The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1953-12-25
Blackfeet Indians Resent Alleged
Interference In Their Cullen
Dealings by Other Oil Companies

Latest official word received at
the offices of the Blackfeet Tri.
bal Council regarding the propcs-
al for management of the resourc.
es of the Blackfeet Tribe by the
Cullen interests of Houston, Tex
as, is that conference was held
December Is in Washington, DC,
with representatives of the Gull
len group, the Secretary of the
Interior and the Commissioner of
Indian Affairs participating. Con-
trary to circulated reports, no
representative of the Blackfeet
Tribal Council attended.
The conference was held for
the purpose Of allowing the Cul-
len group to present the plan en-
dorsed in principle by the Tribal
Council to officials of the Interior
Department and Bureau of In
dian Affairs in order that they
may form an opinion as to the
feasibility of the plan.
Word received after the con-
ference from both groups was
that the plan was being studied
in an effort to determine what
legislative or policy changes
would be necessary on the part
of the Congress and the govern
ment, and also the desirability
of effecting such a program on
the Blackfeet reservation.
1t is understood that a decision
will be reached in the very near
future and upon this decision
will rest the rate of further ne
gotiations.
1t is emphasized by Tribal
Council officers that no definite
agreements have been made as
yet, and that before any agree
ment becomes effective, it must
be approved either by the Black
feet Tribal Council or by a ref
erendum vote of eligible men,
bers of the Blackfeet Tribe, or
both - depending on conform
ance with the terms of any agree
ment with the Tribal Constitu-
ton and charter.
Considerable publicity has been
given this proposal in recent
weeks in local and national pub
LEGATIONS and broadcasts.
Although published reports
have indicated that Mr.. Hugh R.
Cullen, Houston millionaire and
philanthropiSt, is not a member
of the group negotiating with the
Tribal Council, rumor has it that
those in contact with the Cullen
interests still insist that he is
and will sooner or later play a
prominent part in both the ne
gotiations and operations, if a
suitable agreement is reached.
Members of the Tribal Council
who were willing to give an ex-
preston on the subject this past
week did not take kindly to the
protest to the plan registered by
a Mr.. Flenniken of Denver, in
behalf of seven or more oil COM
panies in the Rocky Mountain re-
gion.
1t is understood that Mr.. Elem
niken's protest was made to the
Secretary of the Interior. These
council members could not I'M
derstand the statement made that
if the plan were adopted, local
Rocky Mountain oil operators
would be left out in the cold"
They pointed out that although
the Blackfeet reservation is con-
Sidered one of the greatest po-
tential oil territories in the coun-
try, companies now operating are
slow in developing this potential.
One councilman remarked that
perhaps the recent Cullen pro-
posal would bring the oil COM
panies of this district down off
their high-horse.'
Should negotiations continue
and the report of the Secretary
of the Interior and Commission
er of Indian Affairs be favorable,
the Tribal Council is planning to
send delegation to Washington,
DC, soon after the first OF the
year to consult with their attor-
neys and department and bureau
officials in an attempt to prepare
draft of an agreement under
which the program will be con-
Quoted.