1957-05-01 Char-Koosta News

              John McDonald
St. Ignatius, Mont
CHAR-KOOSTA
PUBLISHED BY CONFEDERATED SAUSH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES, FLATHEAD AGENCY, MONT. Application for Second Class Permit Made at the Post Office in Ronan, Montana
Vol. 1—No. 7
May, 1957
YOUR RESERVATION
General Information on Tribe Released by Council
The Flathead Nation is composed of three Indian Tribes, the Pend d'Orielle, the Flathead and the Kootenai. After the adoption of the Indian reorganization Act of 1934 the Flathead Nation became known as the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes. They operate and manage their affairs under this title.
Within the exterior boundaries of the reservation there are 1,234,969 acres of land. This land originally belonged to the Indians and was to be for his exclusive use and benefit. The Flat-heads were a peaceful people, passive in their resistence to the encroachment of the whites upon their land and their ways of life. As a result the Flathead reservation was, by Congressional action, open to whites for settlement and today the whites occupy and own some of the most valuable property on the reservation. Intermarriage and close and continual association with the whites has
erator, two Indian police, a jailer and one field man. Salaries of the manager of the Hot Springs Bath House and its* employees are paid from Tribal Funds. During the summer months the Tribes pay the salaries of fire fighting crews and one forestry clerk. In the Christmas iree cutting season the Tribes employes three temporary police. Many of the Indians add to their income by cutting and marketing*,Christmas trees.
TRIBAL INCOME: Sources of Tribal income are the marketing of timber, rental from Kerr Dam, grazing leases, gravel sales, land assignment and rental leases and income from Christmas tree cutting. The Flathead Tribe owns and operates the Medicinal Hot Springs Bath, known as the Hot Springs Enterprise, which is located in Hot Springs, Montana. They also, own a resort lodge on the east shore of Flathead Lake. Blue Bay Lodge, as this resort is known, is the recreation center for many tourists as well as many local residents. The two
continual a*bociauou ^""ZT^ J^aljintenirises add So the income of been advantageous in one respect, that- jj£ gjjjj g£ both are easily accessible
HOUSING: Most of the Flatbed Indians who live in or near the local towns jr^ve in modern frame houses. Some of sjhe homes in the rural areas are mod-and some are not. As in all com-
the Flathead Tribe is recognized as one of the most advanced Indian Tribes in the United States.
The total number of Flatheads enrolled as recognized members of the Tribe is 4,410. Of these, approximately 2500 live on the reservaiton and the remainder, who still retain their Tribal rights, are scattered throughout the United States and its territories. The majority of the Indians belonging to the Flathead Tribe are mixed bloods. There are approximately 300 fullbloods belonging to the Tribes. The remaining members are Vz Indian or less. Early contact with the whites and a racial intermixture has produced a new population group of mixed bloods who today are the Tribal dominating element. v
OCCUPATIONS — Stock raising and farming are the "ways in which the majority of Flathead Indians make a living on the reservation today. Those who do not farm or raise stock make their living by working in the sawmills and logging camps that are located on or near the reservation. Many are construction workers, leaving their families on the reservation while' they follow construction work off the reservation. Others are employed by the Government, working with the Flathead Indian Irrigation Service and the Flathead Indian Agency. A few Indian girls are employed as nurse's aids in the local hospitals. Some Indians manage their own business such as sawmills, real estate, service stations and ready-mix concrete and gravel supply. The Flathead Tribe employes a Tribal Secretary, a stenographer, a Tribal clerk, two land clerks, telephone op-
ern
mDrtîties off the reservation there are some Indian families who do not have adequate housing. The houses are not large enough to accommodate the families and they are poorly constructed.
DRESS: There is4 no difference in the manner of dress between the Indian and their white neighbors. A few of the older Indians wear moccasins and head dress during the summer months. During the ten day annual fourth of July celebration many of the Indians dress in their ancestral dress while participating in the ceremonial dances. These costumes are rfiade from buckskin and decorated with beads and porcupine quills, in various native designs. The head-dress is made from a buckskin head-band or cap decorated with colored eagel feathers. All wear moccasins made from buckskin. 1 '   ,
TRIBAL  GOVERNING   BODY:   The
Council Salutes Forrest R. Stone
Mr. Forrest R. Stone, Superintendent of the Flathead Indian Agency has retired from the government service, after forty years of service.
In the few years that Mr. Stone has been on the Flathead he has conscientiously worked to improve the riving conditions and general welfare of the Indian people. Of all the Superintendents to come to the Flathead, Mr. Stone was considered by many to have accomplish ed more for the Indian than any of the others. His job was a difficult job. No one man can satisfy 4,300 Indian people; a number of employees, many non-Indian land renters and still abide by Bureaucratic policy without being exposed to some criticism. Mr. Stone should be commended for the tremendous job that he has done during his stay on the Flathead. He has a thorough knowledge of what the Indians must face in the future and has attempted to lay the groundwork for a better life for them. If the truth were known he would exchange a life of retirement for a few more years of work for the betterment of the Indian people.
We regret that he must leave the Flathead. However, he leaves with our respect and good will. We of the Tribal Council wish him many happy years of well earned retirement and leave him with a parting salutation of, "A job v/ell done!"
Members of the Flathead Tribal Council
late law and order and to administer the expenditure of Tribal funds. iThe Tribal Council consists of ten members who are elected by the Indians residing on the Flathead Indian reservation. The majority of the councilmen have at least a high school education. Most of them are sucTessful ranchers or manage their own business.
GENERAL ACTIVITIES: Many of the Indians are active in community affairs, such as belonging to the local saddle clubs, wildlife or sportsmen's clubs, moose clubs etc. Eligible Indians vote in local, state and national elections and their interest in these matters is steadily increasing.
Personnel Changes
Since the Flathead administrative organization was outlined in February, there have been several changes. Robert McCrea has been named as acting Secretary-Treasurer of the Tribal Council to serve until the next election. Joseph T. Grenier, who was the Pro-Flathead Tribal Council is the governing^-curement Clerk during his last assign-and administrative body of the ConfedZ ment at the Flathead, has been trans-erated Salish & Kootenai Tribes, thfe ferred to the Warm Springs Agnecy, at Tribal Council functions according''to thèw^Varm Springs, Oregon, where he is in by-laws set forth, in the  Constitution,   realty
They are governed by a Tribal Constitution and charter, the constitution gives them the powers to regulate the use and disposition of Tribal property, wildlife and natural resources of the Tribe; cultivate arts and crafts and culture; to protect the health, security and general welfare of the Tribes; to regu
Mrs. Ruby K. Ellis has come from the Area Office to assist in administrative
matters..*,--.
Miss Marie Tapia has resigned as dental assistant and was married to Mr. Ralph Stockstad on May 3. Her position has been filled by Miss Ferol Burton, daughter of Roy and Viola Moss Burton.
Application for Second Class Permit Made at the Post Office in Ronan, Montana