1960-04-01 Char-Koosta News

              CHAR-KOOSTA
PUBLISHED BY CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES, FLATHEAD AGENCY   MONT
April-May, 1960
Vol. 4 — No. 3
Blue Bay Lodge . . .
Flathead Lake Villa Sites
By Walter H. Morigeau Chairman, Natural Resources Committee
Under the Homestead Act of May 22, 1909 the lands along the Flathead Lake that were not allotted to members of the tribe but were set aside as Villa Sites and Town Sites. Some of the Villa Site Lots were turned over to the General Land Office for sale, those not sold by 1935 when the Wheeler Howard Act went into effect were turned back to the tribes for tribal use. The Villa Sites that have tribal lots remaining are: Big Arm Villa, Safety Bay Villa, Finley
Point Villa, Blue Bay Villa, Orchard Villa, Pollard Villa, White Swan Villa, Festou Villa.
In recent years three or four of the members of the tribe traded their allotments for lake shore lots and Blue Bay Lodge was established on Blue Bay Villa. In the past some of these lots were leased to non-members of the tribe. For some time now members of the tribe have been requesting the use of these Villa Site Lots. Regarding this request the Tribal Council has in the past two years worked out a Lease Form .approved by the Bureau of Indian Af-
Blue Bay
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Tribute to Fr. Taelmaii
By Walter W. McDonald
For the last three years I have paid tribute to Father Louis J. Taelman, S.J., in dedicating the April issue of Char-Koos-ta to a great priest and Saint to the full blood Indians. Father Taelman's birth falls on the 19th of April and this year Fath er crossed the trail the 93rd time. Since the day Father was graduated from St. Joseph's College, Exarde, Belgium he has decicated his work with the highest esteem to his parish, especially to a minority group, the American Indian.
Father Taelman has devoted over 60 years of his life to the Indian people having been over 15 years among the Crow, 16 years among the Kalispell, Cal-wills and Spokanes. However the Flat-head-Kootenais have had the benefit of Father's spiritual guidance for over 30 years. It was through the work of Father Pierre DeSmit, early pioneer of the 1840's, who inspired our own Father Taelman to see there was a job to do, which was to give the Indians help in education and spiritual guidance. Father Catalde, S.J., admitted Father Taelman to the Rocky Mountain Mission. It was in 1890 that Father Taelman first saw the beautiful Mission Valley and the Mission at St. Ignatius.
One could write a long history of Father Taelman, but the real history we have is he is with us at 93 years of age, and he carries on his duty as chaplain at the Holy Family hospital in St. Ignatius. And he is seen in our picturesque church every Sunday morning unless something unforseen keeps him away.
fairs which is now in use.
The Lake Shore Lots would average from two to five acres and inside lots from four to ten acres. The Council decided that in order to give more members of the tribe a chance to use these lots they would divide the lake shore lots.
The approximate number after dividing, is 161 lots and of these there are 52 approved long term leases and assignments and 31 pending leases, which laaves 78 lots open for applications.
Any tribal member wishing to apply for a lease on these lots may do so by contacting the Realty Office of the Tribal Council at Dixon, Montana.
There are definite regulations under this lease which the applicant will have to conform with, one mainly for example will be that the sites or lots will be used only for home sites.
AMENDMENT APPROVED
Word has been received by the Chairman of the Tribal Council from the Secretary of the Interior Office that the recent election on the amendment to the Constitution held April 1 has been approved by the Secretary.