The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1955-06-17
Interior Secretary
Opposed by Council
On Legal Grounds

On Legal Grounds
Resenting the action of Inter
ior Secretary Mckay in instruc-
ting Blackfeet Agency Superin-
tendent Charles Spencer to call
an amendment election on the
Blackfeet Reservation, the Black
feet Tribal Council in a letter to
Secretary Mckay challenges the
legality of the procedure.
Following is copy of the let
ter:
Browning, Montana,
June Is, 1855.
Honorable Douglas Mckay
Secretary of the Interior,
Washington, D. c.
Dear Mr.. Secretary:
We have been informed by
Charles S. Spencer, superinten-
dent of the Blackeet Indian
Agency, at Browning. Montana,
that you have called an election
on the Blackfeet Indian Reserva-
ton at Browning, on two pro-
posed Constitutional amend
ments. And you have further
informed the Superintendent
that he is to hold the election by
himself, being member of the
Election Board and to select 9TH
er members to serve on the cleo
ton board, which members shall
be employees of the Bureau of
Indian Affairs. You have also
instructed the Superintendent to
supply the ballot boxes and poll
ing places and that the ballot
boxes, at the close of voting,
shall be taken to the Indian
Agency office and there securely
kept and on the following day,
the election board, composed of
Government employees, should
count the ballots.
The Blackfeet Tribal Business
Council believes that you are in
error, or have been misinformed
as to the law applicable to such
election. Under Article x of the
Blackfeet Constitution, it is your
duty as Secretary of the Interior
to CALL an election on any pro-
posed amendments at the request
of of two-thirds of the Council,
or upon presentation of petit
ton signed by onethird of the
qualified voters, members of the
Tribe. Once the election is call
ed by you, it then becomes the
duty and the right of the gov
ern body of the Blackfeet Tribe
to HOLD the election, that is, to
prepare ballots, appoint the cleo
ton board, judges and clerks OF
the election, name the polling
places, and to count the ballots
upon the completion of the vot-
ing, and to certify the results to
your office.
We feel that your instructions
to the Superintendent of the
Blackfeet Indian reservation vio-
late not only the clear language
of Congressional Acts, but the
spirit and intent of the Wheeler
Howard Act, and is an attempt
to deprive the Blackfeet Tribe
of its right of local self-govern-
ment. Putting it in another way
there is no State in the Union,
no County, no village, that would
permit a federal official to hold
or supervise local elections, and
the Blackfeet Tribe does not pro-
pose to allow you, or any other
Federal official, or employee of
the Federal Government to do
this attempted illegal act.
We must respectfully advise
you that the Blackfeet Council
does refuse to recognize any
election held by Government en-
ployees. We will perform our
duty and hold an election when
properly called by you II you
persist in your attempted action
as contained in your letter Of in
struction to the Superintendent
in regard to holding an election
on the Blacheet reservation, we
will avail ourselves Of all RENE
dies provided by law, including
the Courts and the power Of pub
lie opinion.
Respectfully yours,
Chairman, Blackfeet Tribal
Business Council
ATTEST:
Asst, Secretary. Blackfeet Tribal