1976-02-15 Char-Koosta News

              COURT DECIDES HOWLETT CASE
Dixon: The Tribe_ has received a decision by the 9flfCircuit Court of Appeals upholding a lower court decision in favor of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in a law suit brought about by Tribal members Kevin Howlett, Katha-leen Ross and Bernard Clairmont.
Howlett, Ross and Clairmont had brought suit against the Tribe and thè Tribal Election Committee in February of 1974, contending that th* Election Committee bad disqualified them as Councilmen Candidates and Con Con Committee Candidates, in 1973 elections,
illegally. The three had been disqualified because of the one year residency requirement on the Reservation in the respective district for which each had run.
The Trio charged the Tribe with violating rights guaranteed them under the Indian Civil Rights Act, and to demonstrate that the residency requirement under attack was necessitated by a compelling Tribal interest.
The appellate court agreed that the Tribe has a compelling interest in providing that candidates for the Tribal Council are well acquainted with the
"unique problem incountered in promoting Indian Cultural identity and administering their own unique Tribal government"... the Court stated that this goal can be achieved legitamately through imposition of" substantial durational residency requirements.
The Three members still have the option of an appellet court rehearing the case or a review of this decision by the Supreme Court. It is not known at this time if any or all of the three will exercise the options available.
NEWSPAPER OF THE SALISH, PEND D'ORIELLES AND KOOTENAI TRIBES "^OFTHE FLATHEAD RESERVATION j
VOLUME 5 NUMBER 20       FULL MOON OF BANDS SPREAD ALL OVER
FEBRUARY 15, 1976
ALCOHOL & DRUG ABUSE CENTER OPENS
Has the alcoholism program gone to the dogs? That's what Judge Don Dupuis, Chairman of the Alcoholism committee wondered when he returned from a trip to Washington to find the office space taken over by the state liquor store. He found, to his relief, The Alcohol Program had moved into new offices behind the Dairy Queen.
See page 6 for the complete story and pictures.
THREE STUDENTS IN EARTHQUAKE
Three Tribal members who are on a work-study project from the University of Montana, have been reported safe in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.
The three girls, Renee Roullier, Germaine White and Betty White arrived in Guatemala January 22, and were to begin classes at the Projecto Linzuistico Francisco Marroquin, in the City of Antigua, January 26th. Antigua is located about 40 miles from Guatemala City, center of the earth quake.
It was not known for several days where the girls were when the earth quake hit, nor whether they were okay. Finally their families were notified Friday that they were safe and uninjujed.  They are reported to be in town approximately 80 miles northwest of Guatemala City.
It was not Known at the time we went to press wheth* er or not the girls will continue their study program or if they will return home and take the courses at a later date.
The 4 week work-study program was originated to give credits to students in Spanish and Botany courses at the University of Montana.