Source: http://narf.org/nill/Constitutions/skokomish/index.html
Timestamp: 2015-04-02 04:25:07
Document Index: 94789292

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 450', '§ 3101', '§ 1301', '§ 81', '§ 81', '§ 81', '§ 81']

Tribal Constitution - Skokomish Indian Tribe; Tribal Law Gateway; National Indian Law Library; Native American Rights Fund
(a)	Outside the boundaries of the Skokomish Reservation at the tribe’s usual and accustomed fishing grounds and stations, on open and unclaimed lands reserved to the tribe by treaty for hunting and gathering, and on lands and waters which are used far access to fishing, hunting, and gathering territories, the Skokomish Tribe shall have jurisdiction as follows:
(3)	Jurisdiction over personal property of all persons subject to the tribe’s jurisdiction;
(b)	All persons born between January 1,1937, and January 12, 1966, to any member of the Skokomish Tribe who was a resident of the reservation at the time of the child’s birth;
Special meetings of the General Council may be called by the President, by the Tribal Council, or by at least twenty (20) members of the General Council who sign a petition which indicates the subjects to be addressed at the meeting. Within five (5) days after he or she receives a members’ petition or a Tribal Council request for a special meeting, the President of the General Council shall set the date for a meeting as provided in section 5 of this article. The meeting shall be held within thirty (30) days after the President receives the request for a meeting.
(c)	To impose taxes on all persons and property within the tribe’s jurisdiction; but no tax shall be imposed on real property held in trust by the United States;
(e)	To license and to regulate the conduct of business activities within the tribe’s jurisdiction;
(h)	To manage, develop, protect, and regulate the use of water, fish and wildlife, minerals, timber, and all other natural resources within the Skokomish Tribe’s jurisdiction; and to regulate land use and development in areas within the tribe’s jurisdiction;
(i)	To condemn for public purposes real and personal property or interests in property within the Skokomish Tribe’s jurisdiction; but no real property owned by or held in trust for members of the Skokomish Tribe shall be condemned without the approval of the General Council; and owners of property condemned by the tribal government shall be paid the fair market value of their land and all improvements on it;
(j)	To enact laws and ordinances governing the conduct of individuals and defining offenses against the tribe; to maintain order and to protect the safety and welfare of all persons within the Skokomish Tribe’s jurisdiction; and to provide for the enforcement of laws and ordinances of the Skokomish Tribe;
(k)	To establish a tribal court or courts and to provide for the courts’ jurisdiction, procedures, and the selection of judges;
(p)	To regulate the inheritance of land and property within the tribe’s jurisdiction as permitted by Federal Law; and to provide for escheat of property to the Skokomish Tribe; but no law or ordinance governing the inheritance of property owned by tribal members shall be effective without the approval of the General Council;
(q)	To regulate the domestic relations of Skokomish tribal members; to provide for the guardianship of minors and incompetent persons within the Skokomish Tribe’s jurisdiction; and to provide services for the health, education, and welfare of all persons within the tribe’s jurisdiction;
(t)	Subject to any limitations imposed by this constitution, to delegate any powers vested in the Tribal Council to subordinate tribal officers, tribal employees, committees, or other appropriate persons; but any such delegation of the Tribal Council’s powers shall be by written resolution;
The Tribal Manager shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Tribal Council. The Tribal Council shall not terminate the manager’s employment without first providing him or her reasonable written notice and an opportunity to be heard.
If a Tribal council member dies, resigns, or is removed or recalled from office, the Tribal Council shall appoint a successor, who shall serve until the next annual election in June. At the June election the voters shall select a person to hold the office for the remainder of the original office holder’s term. If a President of the General Council dies, resigns, or is recalled from office, the voters shall elect a successor at the next regular meeting of the General Council. Until a successor to the President is elected, the Tribal Council Chairman shall perform the duties of the President. The successor shall serve until the next annual election in June.
This constitution may be amended by an election called for that purpose by the Secretary of the Interior if at least thirty percent (30%) of those entitled to vote cast ballots in the election and a majority of those voting favor the amendment. Amendments adopted in this way shall be submitted for the approval of the Secretary of the Interior. The Secretary shall call an election on a proposed amendment to the constitution upon receipt of a petition signed by at least one-third (1/3) of the tribe’s eligible voters as defined by the Secretary’s regulations, or upon receipt of a resolution of the Tribal Council.
Membership.	3.	The Skokomish Indian ‘Tribe shall be a membership corporation. Its members shall consist of all persons now or hereafter members of the Tribe, as provided by its duly ratified and approved Constitution and Bylaws.
Amendments.	(10)	This Charter shall not be revoked or surrendered except by Act of Congress, but amendments may be proposed by resolutions of the Tribal Council, which, if approved by the Secretary of’ the Interior, shall be effective when ratified by a majority vote of the adult members living on the reservation at a popular referendum in which at least 30 per cent of the eligible voters vote.
Ratification.	(11)	This Charter shall be effective from and after the date of its ratification by a majority of the adult members of the Skokomish Indian Tribe living on the Skokomish Reservation, provided at least 30 per cent of ‘the eligible voters shall vote, such ratification to be formally certified by the Superintendent of the Taholah Agency and the Chairman and Secretary of the Skokomish Indian Tribal Council.
Pursuant to Section 17 of the Act of’ June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984) this Charter, issued on May 24, 1939, by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior to the Skokomish Indian Tribe of the Skokomish Reservation in Washington, was duly submitted for ratification to the adult members of the Tribe living on the reservation and was on July 22, 1939, duly ratified, by a vote of 40 for, and 14 against, in an election in which over 30 per cent of those entitled to vote cast their ballots.
Section 3 - Tribal Law and Forums.	The duly enacted laws of the Skokomish Tribe shall be applied in the execution of this Compact and the powers and decisions of the Tribe’s Court shall be respected, to the extent that federal law, construed in accordance with the applicable canons of construction and Title II of Pub.L. 103-413, is not inconsistent.
No other audit or accounting standards, except as specified in Article IV, Section 2, shall be required by the Secretary or his or her representative of the Tribe. To the extent that Tribal Law is not inconsistent, small and minority business audit firms shall be afforded maximum practical opportunity to participate in fulfilling the requirements herein. The preference requirements of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, as amended, 25 U.S.C. § 450e(b) , shall apply to such audits pursuant to Section 2 of Article V of this Compact.
(b)	The Tribe shall maintain a record system, and provide reasonable access to records to the Secretary or an authorized representative, which permits the Department of Interior to meet its minimum legal record keeping requirements under the Federal Records Act, 44 U.S.C. § 3101.et seq., and which will allow for retrocession of this Compact in whole or in part pursuant to Section 13 of this Article.
(c)	In order to put to good use the Secretary’s waiver authority as authorized by Section 403 and (i) of Pub.L.103-413, the Secretary will seek to expedite the waiver of any federal regulations which the Secretary or the Tribe determine presents an obstacle to the carrying out of the Compact and annual funding agreement, its purposes, and the programs, activities, functions, and services pursuant to the Compact, under the following procedures:
(ii)	Not later, than 60 days after receipt by the Secretary of a written request by the Tribe to waive application of a federal regulation f or any funding agreement, the Secretary shall either approve or deny the requested waiver in writing to the Tribe. A denial of a request may be made only upon a specific finding by the Secretary that identified language in the regulation may not be waived because such waiver is prohibited by federal law. The Secretary’s decision shall be final for the Department.
(ii)	Submit the dispute to the Tribe’s Court; or
(iii)	Submit the dispute to mediation processes provided for under the Tribe’s law.
Section 13 - Retrocession.	The retrocession provisions of Section 105(e) of Pub. L. 93-638, as amended, and any regulations thereunder, are herein adopted, except that the effective date of such retrocession of this Compact, in whole or in part, shall be 45 calendar days from the date of request by the Tribe unless the Tribe requests an effective date that is more than 45 calendar days, in which case the Tribe’s requested date shall be the effective date of such retrocession. If the United States and the Tribe mutually agree to an effective date of less than 45 calendar days from the date of the request by the Tribe, the mutually-agreed upon date shall be the effective date of such retrocession.
Section 14 - Tribal Administrative Procedures.	Tribal law and tribal forums shall provide administrative due process rights pursuant to the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968, 25 U.S.C. § 1301, et seq., that persons, or groups of persons, may have with respect to services, activities, programs, and functions that are provided by the Tribe pursuant to this Compact.
Section 15 - Successor Annual Agreement.	Negotiations for a successor Annual Agreement, as provided far in Article VI, Section 2, shall begin no later than 120 days in advance of the conclusion of the preceding Annual Agreement. Pursuant to Sections 403(b) and (g) and Section 404 of Pub. L. 103-413, the Secretary shall make best efforts to continue and to promote self-governance in preparing his/or her budget for subsequent years. The Tribe is hereby assured that future funding of successor Annual Agreements shall only be reduced pursuant to the provisions of Section 106(b) of Pub. L. 93-638, as amended. The Secretary or an authorized representative agrees to prepare and supply relevant information, and promptly to comply with the Tribe’s requests for information reasonably needed to determine the funds that may be available for a successor Annual Agreement as provided for in Article VI, Section 2 of this Compact.
(a)	Every contract entered into by the Tribe in connection with a program, activity, function or service encompassed by this Compact, shall be in writing, identifying the interested parties, their authorities and purposes, state the work to be performed, the basis for any claim, the payments to be made, and the term of the contract which shall be fixed. Contracts which comport with the requirements of this section but which might be void without secretarial approval under 25 U.S.C. § 81, shall be expeditiously reviewed by the Secretary under the following procedures:
(i) if at any time the Tribe determines that a contract may be subject to 25 U.S.C § 81, the Tribe may submit a written request for approval to the Designated Official and the Secretary or an authorized representative shall render a written decision to the Tribe within thirty (30) days of receipt of the request. (Ii)	if the Secretary or an authorized representative determines that 25 U.S.C. § 81 does not apply, he/or she shall proceed to review the contract and shall make a determination indicating that he/or she would not wish his/or her view of 25 U.S.C. § 81 to subject the contract to an assertion it is null and void and, not wishing to disrupt the Tribe’s legitimate contracting activity, has accommodated the Tribe by reviewing and approving (or Disapproving) the contract.
Section 1 - Consolidation.	With the exception of the specific responsibilities of the United States identified and retained in Article IV, Section 3, and the programs, activities, functions, and services funded as provided in Section 403 (b) (4) of Pub. L. 103-413, the Tribe will perform the programs, activities, functions and services as provided for in the Annual Agreement, as provided in Article VI, Section 2 of this Compact. To the extent a program, activity, function, or service included within such Annual Agreement was included within a contract or grant entered into pursuant to PL 93-638, as amended or subject to any obligation arising from such contract or grant, that contract or grant is terminated and the parties’ obligation shall be governed by this Compact.
Section 5 - Reallocation.	Reallocation of funds from one program, activity, function, or service to another within a General Budget Category, or from one General Budget Category to another shall be governed only by tribal law and procedure and shall not require Secretarial consent. In the event a reallocation involves 30% or more, on a cumulative annual basis, of funds for a physical resource trust or trust fund management function performed by the Tribe, the Tribe shall provide notice to the Secretary’s Designated Official, together with an explanation of how the Tribe’s responsibilities will continue to be fulfilled.
In the absence of a definition of imminent jeopardy pursuant to negotiated rule making, imminent jeopardy shall mean significant devaluation and/or loss of a physical trust asset or natural resource or the intended benefit from such asset or resource; or significant diminishment of public health and safety caused by the Tribe’s action or inaction.
(b)	Information and analysis obtained in the performance of such evaluations shall be immediately provided to the Tribe’s designated representative.
(c)	If the United States’ Designated Official makes findings which indicate a risk of imminent jeopardy, the United States’ Designated Official shall immediately notify the Tribe of the specific concerns.
TREATY WITH THE S’KLALLAM, 1855. Articles of agreement and convention made and concluded at Hahdskus or Point no Point, Suquamish Head, in the Territory of Washington, this twenty-sixth day of January, eighteen hundred and fifty-five, by Isaac I. Stevens, governor and superintendent of Indian affairs for the said Territory, on the part of the United States, and the undersigned chiefs, headmen, and delegates of the different villages of the S’Klallams, viz: Kah-tai, Squah-quaihtl, Tch-queen, Ste-tchtlum, Tsohkw, Yennis, Elh-wa, Pishtst, Hunnint, Klat-la-wash, and Oke-ho, and also of the Sko-ko-mish, To-an-hooch, and Chem-a-kum tribes, occupying certain lands on the Straits of Fuca and Hood’s Canal, in the Territory of Washington, on behalf of said tribes, and duly authorized by them.
Article 1. The said tribes and bands of Indians hereby cede, relinquish, and convey to the United States all their right, title, and interest in and to the lands and country occupied by them, bounded and described as follows, viz: Commencing at the mouth of the Okeho River, on the Straits of Fuca; thence southeastwardly along the westerly line of territory claimed by the Makah tribe of Indians to the summit of the Cascade Range; thence still southeastwardly and southerly along said summit to the head of the west branch of the Satsop River, down that branch to the main fork; thence eastwardly and following the line of lands heretofore ceded to the United States by the Nisqually and other tribes and bands of Indians, to the summit of the Black Hills, and northeastwardly to the portage known as Wilkes’ Portage; thence northeastwardly, and following the line of lands heretofore ceded to the United States by the Dwamish, Suquamisb, and other tribes and bands of Indians, to Suquamish Head; thence northerly through Admiralty Inlet to the Straits of Fuca; thence westwardly through said straits to the place of beginning; including all the right, title, and interest of the said tribes arid bands to any land in the Territory of Washington.
Article 2. There is, however, reserved for the present use and occupation of the said tribes and bands the following tract of land, viz: The amount of six sections, or three thousand eight hundred and forty acres, situated at the head of Hood’s Canal, to be hereafter set apart, and so far as necessary, surveyed and marked out for their exclusive use; nor shall any white man be permitted to reside upon the same without permission of the said tribes and bands, and of the superintendent or agent; but, if necessary for the public convenience, roads may be run through the said reservation, the Indians being compensated fur any damage thereby done them. It is, however, understood that should the President of the United States hereafter see fit to place upon the said reservation any other friendly tribe or band, to occupy the same in common with those above mentioned, he shall be at liberty to do so.
Article 11. The United States further agree to establish at the general agency for the district of Puget’s Sound, within one year from the ratification hereof, and to support for the period of twenty years, an agricultural and industrial school, to be free to children of the said tribes and bands in common with those of the other tribes of said district, and to provide a smithy and carpenter’s shop, and furnish them with the necessary tools, and employ a blacksmith, carpenter, and farmer for the term of twenty years, to instruct the Indians in their respective occupations. And the United States further agree to employ a physician to reside at the said central agency, who shall furnish medicine and advice to the sick, and shall vaccinate them; the expenses of the said school, shops, persons employed, and medical attendance to be defrayed by the United States, and not deducted from the annuities.
Article 13. The said tribes and bands finally agree not to trade at Vancouver’s Island, or elsewhere out of the dominion of the United States, nor shall foreign Indians be permitted to reside in their reservations without consent of the superintendent or agent.
Chits-a-mah-han, the Duke of York, Chief of the S’klallams, his x mark. [l.s.] Skai-se-ee, or Mr. Newman, S’klallam sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] Dah-whil-luk, Chief of the Sko-ko-mush, his x mark. [l.s.] Kahs-sahs-a-matl, S’klallam sub-chief, his x
mark. [l.s.] Kul-kah-han, or General Pierce, Chief of the Chem-a-kum, his x mark. [l.s.] S’hote-ch-stan, S’klallam sub-chief, his x
mark. [l.s.] Hool-hole-tan, or Jim, Sko-ko-mish sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] Lah-st, or Tom, S’klallam sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] Sai-a-kade, or Frank, Sko-ko-mish sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] Tuls-met-tum, Lord Jim, S’klallam sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] Loo-gweh-oos, or George, Sko-ko-mish sub-chief, his x mark [l.s.] Yaht-le-min, or General Taylor, S’klallam sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] E-dagh-tan, or Tom, Sko-ko-mish sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] Kla-koisht, or Captain, S’klallam sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] Kai-a-han, or Daniel Webster, Chem-a-kum sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] Sna-talc, or General Scott, S’klallam sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] Ets-sah-quat, Chem-a-kum sub-chief, his x
mark. [l.s.] Tseh-a-take, or Tom Benton, S’klallam sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] Kleh-a-kunst, Chem-a-kum sub-chief, his x
mark. [l.s.] Yah - kwi - e - nook, or General Gaines, S’klallam sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] He-atl, Duke of Clarence, S’klallam sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] Kai-at-lah, or General Lane, Jr., S’klallam sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] Lach-ka-nam, or Lord Nelson, S’klallam sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] Captain Jack, S’klallam sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] Tchotest, S’klallam sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] He-ach-kate, S’klallam sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] Hoot-ote St, or General Lane, S’klallam sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] Tsoh-as-hau, or General Harrison, S’klallam sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] To-totesh, S’klallam sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] Kwah-nalt-sote, S’klallam sub-chief, his x
mark. [l.s.] Hah-kwia-mihl, S’klallam sub-chief, his x
mark. [l.s.] S’hoke-tan, S’klallam sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] Paitl, S’klallam sub-chief, his x mark. [l.s.] Back to Top
It is hereby ordered that there be withdrawn from sale or other disposition and set apart for the use of the S’Klallam Indians the following tract of country on Hood’s Canal in Washington Territory, inclusive of the six sections situated at the head of Hood’s Canal, reserved by treaty with said Indians January 26, 1855 (Stats. at Large, vol. 12, p. 984), described and bounded as follows: Beginning at the mouth of the Skokomish River; thence up said river to a point intersected by the section line between sections 15 and 16 of township 21 north, in range 4 west; thence north on said line to a corner common to sections 27, 28, 33, and 34 of township 22 north, range 4 west; thence due east to the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 27, the same being the southwest corner of A. D. Fisher’s claim; thence with said claim north to the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of said section 27; thence east to the section line between sections 26 and 27; thence north on said line to corner common to sections 22, 23, 26, and 27; thence east to Hood’s Canal; thence southerly and easterly along said Hood’s Canal to the place of beginning.