1958-12-01 #1 Char-Koosta News

              Christmas Tree
Income Hits Record High
In the November issue of Char-Koosta in Conservation notes, by Mr Heisel, it was brought out that our income for Christmas tree stumpage would be the lowest since 1954. We all missed our guess, a last minute rush along with fair weather brought us the highest income in history. The Christmas tree program is pecujiar, one cannot believe a Christmas tree can be found from one year to the next, but in spite of the blight, which was general in Western Montana, our income was impressive. Also in the November issue of Char-Koosta, your writer brought out the poor practice of the Christmas tree cutters. Since that time, your writer has been cordially invited by some of the Christmas tree cutters to take a trip into the LaMoose logging unit and some of the other units, where logging operations have been carried on. One will see, according to reliable sources, conditions just as bad as the Christmas tree areas, so, we must take a trip.
Many rumors have been going around the Reservation in reference to this years Per-Capita Payment, one of the common statements, "If the Tribal Council didn't spend all the money for their wages, etc., we would get a $300 payment." The Tribal Council operates on a budget, based on income and expenses. The Secretary of Interior or his officers Have not yet dissapproved a budget Jecause of our spending
Our timber income is now starting upward in the past 3 years, we have witnessed some declining price in the lumber industry which was general all over the country. Your writer predicted smaller per-capita payments as far back as 1954, which maybe verified by our former superintendent, Forrest R. Stone. There seems to be a misunderstanding on the part of many members of the tribe who feel that we should receive a larger payment, because of the additional compensation agreed on between the Montana Power company and the Tribes for $50,000 a year for the third generating Unit at Kerr Dam, retroactive back to 1954. The Federal Power commission has not yet approved a 50 year license for the Montana Power Company whereby we receive $50,000, annually for the third unit. In the first place the FPC, have to have all the details of the Montana Power company's operations in order that they may decide whether or not they are justified in having a 50 year license. There has been cases where applicants to the FPC, only applied for control, etc., until the Federal Power Commission acts on the 50 year License, the Montana Power company and the Confederated Tribes agreement for $50,000 annually and retroactive is not in affect
The people in our part of the country were very pleased to know, that at last the lumber industry has increased, which automatically gives employment and relieves the pressures of the unemployed, to seme extent, which has existed for some time. We are fortunate the two large saw mills have chose the sites at Poison and Pablo for their mills, by all
CHA
PUBLISHED BY CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES, FLATHEAD AGENCY   mONI
Vol. 3 — No. 1
December, 1958
Christmas Tree Cutters
The significance of this picture is that no other profession in the world is more appropriate than cutting Christmas trees by a full-blood Indian. The instructions he has received in conservation is well brought out in this picture, one may note the one branch left on the stup for a future tree, the stump is trimmed and great precaution is used in the selection of the good  trees. The picture of the long-
^^^^
haired Indian shows the contentment in using the bounty of mother nature. This man would not be content in a city or on a farm, but where the real full-blood lives so close to nature that he may cash in a few dollars and may even kill an elk or a deer proves there is a great respect shown of ones nature land.
Era wing by Joe Hewankorn, full-blood
means we should have more local employment and this also gives people a chance to sell their timber. Besides the two larger mills (Plum Creek, now op-crating) and Dupuis Brothers, under construction. There is to be a new stud mill in the vicinity of Pablo. Every man that goes to work at one of these mills relieves the labor pressure, whereby other men will have a chance to work some place else. In this respect another un employment gap is closed. Your writei brings this labor problem out because our Indian employment, on this reservation is very low, in fact there is not any Indian labor on county or state highway work. In St. Ignatius the Irrigation headquarters bears the name on the outside, above the door, "Indian Irrigation Project," one would think there is a connection with the Indian people, look at the personnel, less than 10 percent are Indian employees. The other discomfort the sign presumably causes, is that many non-Indains, when they pay their light bill often pass the remark, "Payments of light bills go towards Indian Tribal pay-
ments and believe me many local people think that way. The members must face facts and know facts. Income from light bills or electrical energy do not go into our Tribal Fund, however, net power Revenue income does apply to Indian O & M charges.
Construction cost of taxable or white owned land, another strike Mr Indian has to ward off and defend themselves, and at times it is common to hear people remark or even inquire if the government gives each Indian an allowance by check. Some people seem to think that this actually happens. Even some of our local non-Indians have this feeling, of course an Indian maybe seen with a Government check either from a lease, land sale, timber sale, or a per capita payment check.
A word about timber cutting on the reservation. The saw mills coming in, is not going to solve the problem. The fed-em! regulations and personnel will play a big part in timber sales, as it now happens the Forestry office do not envy (Continued on page 3)