The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1960-04-21
managing their own affairs.

Now he said, not all the people
OF the Blackfeet Tribe feel as
critical of the results of the act
as the group here today. Some
of them can look and see where
there have been some benefits
and with respect to the things
that have been criticized today
II is my opinion that the people
elected to the Council to repre-
sent the full Tribe probably have
not been fully prepared for the
type of responsibility that is Civ.
en- them by the Constitution and
Charter of the Tribe and | don't
think all of the fault and diff.
Guilty is properly laid on the
Wheeler-Howard Act.
Mr.. Old Person and the other
delegates expressed themselves
as having had the understanding
that the Act was to be effective
for ten years and at the end of
that time the people would have
choice of whether or not they
continued to operate under its
provisions.
After discussion il was deter
mined that their misunderstood
ing probably stemmed from the
provision in the Charter that any
time after ten years the Tribe
could request termination of SUI
pervisory power reserved to the
Secretary of the Interior under
sections SD, (2), ST, 5g, 5h and
section 8 of the charter. All dele
gates re-affirmed the fact that
they clearly understood they
would have the right to revoke
the Charter after any ten-year
period if it did not operate to
their satisfaction. Mr.. Melis
pointed out that section 10 of the
Charter says it shall not be re-
voked or surrendered except by
act of Congress.
In summarizing Mr.. Old Per,
son said it is evident even to the
Superintendent how the full
blood Indians have suffered I'M
der the act. Somehow we would
like to see measures taken where
we can have more control of the
money and we would be satisfied
to have the money in the Super
intendent's hands, even if his
hands were tied, all would share
alike. He explained how with no
funds with which to campaign,
it is almost impossible to elect
a Council composed of more than
one full-blood Indian. He said
he hoped he could get some in
sight into the structures of laws
that he might be able to help in
some way to improve and correct
the ills that exist on the Reser-
walton. He felt that equal repre-
sentation of full bloods and
mixed bloods would be good on
the Council.
Richard Little Dog spoke a
few words, although he said that
those who had spoken before
him had brought up the points
he wished to discuss, and since
it was late he would take little
time. He asked how the money
received from the oil leases
would be handled. He was in,
formed that individual allottees
would receive their money thru
their individual Indian accounts
and the remainder would go into
tribal B funds under the direct
control of the Council to be dis,
bursed without supervision by the
Superintendent.
Mr.. Little Dog and all dele.
gates expressed sincere pleasure
and appreciation for the oppor'
tunity to meet around a table
with Area Office personnel and
have their questions answered
They expressed appreciation to
officials for listening to their
problems with patience and they
now understand what they must
do for themselves.
Mr.. Melis thanked them for
coming and for the fine construc.
tive attitude in which they pre-
scented their problems. He point,
ed out the sympathetic attitude
of their Superintendent and en-
couraged them to take their prob.
lens to him. However, he said
whenever you feel it necessary
to make a group trip, we will try
to be available and help you
consider your problems. We can
help, aid and advise but the
Blackfeet people have the de,
cisions to make.
AT the request of the delega-
ton, it was agreed to furnish
them with transcript of the dis
cussions today and to forward
copies to the Commissioner for
his review since funds are not
available to this group for a
narcnual visit tn the Commits.