1978-07-01 Char-Koosta News

              BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID ST. IGNATIUS. MONTANA PERMIT NO. 1 59865
VOLUME 8  NUMBER 5 FULL MOON OF THE SERVICEBERRY JULY 1, 1978
Council Votes To Accept Payment on Disputed Land
The lengthy dispute between the Tribe and the Jesuit Fathers over the sale of 1,200 acres of land near St. Ignatius in 1969, has been resolved by the Tribal Council's decision to accept $447,00 in payment from the Fathers, by a 5 to 4 vote during the June 16th Council meeting.
Through an act of Congress in 1904, the land had been granted to the Jesuits and Catholic Sisters, for charitable purposes and services on the reservation. The Fathers later purchased additional land and eventually acquired a total of 3,200 acres.
The dispute started in 1969, when the Fathers sold the 3,200 acres to the Pack River Co. The Tribal Council questioned the legality of the sale and contended that 1,200 acres should have been returned to the Tribe, when the land was no longer being used for the intended purposes set forth in 1904.
The Fathers agreed and responded by offering the Tribe $447,000 for their 1,200 acre portion of the sale. That amount could have been accepted as full compensation or a partial payment towards purchasing the entire 3,200 acres from Pack River. However, in 1973 the Tribal Council said they were not interested in the money and threatened court-action if the disputed land was not returned to the Tribe.
In their attempt to resolve the controversy, the Fathers were instrumental in bringing Pack River and the Council together in negotiations. A compromise had been reached for the Tribe to purchase the entire 3,200 acres, but ended in a deadlock last year. Pack River said they could not release the land until a four-year lease with a third party had expired.
Notices !
Don't Forget To Attend the 80th Annual Pow Wow at Arlee, June 30th thru July 5th. See you there !.
All thinners and Forestry, Councilmen are welcomed to participate in a Forestry tour on July 6th, starting at 9: a.m. from the Forestry Warehouse.
The Third Quarterly Meeting will be held at the Community Center in St. Ignatius at 10: a.m. July 7th.
All Department Heads will meet at 9: A.M. - July14th, at the Council Chambers, to review the Personnel Management Report with the Tribal Council and Civil Service Representatives from Denver, Colorado.
CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION
Never before in the history of the United States have so much anti-Indian legislation been introduced in Congress. These bills are a reaction to the assertions of legitimate Indian rights manifested by numerous demonstrations and successful court cases. The major bills introduced in the U.S. Congress are:
H.R. 9054:  Introduced by Representative John Cunning-
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