The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1954-05-07
Tribal Council Considers Oil Deals

Numerous meetings of the
Blackfeet Tribal Council have
been held during the past week.
some of them open meetings and
some in executive sessions, to
consider problems confronting
the tribe. particularly with re.
gard to the so-called Cullen pro-
posal.
The tribes chief council, Mr..
Arthur Lazarus. of Washington,
D. c.. has attended most of these
meetings. and advised the Coun.
Gil members as to legal phases
of the negotiations. and also as
advisor to the policy committee.
As many of the sessions we're
In closed meetings, it Is not per.
missible to publish the detailed
proceedings. but a following sum.
mary of what transpired has been
obtained from sources considered
reliable:
In the course of discussion the
following was brought out as re.
CARDS the Cullen deal:
l. That although these negOti-
atoms have been pending since
last November, nothing has been
presented the council in writing
other than a preliminary state.
ment of intentions.
2. That in a meeting held Ap.
ril q in the office of the Sec.
rotary of Interior at the request
of the Cullen group, the Tribal
Council was not invited to at
tend.
3. The Tribal Attorney has
been awaiting the action of the
Cullen interests to express q will.
ingness to prepare q contract for
presentation to the Tribal Coun.
Gil.
4. That the Tribal Council is
not obligated In any way to deal
with the Cullen interests il the
terms Of any contract presented
to them is not satisfactory.
5. That no expense the Cullen
group has been put to SO far in
connection with these negoti.
atoms will be refunded to them
by the Tribe.
6. That II a plan Is worked out
with the Cullen group 1t IL un'
derstOOd that II will not include
allotted land except at the re.
quest of the all0ttee.
A motion was seconded and
carried that the Tribal Council
would allow three weeks, or un.
til May -. 1854. for the attor.
neys for the Tribe and the Cullen
interests to prepare q detailed
contract for submittal to the Tri.
bal Council for their consider.
alton. The motion further stated
that II no contract was In the
hands of the Tribal Council by
that time. then the Cullen plan
or deal would be considered a
closed issue. The motion further
abolished the recently created
planning committee of the Tribal
Council and stated that mo mem.
Der or committee of the council.
or the council itself should do
anything to discourage applica.
tons for leasing of tribal lands
during the interim or at any
time. and all applications for
leasing of tribal lands should be
submitted to the Chairman of the
on and Gas Committee of the
Tribal Council" The oil and gas
committee Is composed of Angus
Monroe. chairman: Brian Connoi.
~. Fred NJ. Grant. Charles Guard.
ipcc and Francis Bullshoc - ali
members Of the Tribal Council.
The council also considered re-.
vising the lease form used in the
leasing Of tribal lands and indi.
cations are that they will use q
form calling for graduated rcn.
tai. an cscalator clause as regards
ROYALTY. and provision which
Will not permit deduction of roy.
atty paid In advance through nav.
mcnt Of rental on Tribal lands.
as has been the practice In past
years.
II Is emphasized that these pro.
visions only apply to tribal lands
and do not extend to allotted
lands as the Tribal Council has
no Jurisdiction over allotted
landS.