1986-10-24 Char-Koosta News

              Introducing 'Mission Valley Power': Interior signs FIIP contract
The Tribes became the managing agency of the power division of the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project on Oct. 21.
Assistant Interior Secretary Ross Swimmer signed a contract that day that allows the Tribes to be the manager and operator of the FIIP power division, which will be renamed "Mission Valley Power", for the next three years, effective immediately.
The contract was signed under the authority of the Indian Self-Deter-mination Act, a law that allows tribes to contract to manage federal services that affect Indian people.
Swimmer pointed out that the project will still retain ties to the federal government. "We have a broad responsibility to assure that the power customers' right to influence the decisions of the utility is considered as it would be with the investor-owned or public utilities," he said.
The Tribal plan calls for a utility board and a consumers' council that will allow for non-Tribal member input into decisions. The Tribes prepared an "exemplary contract", Swimmer said.
Although the Tribes requested the
When the candidacy filing date for the upcoming special election came to a close, five people had thrown their hats into the ring: Louis Adams, Richard "Dick" Barber, Henry "Hank" Baylor, Alvin "Snuse" McClure, and Stella Morigeau.
Char-Koosta News reporter Charmel Tellier spoke to the five hopefuls last week to find out why they're running for the Council position recently vacated by Kevin Howlett. Their comments follow. Stella Morigeau
Stella Morigeau is currently a self-employed Christmas tree cutter who
contract in September, the Interior Department wouldn't approve it while it was under scrutiny by Montana's Senator John Melcher.
Melcher, at the request of a newly formed rural electric cooperative made up of non-Indians, delayed the contract's approval twice by including it in amendments to two pieces of legislation this summer. Both amendments, which were used to hold a number of other, unrelated bills "hostage", in the words a senator from Maine in the Congressional Record, failed to gain full approval by both parts of Congress.
Tribal officials are pleased, to say the least, at the recent turn of events. (Concludes on page four)
recently resigned from a job with Kicking Horse Job Corps. She is 36 years old and has twin teenage boys, Roy and Troy. She has a degree in sociology from the University of Montana.
She says her main reason for running for the remaining term of the Arlee seat is that she strongly feels that there should be a woman's voice on the Council.
Morigeau would like to accomplish a settlement between the Tribes and the Mission Mountain Electric Cooperative. She is also in support of the (Continues on page two)
Five announce candidacy for Arlee seat