1956-11-01 Char-Koosta News

              Christmas Tree Harvest Is Popular Business
Once again the Christmas tree harvest is in full swing. Last year was a very successful one from the standpoint of the cutter and the Tribe. The Indian cutters received approximate ly $85,000 for their efforts and the tribe received $21,917 from the stump-age on the Christmas trees grown on Tribal land.
Prospects for the 1956 season are good, although it is still too early to make a prediction on how successful it will be. Several factors affecting the season will not be known for some time yet. One of the factors, and a very important one, is whether or not there will be any Christmas tree blight this year. This fungus attack cannot be readily identified until early fall, when the needles begin to show small discolorations. The last major attack of this fungus was during the season of 1947, with several smaller attacks in later years.
Another factor is the weather. Early rains or heavy snow limits the areas where Christmas trees may be cut and as a result fewer can be harvested.
Christmas Tree Program Held
In order to better utilize the Christmas trees on the Reservation the Forestry Department in conjunction with the Tribal Council has held two meetings for cutters and buyers this fall.
Mr. J. H. Mikkelson, Sanders County Extension Agent, demonstrated proper cutting practices. Several buyers were asked to be present to give information on what types of trees they want and what prices they will pay for them.
Reports coming to the Forestry Department indicate that the quality of the trees from the Reservation is dropping each year and that the buyers are finding it harder to compete against other sections  of the
Lightning Causes 40 Flathead Fires
All but five fires on the Reservation« were caused by lightning. This was the report up to Sept. 10 when 45 fires in 1956 had been reported. I
Of the 45 fires, 33 were less than V4 acre, 10 between Va and 10 acres, 1 > between 10 acres and 100 acres, and 1 exceeded 100 acres. It is interesting ' to note that all of the man-caused fires exceeded V4 acre. The largest fires occurred in grass lands, where rate of spread is very high.
Due to numerous rains, though of short duration and widely scattered, burning conditions have remained favorable, especially in timbered areas. Many grass slopes have a lush growth in which fire spreads very rapidly, even though some vegetation remained quite green into early Sept.
CHAR-KOOSTA
PUBLISHED BY CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES, FLATHEAD AGENCY. MONT. Volume 1 — Number 1
Nov»mb«r, 1956
Introduction to Activities Of the Flathead Reservation
From Walter W. McDonald
As this Char-Koosta goes to press, it should go down in the history of the Flathead Reservation that this is the first attempt to acquaint the member of this Tribe, and other interested parties, with the problems of this Reservation in writing.
Usually the only information people get of the activities of this Reservation is verbally or through the Council minutes. The Tribal Council minutes have been a well-discussed subject. Some of the people feel they are too short and should be more specific.
We are in hopes the Char-Koosta will find its way to the grass roots of the Indian people with information on the activities of this Reservation and acquaint them with our vast natural and human resources.
I wish to thank Superintendent Stone and his staff for the cooperation he has pledged in behalf of this paper; and also the Tribal Council and their staff who has confirmed the idea of a newsletter.
For myself I was appointed editor of this paper, consequently this paper has an editor who isn't a journalist, but I am very happy to assist in bringing to the Indian people in a news release the information I have gained through experience with this Reservation and the members of this Tribe as all I have to offer in getting this paper across to the public. There are many subjects and problems on this Reservation that the Char-Koosta will cover from time to time.
There are also certain public relations that should be made, because of undeveloped resources and present enterprises.
Recently a troup of 22 members of the Flathead Tribe participated in the All American Indian Days at Sheridan, Wyoming. This grand celebration is sponsored by the Kalif Shrine for crippled children (all proceeds to go to the hospitals for the care of crippled children.) This organization has * done wonders. In the first place, dis--
county and Canada with the poorer quality trees from the Reservation. The Christmas tree potential here on the Reservation is quite large and with proper harvesting methods could become one of the outstanding Christmas tree areas of the country, possibly even surpassing the Eureka-Fortine
crimination has been liminated in Sherifan. It has promoted Indian culture to the extent that better costumes have been made to compete in a national show.
In addition to the above subjects, the Flathead Tribe went to Sheridan on a publicity tour for the Tribal Bath House at Hot Springs This year the Hot Springs Enterprise is experiencing the biggest income in history, but there is a need of more advertisement. Being able to appear on this National All American Indian Days program, where an estimated crowd of between 20,000 and 30,000 people watched the parade Friday, Aug. 3, where the Flathead troupe won the grand national prize for 26 minutes of show, participating against 46 tribes, was the greatest publicity the Flathead Tribal Bath House could get. The Flathead cars were decorated with posters of the Hot Springs Bath House and Louis Tellier, acting as master of ceremonies, told the public of the location, investment, operations and the ownership of the Hot Springs Tribal Bath House.
At the meeting in Sheridan, Glenn M. Emmons, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, was present to witness the last day of a colorful celebration. Mr. Emmons indicated recently through circular letters to the Superintendent for the Indian Tribes to contribute as much as possible in forming a satisfactory program on every Reservation. The purpose of Mr. Emmons' request is to discuss newer and major aspects of Bureau policies and program placing special emphasis on (1) prog-graming for social and economic improvement (2) education (3) relocation and (4) reservation economic development.
In our future newsletters releases we certainly welcome any contribution the members of this Tribe want to offer on any of the above subjects. We welcome letters to the editor.
The first of October, Superintendent Stone, J. . Swaney, Secretary-Treasurer of the Tribal Council, W. H. Morigeau, Vice-President of the Tribal Council and W. W. McDonald, president of the Tribal Council were called to a meeting by Glenn Emmons in Salt Lake City. There will be more in detail in the next issue of Char-Koosta regarding Mr. Emmon's program and ideas on the routine work with the Indian people.
area.
The name CHAR-KKOSTA is derived from the names of the most famous of the two tribe's hereditary chiefs, Chief Charlo of the Salish, and Chief Koostata of the Kootenai. These two men were pioneers in forming the confederation.