The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1954-08-06

NV AltIc lulcTcSl HAS UcCu
aroused among members of the
Blackfect tribe by stories that
have been printed in outside news.
papers concerning q movement
initiated here several weeks ago
for the restoration OF mineral
rights to allOttccs who acquired
title, either in trust or in fee
simple, to land on the reservation
that were acquired through the
allotment laws passed by con.
gress, and regulations promulga.
ted by the Indian Bureau.
This newspaper has been aware
of the movement since it first
started several weeks ago. but
has rcfrained from giving the
matter publicity for the reason
that the proposal did not appear
feasible on superficial examina.
ton. nor is it entirely understand.
able as yet just why members of
the tribe should be called upon to
vote on a proposal to release
valuable assets that are now vest.
cd in the tribe as a whole. and re.
turn title to holders of land to
which individual members of the
tribe long since obtained title,
and many of such bcncficiarics
have sold their interests, or are
heirs of older Indians who are
no longer living.
On more detailed investigation
of the proposal. II has been found
that the movement followed q
similar situation on the Fort
Peck Indian reservation. in east.
ern Montana. where mineral
rights have recently become very
valuable as a result of the recent
discoveries Of oil in the Williston
basin.
Sponsors of the restoration
program advance some rather
convincing arguments as to why
the allottccs should be given pos.
session of the rights they now
claim.
As the background to the pre-.
sent movement. sponsors of the
movement cite the fact that origi.
nally. when Indians received al.
lOtments of certain tracts of land
which they could select any
place on the reservation. the al.
lOtmcnt included the mineral
rights as well as the surface. This
was at time when little thought
was given to this area being pc.
tcntial oil and gas land. Later.
about 1919. congress passed an
act rcscrving to the tribe as a
whole all mineral rights on allot.
ted land. and allOtmcnts made
after that time contained this
reservation. Many qualified In.
dams took advantage Of the al.
lOtment provision Of the law.
selected 800 acres of land. and
were subsequently given q trust
title to the tract. under the super.
vision Of the Blackfcct Agency.
Later on. on application and the
allottcc being declared compc.
tent 10 handle his own affairs.
patents were issued to some Of
these allotted lands. and the
owner was then at liberty to keep
the land or sell Il. and issue
decd to the land. the same as any
other owner.
But these tracts. title to which
was obtained after 1919. carried
no mineral rights. which had
been previously reserved for the
tribe as whole. while allotmcnts
issued prior to 1919 carried title
to the mineral rights rs we'll rs
to the surface.
The argument Is set forth now
that this discrepancy between al.
lOtccs previous to 1919 and those
issued afterwards IL unfair dis.
elimination. and should be cor.
rcctcd.
II Is estimated that approx.
matcly 100000 acres Of land was
issued to individual Indians
since 1919. carrying no mineral
rights. and that before 1919 ap.
pr0xinsatcly $4,000 acres were
allotted to individual Indians.
carrying the mineral rs we'll ~
surface rights.
The bill authorizing the rcscr.
walton Of tho oil rights TO the
tribe was passed In 1919. and
stipulated that the law should re-.
main In full force and effect until
such time M congress might
direct otherwise. There was also
an 8 tacrc homestead law. with
similar provisions. Thus o very
large acreage IN affected. and
many individuals through heir.
ship and otherwise.
One argument for the rcstOra.
ton movement Is that In years
past the money received from oil
royalties. bonus rentals and
leases has exceeded six million
dollars. not including the recent
big sales Of this amount. Il Is
claimed. only about one million
dollars has been paid out to mem.
bcrs Of the tribe. In per capita
"m""ts Thus. Il II argued that
the individual allottees should be