The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1954-06-11
VITAL DECISION PENDING

W. ~ OG S'S'SN
Important decisions are facing
the Indian people Of the Black
feet reservation a, this time. ano
a wise and understanding Solu
ton of the more important issues
will have a iar.reachiNg effect or
the future economic and social
life Of every member OF the tribe
and every resident Of this reSer'
walton. both Indian and non-ln'
dian.
The evident policy o: the pre-.
sent national administration Is TO
generally curtail and eventually
eliminate most II not all the ser.
vices O: the Fedora! government
to the Indian people This pro.
gram is being sugag-coated with
hIgh,Soun6inE statements aSSur.
ing the Indian people they are 10
be liberated given equal rights
with all other citizens. etc. strip
ped 0: all the deceptive phrase
ology. the ultimate policy is all
too evident. and the intention is 10
curta!l and eventually eliminate
the rights and services guaran-
teed Indian people by treaties
and subsequent commitments by
the government reaching back in.
TO history more than one hundred
years This policy is evidenced by
the recent proposed change in the
museum in Browning. and then
the leak that a similar program!
was in store for the Cut Bank
boarding school. These are only
fringe operations 0: the general
plan TO "liquidaie" the Indian
services
This broad policy is mentioned
only 70 point up the importance
Of wise solution 10 the current
problem facing the Indians o:
turning over the management Of
their business affairs TO a group
Of outside capitalists on a share
and sha-e.alke basis 0! the pro.
hts. While this so-called proposal
las been talked about now for
i've months or more. il is still in
he talk stage. with no definite
program yet submitted. While
his discussion is on. the major
u companies are spending mil.
ions 0: dollars in buying leases.
'oins se!smographing and ex.
1loratory work on the reserva.
ion, particularly along the noun.
ain front. and are only asking
hat the development program be
Kept on the competitive basis.
NTH everyone having an equal
opportunity 10 compete for the
;ril!lns privileges on what they
believe is one 0! the
greatest OIL and gas fields in
Montana.
This newspaper holds no brie!
or any oil company. and is only
Interested in helping to protect
What We believe 10 be the best
interests Of the Indian people.
he reservation as a whole and
he community Of Browning and
area. We have no
intention .! trying 10 advise the
indian people what course 70 fol.
IOw. or TO interfere in any way
with the management Of their
own affairs.
However. after listening 70 the
pli,,cring promises Of the SOCIAL.
I'd Cullen group for the past seve.
raj months. and noting their fail.
urc 70 submit workable propo.
sal to the Indian people. and OBJ
serving the activities Of the oil
in spending huge Q.
Of capital In preparation
for o drilling program. we do not
hesitate TO state that In our hum.
bic judgment the best interests Of
the Indian people and the com.
munity as q whole will be served
by bringing TO an early end the
chickering's with the Cullen crowd.
and giving the oil companies the
green light TO go ahead in the
additionally American way Of
free enterprise and get their drill.
ling started al as early q date as
possible.
Attractive as are the high
prices recently paid for allotted
lands on the reservation by the
oil companies. II Is O fact that
only o few people have benefited
by these sales. II the Tribal lands
had been included In the sale. .
large amount Of capital would
have gone into the funds Of the
Tribal Council. and all individu.
al members Of the tribe would
have benefited.
After all. the banus money paid
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