian line surveyed in 1913 for flood and power purpose's at 2902.02 which takes in some valuable land of property owners, however 2902.02 only pertains to flooding and for power purposes. We realize this should not be confusing because the Tribe is not interested in the land between 2902.02 and 1893, however, when we get to the high water mark of 2893 then the Tribe claims all land and water below that elevation.
It is true that there are many fine homes on Flathead lake and many people own lots that probably there are no buildings on, and we do not question their owneship but we do confirm the fact by our treaty and prior court actions that whenever any one gets on our waters or land below 2893 they are in trespass. We have never indicated we should go to court, because we have nothing to prove. Our rights are recognized. We understand the Flathead Lakers association which is a newly organized association for the purpose of probably taking the Tribe into Court,
and have hired attorneys, etc., but we are still not excited and we intend to issue longtime permits at about $2.00 for each boat dock, not transferrable, this will be supported by a Tribal Ordinance.
Fortunately, your writer had the opportunity to talk before the Rotary Club at Poison on January 8, 1959. The Rotar-ians at the close of the question and answer period were very well satisfied with the intentions of the Tribal Council. It was also brought out that feuds between the non-Indians upon the lake have not contributed very much to solving the problem.
This picture was taken of the primitive area where Kerr Dam is now built. The very appropriate picture is taken of the rapids on the Flathead river where the Indians used to live close to nature near the boiling blue waters and fish to their heart's content.
This picture is typical of Chief Eneas Koostahstah, the last recognized chief of the Kootenai Tribe, Chief Koostahstah, always dressed in the finest way, whether he dressed in street clothes or in his Indian costume. Kerr Dam is up the river a little way from where the Chief is standing.
As has been stated from some politicians, Kerr Dam was a dam built without too much money being spent, just fill the natural rock canyon with cement and there it is.
Flathead Tribe Gets $4,384 In Timber Trespass Case
Superintendent Charles S. Spencer reports that the Civil Court case against Emil Sirucek for timber trespass on tribal lands has been successfully ocmpleted in the United States District Court with a favorable dicision rendered by U. S. District Judge W. D Murray on Feb. 15, 1959.
The defendant had been charged with cutting and converting to his own use 182,9000 board feet of timber belonging
to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The finding of the Court Was that the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribse will recover $4,384.48 for the timber illegally cut by Emil Sirucek.
This action completes the timber trespass case started in 1953 when Emil Sirucek cut tribal timber from tribal lands near Schwartz Lake.
This is one of the first cases of this kind completed through the courts.