The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1954-05-28
CULLEN IDEA STILL
alive after VOTE.


poncmcnt of a dcadlinc to come
= up with definite proposal, the
2 Cullen group that has been no.
= gotiating for a deal to take over
the management of the business
affairs of the Blackfcct Tribe, a
tentative proposal was submitted
5 to the Tribal Council on Monday
: of this week. May oath. the date
: set for the second dcadlinc for
: written offer
| The Tribal Council spent most
5 of Monday and Tuesday in exec
, utive session considering the
written proposal, but held no
; meetings Wednesday as many of
the interested parties were watch
ing the outcome of the big lease
sale.
Thursday morning the Council
reconvened in executive session
to take final action, if possible.
Members of the Council were
sharply divided as to whether
the tentative proposal should be
given further consideration, or
rejected, and shortly before noon
a vote was taken. with nine COun-
Gil members present. Tiff Nc
Kay, treasurer of the Council, Of
fered a motion to reject the ten
tative proposal. and thus end the
negotiations On a final vote
four members supported the mo-
ton. and four opposed, with the
chairman casting the deciding
vote against the motion.
| The roll call. it is reported. was
as follows: For the motion: Coun-
cilmen Mckay. Connolly. Bull
shoe. Monroe: against the mo-
ton: Councilman George kipp.
Guardipee. Spanish. and Devcr-
eaux. with Chairman kenncrly
breaking the tie. Thus the nego-
tiations are kept alive. and after
certain notifications to meet re-
quirements Of the Council. the
modified proposal will again be
considered. and If approved by
, the Council. will be sent to Wash
r ington for further consideration.
: II and when the final draft is
!. approved by the Indian Bureau
!, and Secretary of the Interior. it
). will then be referred back to the
, tribe for a referendum vote.
: Mckay Challenges Proposal
: open letter to members
of the Blackfeet Tribe and
all interested parties. From:
. Tiff Mckay. Browning. Mon
tana.)
! am sure We are all gratiticd
at the interest shown by local
civic groups and individuals in
;. the local museum and the insis.
lance that il be- maintained at its
present level - an educational
and historical institution. | am
also sure that We will make our
appreciation known to those who
spearheadcd this drive to arouse
the ire and Indignation of other
|, Montana organizations At the
prospect Of losing one Of the
principal tourist attractions in
Montana. To me. this Is a true
example Of democracy At work.
This demonstrates what can be
accomplished when a common
. loss or 4 common gain is at stake
. and people are willing TO band
!. together to protect IL.
I am not quite sure whether
interest in the museum or inter.
y est in the Socallcd Cullen deal
Is the greatest among members
Of our tribe and citizens Of the
local community. As most of you
' know. the Tribal Council has
. been discussing the Cullen pro.
poSal for the last few days Some
! members Of our council feel that
this proposal offered by Mr. Cul.
!, len and associates meets the
! needs and wishes of members of
! the Tribe and feel that the Tribe
j. and the community will benefit
by adoption Of this proposal OH.
crS Of US do not.
= When Mr.. Cullen and his rs.
Sociatcs frs, came To Brownins.
and the Blackfcct Indian rcscrv.
alton last November. they stated
= to the Tribal Council. members
Of the Tribe. and local civic
i groups. that they were very
much Interested In the develop.
n,cnt Of the rcscr, alton and were
prepared to invest large sums uf
i capital to bring abou, this hryci
= opmcnt. The Tribal Council -
;. and ] among them - endorsed
}. this statement of intentions and
! authorized Mr.. Cullen to consult
with officials Of the Department,
!. OF the Interior to find out IL tins
= type Of development program,
$ could be carried out Months
:. went by and several meetings
;. were held before the Tribal
y Council insisted that Mr. Cullen
:. proposal BE- submitted to the
council IN more concrete form.