Letter to John Happy Camp from Empowering Tribal Members: The Optional Withdrawal Program, 1971-03-06

Item — Box: LG 67, Folder: 16

Identifier: CAC_CC_009_2_67_16_0011

Staff Only

E.W. Morigeau and Thomas Smith spoke at a U.S. House of Representatives sub-committee hearing in opposition to bills that would terminate Federal supervision of Indian affairs on the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Montana Reservation. They proposed a program allowing tribal members to withdraw their share of tribal assets in cash. They also discussed the tribe's ownership of valuable assets such as the south half of Flathead Lake and power sites. They argued that these assets could be used to pay members who choose to withdraw their share. They also highlighted issues related to the Flathead Irrigation Project and Kerr Dam.