The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1958-09-25

delegation that water was being
charged as a lien against lands
where the lands were not CLASH.
fled as farmlands: lands that are
still in an uncultivated status;
lands lying where water is some.
times not even available. and
charged against cultivated lands
where the Indian farmer has not
made an application for water.
He was further informed that In.
dian allotteeS owning isolated 10
acre tracts along the canal were
being assessed for water when
the lands were not cultivated and
not classified as farmland. and
if they did not pay for the water
the assessment became a perma.
neat first lien against the lands:
and that persons who originally
had the land under grazing per.
nit were encouraged and offici.
ally directed to exclude these
tracts from their grazing per.
mi, because the Indian Bureau
Forestry Dept. did not want tC
be responsible for collecting O
& VI charges from the grazing
pcrmittee and that in many cases
the land is not now included in
a grazing permit and is not being
leased but is still being used
and lien is made against the
land. He was also informed that
if this condition continued to
exist. liens against some Of the
lands owned by our older Indians
would soon total more than the
appraised value Of the land.
The second resolution passed
by the NCAl Of vital interest to
the Blackfeet was that NCAl
would introduce and pass legiSla.
ton in Congress that would re.
lieve Blackfcet Indian farmers.
allo.,ecs and tribal lands. of the
wheat allotmcn, quotas now i'm
posed on Indian lands. This lcgis.
laiion would lift the quotas on
whca, on Indian lands so tina, an
Indian farmer would be able to
90 back 10 farming Indian lands
and be able 10 make living for
himself and family. Such relief
from acreage restrictions shall
be applicable TO lands either own.
ed by or allotted 10 or leased
from the Tribe or other alloitees
by an Indian farmer.
4 policy statement read TO del.
egates al the NCAI convention
Friday night by Asst Secretary
Of Interior Roger Ernst. indicated
the Eisenhower Administration
may have substantially altered
its position on Indian policy
Ernst said. quoting from a re.
cent Statement; by Interior Score.
tary Fred Seaton: = no Indian
tribe or group should end is re-
!aiionship with the federal GOV
eminent unless such tribe O:
group has clearly demonstrated
first. that i, understands the
plan under which such a program
would 60 forward. and sc"0Hf
that the tribe or group affected
concurs in and supports the p!a e"
proposed"
The statement added. Il; /,
absolutely unthinkable 10 me as
your Secretary Of the Interior
that consideration would be given
10 forcing upon an Indian tribe
a so.called termination plan which
did not have the understanding
and acceptance Of a clear ma.
joriiy Of the members affected. -
Ernst told some $50 delegates:
What have tried 10 make clear
is simply this: II is the intention
Of the Federal Government 70
fulfill its complete responsibility
toward the Indian people through.
out the nation. No Indian. Of
whatever tribe. need have any
fear about that"
During the morning Of the 18th
Of September. the convention as.
sembly adopted SO resolutions
dealing with various important
matters Of the Indians.
The main resolution Of the con.
vcntion points TO the poverty and
low standards Of health and cdu.
cation OF the great majority Of
the Indians Of the United States
and urges the federal government,
10 meet It's obligations as provid.
ed In treaties and other laws. II
calls for Indian participation in
planning development Of lands
and other assets Of each indian
group In order 20 bring about
maximum utilization OF physical
resources by the dependent popu.
lation and the development Of
It's population TO It's full po,en
tial.
They asked for enough federal
money 10 carry out such dc.
velopment plans. including cred
II needs and capital investments.
and also 10 be fully advised a,
all stages Of pending legislation
In which their interests may be
involved.
Another resolution on health