1987-01-23 Char-Koosta News

              VOLUME 15, NUMBER 23_THE SHOOTING MONTH_JANUARY 23, 1987
Secrecy about investment program transfer angers Indian leaders
The idea that the private sector can do business more efficiently than the federal government seems to be a popular one with the Bureau of Indian Affairs these days. The concept isn't finding similar favor with leaders in Indian Country, however.
Two proposed B1A management changes -- contracting out the oversight of more than 100 Indian schools, and letting a Pennsylvania bank handle the investment of around $1.7
billion in Indian funds — have raised the ire of Indian leaders across the nation. (A third intention -- getting out of the forestry business -- is still in the rumor stage.)
Ross Swimmer, assistant Interior Dept. secretary for Indian affairs, has publicly announced his plans for getting the Bureau out of the school business in the next few years. (See the story on page four.)
He's not being as open about his desire to let the private sector handle close to two billion dollars of Indian money. His own staff at the area office level doesn't know much about what's
going on. Neither do the Indians whose money will be used.
All that's known for certain is that the transfer of funds to the Mellon Bank of Pittsburgh is due to start early next month, beginning with around $400 million, which includes $5 million in Salish and Kootenai funds.
The secrecy surrounding the Mellon Bank issue has Tribal leaders asking, "Whatever happened to the government-to-government relationship promised to the tribes by the Reagan administration?" A second issue of serious concern is: Doesn't the (Concludes on page two)
Salmon seasons for 1987 are approved
The Tribal Council, in cooperation with the Montana Fish & Game Commission, voted Jan. 16 to accept a plan to establish salmon-fishing seasons on Flathead Lake and the Flathead River:
Flathead Lake will be closed to fishing for kokanee salmon from January 23,1987, through May 1,1987.
The Flathead River, the North, South, and Middle Forks of the Flathead, the Swan, Stillwater, and Whitefish rivers and their tributaries will be closed to salmon fishing from August 15, 1987, through October 15, 1987.
BACKGROUND A review of existing data on kakanee in FLathead Lake by the joint CS&KT/state technical committee in December, 1986, reached the conclusion that the 1986
spawning run, which was the poorest on record, would be followed by a run only slightly better in 1987. A number of strategies for augmentation of these two weak-year classes was discussed to avoid similar weak runs in four years when the offspring return.
The 1986 year-class will be supplemented by greatly increased hatchery releases. However, existing production will probably not be sufficient to raise the year class to full strength. To avoid a similar problem in 1987, it was determined necessary to greatly reduce or eliminate harvest in portions of the 1987 fishery to maximize the fall spawning run. After discussion it was decided that restrictions should target the winter lake and fall river fisheries when kokanee concentrations and catch rates are very high. Because the expected 1987 spawning run under standard harvest will probably only reach (Concludes on page two)