remaining thereon, by association with the non-Indians of said territory and by education and training in the public schools of the State of Washington, have gained a high state of literacy and have taken their place as American citizens in their respective communities so that it has become difficult in many instances to determine who is or is not an Indian; and Whereas it is unjust and unfair to these Indians and the non-Indians residing on said reservation or elsewhere for said Indians to longer be considered as wards of the Federal Government; and Whereas said Indians, by their own volition, have recently requested the Governor to place said Indians and their lands under the jurisdiction of the State of Washington for both criminal and civil matters involving members of said tribes, save and except, lands held in trust by the Federal Government, and said Governor of the State of Washington has by proclamation under authority of the Congress granted said request, and said Indians and their lands are now under the jurisdiction of the State of Washington, for both criminal and civil matters involving members of said tribes, save and except, lands held in trust by the Federal Government; and Whereas a vast number of said tribal members desire that they be relieved of governmental wardship over their lands and individual actions for the reason that said wardship handicaps them in their business dealings and deprives them of their freedom of action and the exercise of rights and privileges awarded and exercised by other American citizens and it is their desire to be placed on the same basis economically and legally as other American citizens, and the wardship of 93 years be terminated; and Whereas there is now pending before the Congress Senate bill 1413 which would provide, if enacted into law, for the termination of Federal supervision over the property of the Confederated Tribes of Colville Indians and the individual members thereof: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, by the Omak Chamber of Commerce in regular session assembled, That it is the consensus of this organization that it recommend and go on record approving the passage of said Senate bill 1413 terminating and ending the Federal supervision over the property of the Colville Indians and the individual members thereof as in said bill provided; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary be instructed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Honorable Senator Henry M. Jackson, chairman of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the U.S. State, and to each Member of the Congress representing the State of Washington. Done at Omak, Wash., this 30th day of March, 1965. Attest: OMAK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, RESOLUTION OF THE TONASKET, WASH., CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Whereas by Executive order, July 2, 1872, there was set apart all of that land in the State of Washington bounded on the west by the Okanogan River, on the east and south by the Columbia River and on the north by the British possessions, as a reservation for certain bands of Indians then residing on or near said territory and such other Indians the Department of the Interior may see fit to locate thereon, which said lands are now a part of Okanogan and Ferry Counties, State of Washington; and Whereas to the original nine bands designated, there were other bands subsequently located on said reservation until the number of bands included a dozen or more; and Whereas said reservation became known and designated as a reservation for the Confederated Tribes of Colville Indians; and Whereas by an act of Congress in 1892 the so-called north half of said reservation was restored to the public domain and opened up for homestead which gave considerable impetus to the economic growth of the State of Washington, and particularly, Okanogan and Ferry Counties thereof; and Whereas by an act of Congress in 1906 the President of the United States was authorized by his proclamation to open up the so-called south half or diminished Colville Indian Reservation for settlement and homestead; and Whereas the President did, by his proclamation in 1916, open up said south half for settlement and homestead reserving, however, an allotment to each tribal member and certain designated tracts of said territory for the exclusive use and benefit of said Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indians which further improved the economic growth of said counties; and Whereas during the approximately half century since said Executive proclamation comparatively few of the original allottees are still alive; and Whereas during that time approximately half the enrolled members of said tribes have moved from said reservation and have taken their place in general activities of governmental and economic life of this State and Nation, and those remaining thereon, by association with the non-Indians of said territory and by education and training in the public schools of the State of Washington, have gained a high state of literacy and have taken their place as American citizens in their respective communities so that it has become difficult in many instances to determine who is or is not an Indian; and Whereas it is unjust and unfair to these Indians and the non-Indians residing on said reservation or elsewhere for said Indians to longer be considered as wards of the Federal Government; and Whereas said Indians, by their own volition, have recently requested the Governor to place said Indians and their lands under the jurisdiction of the State of Washington for both criminal and civil matters involving members of said tribes, save and except, lands held in trust by the Federal Government, and said Governor of the State of Washington has by proclamation under authority of the Congress granted said request, and said Indians and their lands are now under the jurisdiction of the State of Washington, for both criminal and civil matters involving members of said tribes, save and except, lands held in trust by the Federal Government; and Whereas a vast number of said tribal members desire that they be relieved of governmental wardship over their lands and individual actions for the reason that said wardship handicaps them in their business dealings and deprives them of their freedom of action and the exercise of rights and privileges awarded and exercised by other American citizens and it is their desire to be placed on the same basis economically and legally as other American citizens, and the wardship of 93 years be terminated; and Whereas there is now pending before the Congress Senate bill 1413 which would provide, if enacted into law, for the termination of Federal supervision over the property of the Confederated Tribes of Colville Indians and the individual members thereof: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Tonasket Chamber of Commerce in regular session assembled, That it is the consensus of this organization that it recommend and go on record approving the passing of said Senate bill 1413 terminating and ending the Federal supervision over the property of the Colville Indians and the individual members thereof as in said bill provided; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary be instructed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Honorable Senator Henry M. Jackson, chairman of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the U.S. Senate, and to each Member of the Congress representing the State of Washington. Done at Tonasket, Wash., this 30th day of March, 1965. TONASKET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, By E. Roy CURT, President. Attest: ED WOOD, Secretary. Hon. LEE METCALF, CONFEDERATED TRIBES, COLVILLE RESERVATION, Chairman, Scnate Subcommittee on Interior and Insular Affairs, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR CHAIRMAN METCALF: This letter is directed to you relative to the recent hearings held on April 5-6, 1965, by your committee on S. 1413 which provides for termination of Federal supervision over the property of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Wash. I am enclosing a copy of Colville resolution No. 1965–90, enacted by the Business Council during their regular session of April 8, 1965. As set forth therein the initial action authorized a standby delegation of the joint legislative com mittee of the Business Council and special assistant thereof to attend the hearings on proposed termination when conducted. The joint legislative committee is comprised of eight council members; namely: George Snider, Oliver Pooler, Roy Seyler, Shirley Palmer, Barney Richard, Pat Nugent, Mary Nicholson, Thelma Marchand and Mrs. Ruby Babcock, special assistant. Out of the aforementioned nine delegates one testified in opposition of S. 1413 and the other eight in favor of the bill. The enclosed resolution also confirms payments of expenses of six additional delegates made up of minority groups which enabled them to appear and testify at the hearings. We wish to take this opportunity to thank you, your committee and staff members and other individuals who made it possible for our delegates to appear and testify and also the cooperative and cordial attitude extended the Colville delegates during the entire hearing. Tribal members have been advised that they have 10 days within which to register their testimony for or against S. 1413. Respectfully yours, HARRY OWHI, Executive Secretary, Colville Business Council, RESOLUTION, 1965-90 Whereas the Senate Subcommittee on Interior and Insular Affairs conducted hearings on S. 1413, pending termination of Federal supervision over the property and affairs of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, at the New Senate Building, Washington, D.C. on April 5-6, 1965; and Whereas the joint legislative committee and assistant thereof of the Business Council, comprised of 8 councilmen and assistants were authorized and on delegation standby status to attend the said hearings on S. 1413 as evidenced by enactment of resolution 1965-41; and Whereas due to the immediate time element involved and absence of prior authorization, it was deemed appropriate and fair to authorize the disbursement of tribal funds to insure the representation of tribal minority groups opposed to the passage of S. 1413 at the said hearings; and Whereas it is therefore the recommandation of the finance and legislative committee of the Business Council that the advancement of necessary tribal funds disbursement and first-class roundtrip plane fare to attend the hearings at Washington, D.C., on April 5-6, 1965, be confirmed and approved: Now, therefore, be it hereby Resolved, That we, the Colville Business Council, meeting in regular session at the Colville Indian Subagency, Nespelem, Wash., acting for and in behalf of the Colville Confederated Tribes this 8th day of April, 1965, do hereby confirm and approve, in pursuance to Colville Business Council scale, the advancement of wages, per diem, mileage reimbursement and first-class roundtrip airplane fare from Spokane, Wash., to Washington, D.C., made to the following-named individuals to attend the hearings at Washington, D.C., on April 5-6, 1965, on S. 1413 (comparison bill H.R. 5925) now pending before the 89th Congress, 1st session: Minority Group of the Colville Business Council: Mr. Joseph P. Boyd and Mrs. Lucy F. Covington. Colville Indian Association: Mr. Thomas Edwards and Mrs. Alice Hallenius. Resolved, That the total costs to attend the said hearings on S. 1413, as authorized hereunder and Colville resolution 1965-41 shall be, and hereby is considered required costs in compliance with the provisions set forth under Public Law 84-772, 84th Congress, 2d session, and shall be reimbursed in full to Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Wash. The foregoing was duly enacted by the Colville Business Council by a vote of 11 for; 0 against, under authority contained in article V, section 1(a) of the constitution of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, ratified by the Colville Indians on February 26, 1938, and approved by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs on April 19, 1938. REPUBLIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Hon. HENRY M. JACKSON, U.S. Senator, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR JACKSON: The Republic Chamber of Commerce, at its regular meeting last Wednesday, went on record of being in favor of the bill you introduced pertaining to termination of the Federal supervision of the Colville Confederated Tribes, S. 1413, and urge your continued support. We also solicit your support on the early completion of the "North Cross State Highway," as we feel our area will greatly benefit from it. Sincerely, FRED W. BREMNER, Secretary. COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO, April 8, 1965. SENATE INTERIOR COMMITTEE, (Attention: James Gamble). DEAR Mr. GAMBLE: We the undersigned members of the Colville Confederated Tribes enrolled at Nespelem, Wash., are definitely in favor of complete termination bill. We are for all people to be equal and ourselves are educated as follows: I, Mrs. Genevieve Marchand Nichols, 28 years old, am a graduate of the Coeur d'Alene High School and Mrs. Karen Marchand Mills, 22 years old, a graduate of Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy and attended 1 year at North Idaho Junior College. I, Mrs. Alice Marchand Boyer, 48 years old, a college graduate of Spokane Community College of Nursing. Mrs. Sophie McDonald, 73 years of age. I think we are fully qualified and competent to handle our own affairs. We further feel other tribes should have no opinion in our tribal affairs. SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS, New Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. Mrs. GENEVIEVE M. NICHOLS. Mrs. ALICE M. BOYER. Mrs. SOPHIE MCDONALD. OMAK, WASH., April 10, 1965. DEAR SIR: I am an enrolled member of the Colville Indian Tribe. As an adult member, I am for the termination, legislation bills, S. 1413 and H.R. 5925. Sincerely, ROBERT L. FRY. OROVILLE, WASH., April 14, 1965. SENATE INTERIOR COMMITTEE, New Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. (Attention of James Gamble). DEAR SIR: I have lived close to the Colville Indian Reservation for the past 35 years. I feel that I know Indians quite well, and although I do not consider myself an authority on Indians, others do. I have read various pros and cons in regard to ending Federal supervision of the Colvilles. It is my personal opinion that continuance of Federal supervision is doing the majority of the members of this tribe a grave injustice, and depriving the State and Nation of many worthwhile citizens. We have many Indians in our community that are responsible citizens and are equal to and treated as are those of non-Indian blood. In our schools and community there is no discrimination as regards Indians, except by a few narrowminded individuals. There are many Colvilles that would take their place in society as one of us, were it not for the fact that the reservation is holding them back. There is a small hard-core group on the reservation that is fighting termination, because they have been getting a good living from the reservation as agents for the rest of the tribe. George, who testified before your committee being one of them. The George family for years has made an extremely good living as employees of the reservation. It is, also, my opinion that the Indian agents of the Federal Government from Nash on down are quietly throwing obstacles in the path of termination in order to safeguard their present jobs. I operate a 250-acre orchard. I have employed a great many Indians and at present about one-third my crew are Indians. They are generally dependable, conscientious workers, much more so than some of the white and black transients we have employed. I have found the Indians to be much superior to the Negros. I will admit that there are some Indians that are irresponsible. These are the ones, and most of them live on the reservation, that are cited as shining examples of why the Colvilles should not be released from Government supervision. In Okanogan County, white citizens in this class probably outnumber the Indians 2 to 1. Myself, and practically all responsible citizens of this county think that Nash's idea of starting a mill on the reservation, to employ 600 people, is asinine. It is my considered opinion that with the prop of Government supervision removed most of the Colvilles will immediately take their place in our society as fine, responsible citizens. Sincerely, GEO. G. OGLE. SPOKANE, WASH., April 14, 1965. Mr. JAMES GAMBLE, Senate Interior Committee, New Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. GAMBLE: As a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes I wish to go on record as being very much in favor of the bill, S. 1413, which was introduced by Senator Jackson. This bill is a combination of several bills which were proposed at one time or another, and it incorporates the better sections of each. It is my personal feeling that this is a very fair and complete bill which offers a choice to each member remaining in the tribal entity status or of accepting his fair share. The charges that were made at the Senate hearing concerning the illiteracy of the tribal members is very unjust and biased. The majority of those who testified against the bill have interests of their own which would best be served by having the reservation remain as it is. Under the Senate bill S. 1413, there is a referendum vote provided for the enrolled members of the tribe to determine the wishes of the majority. This is the only fair way to settle this issue for once and all. Very truly yours, JACK E. BIERCE. SPOKANE, WASH., April 12, 1965. Hon. LEE METCALF, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: I am an enrolled member of the Colville Confederated Tribes. I have just read an account of a statement made before your committee on termination proceedings claiming that the intelligence level of the Colvilles is so low that we could not make a proper judgment between terminating or remaining under the "care" of the Bureau. This is a very serious charge. Personally, I find it very offensive. The statement does, however, raise some equally serious questions that I think you should consider: 1. Upon what factual data was this statement based? Was it merely another wild opinion brandished for ulterior purposes or did the gentleman have valid statistical evidence to support his statement? If the statement be true, why did not some one in a position of responsibility or accountability make it? I seriously doubt such a preposterous statement, and I hope your committee weighs the statement in terms of its credibility. |