As an enrolled member of the Colville Confederated Tribes I have an investment in all of its assets and I feel I am not getting the full pecuniary advantages from my investment. Under Federal control we only receive $150 dollars per capita payment each year, where if we terminated and just put our cash shares in a bank, we would realize more than that amount. So I feel that by terminating, my interests and those of my family could be better served by investing my cash shares as I wish. Sincerely yours, Mrs. MYRTLE ETHEL BLACK MORRIS. MOXEE CITY, WASH., March 29, 1965. SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS, Washington, D.C. GENTLEMEN: Your committee will be hearing S. 1413 regarding termination legislation on April 5, 1965. Being a member of Colville Tribe, I strongly urge you to pass this bill for the good of all concerned. DEAR SIRS: I am an enrolled member of the Colville Confederated Tribes. have read S. 1413 and urge its immediate passage. I I also wish to state at this time that I am no longer a member of the Colville Indian Association and that this association no longer represents me. Sincerely yours, THADDEUS D. MOORE. EPHRATA, WASH., March 29, 1965. Re S. 1413. SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS, Senate Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, New Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. GENTLEMEN: Please lend your support to S. 1413, favoring liquidation of the Colville Confederated Tribes. It is my opinion that this is the only fair and profitable course for all members. The only people profiting from the present arrangement, are those in positions of management. They, of course, oppose liquidation. A development program would entail all members investing their holdings for the doubtful advantage of a very few on-reservation Indians. The program of rehabilitation, to enable the Indian to become a member of society, would not be furthered by confining them to an Indian community, and forcing the younger generation to look forward to reservation jobs in order to benefit from their heritage. This would be no incentive for them to seek education and leave the reservation. The majority of these young people want nothing more than the opportunity for advancement into positions as solid citizens, and to blend with the rest of society. The Indians, as such, are, to a degree, discriminated against in white communities near reservations; however, incidents or discrimination against individuals, off the reservations, are isolated. The chief objection of those opposed to liquidation, is simply not applicable, i.e., the incompetents would soon squander their per capitas, and again be destitute. The oppositions use of the word "again," is indicative of these same incompetents present situation; however, under a trusteeship, with the money invested, the income from interest alone would be more than the present annual per capita payments. The incompetents are not the ones who would seek positions in a development program, and they will spend their money in the same manner, regardless of the sum or manner of disbursal. Sincerely, ERNEST C. SHAW. OAKLAND, CALIF., March 30, 1965. SENATE INTERIOR COMMITTEE, New Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. (Attention of James Gamble). DEAR SIRS: As an enrolled member of the Colville Tribes, I wish to register my testimony for the immediate enactment of S. 1413 termination bill. I am one of many who do not live on the reservation. The reservation represents a large resource, that due to the method of tribal representation and control by a Federal agency, is not being managed for the benefit of all of those who have interest in it, but mainly for those living on it. S. 1413 will enable tribal members to exercise their democratic rights to choose how they want to use their inherited interest in this resource. S. 1413 provides that this large acreage not retained by the reduced tribal entity will be purchased by the Secretary of Agriculture. This will enable this large resource to be managed and made available to all. The current management plans are to sustain it, whereas that of the Forest Service would be that of intensive management to improve the benefit to the community and the Nation. I wish to impress upon you that this bill will enable the members of the tribe to decide how they want this large resource managed. I am a graduate forester currently employed in the profession. I have visited the reservation recently and under the current type of management, I will vote for termination. If I can be of any other help, please feel free to contact me. Very truly yours, WAYNE KNAUF. OROVILLE, WASH., March 31, 1965. SENATE INTERIOR COMMITTEE, DEAR SIRS: I am a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes and also a member of the Colville Indian Association. In fact, I am the chapter leader of the Oroville Tonasket group. I am writing your committee to support S. 1413 now before your committee for a hearing. I know that some factions of the Colville Indian Association oppose S. 1413. I want to make certain that they do not represent my feelings in their testimony. I am wholeheartedly behind S. 1413. Thank you. R. J. IRWIN. BREWSTER, WASH., March 29, 1965. SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS, Washington, D.C. I would appreciate your favorable consideration of S. 1413 termination bill at your committee hearing April 5, 1965. I have been in favor of termination of the Colville Tribes for many years. I believe that S. 1413 is a fair and equitable solution to all concerned. DEAR SIRS: We are in favor of the Colville termination bill, S. 1413, and we have lived on and near the reservation all of our lives. I am 61 years old and my wife is 63 years old. Most of the Indians that we have talked to on and off the reservation are in favor of termination with liquidation. We are well acquainted with all of the Indians. I lived under the council for years and they didn't do me any good. I believe that all of us should be turned loose because 90 percent of our children go to public schools. Anytime we are under the jurisdiction of the Government we are not free. People will not do business with us when they know that we are held down by the Government. The old people are already taken care of by the State. Please take early action on this bill. We know that the people who are going to Washington to testify against the bill are talking for a small minority of the tribe. Yours truly, Mr. and Mrs. GEORGE GORR. DEAR SENATOR: I would like to be on record of being in favor of bills S. 1413 and H.R. 5925. I am a member of the Colville Indian Tribe of Washington State. Sincerely yours, HERMAN A. FRIEDLANDER. REPUBLIC, WASH., SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS, New Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. GENTLEMEN: I strongly urge you to use every means possible in getting bill S. 1413 passed as quickly as possible. This is the bill concerning the termination of the Colville Indian Reservation in the State of Washington. We no longer need or want bureau supervisors or supervision. Any Indian that could possibly be hurt by termination now would have been hurt 20 years ago, and would be in the same shape 20 years from now. I believe in the U.S. Congress and legislation, not force and demonstrations. Passage of S. 1413 will further strengthen this belief. Sincerely yours, HONORABLE SIR: We the Colville Confederated Indian Tribe of the State of Washington are ready for immediate, complete termination and liquidation over Federal supervision of the Colville Indian Reservation. I am over one-fourth degree Colville Indian, enrolled member of the Colville Reservation. I am in favor of S. 1413 and H.R. 5925, now in Congress. I am in favor of withdrawing from the Colville Confederated Indian Tribe. If providing that each Colville Tribal Indian member who wishes to withdraw from the Colville Confederated Indian Reservation Tribe is paid full share tribal assets value, anywhere between $25,000 to $40,000 value, land and timber, mineral, other mineral royalty reclaim, hunting and fishing rights. They should also be gold and silver mineral royalty claims receiving from the Knob Hill Gold Mines Co. of Republic, Wash. All Colville Tribal Indian members who wish to remain in the tribe and the withdrawing tribal members both shall receive royalty reclaim assets. I think that every tribal member, regardless whether remaining group or withdrawing group should be entitled to the mineral reclaim royalty rights. I am also in favor of S. 1413 and H.R. 5925, and I am in favor of withdrawing from the Colville Confederated Indian Tribe, providing if all promises are fullfilled, those tribal members who wish to remain in the tribe shall have the right to do so, and the withdrawing tribal members who wish to withdraw from the tribe shall have the privilege to withdraw, and be paid in their full fair share tribal asset value. Thank you. Sincerely, VICTOR R. CAMPOBASSO. COLVILLE LIQUIDATION PROMOTERS, Senator LEE METCALF, Chairman, Senate Subcommittee on Indian Affairs, DEAR SENATOR: Please enter this letter in the records of the hearing to be held by your committee on April 5 regarding Senate bill 1413. This organization recently corresponded with members of the Colville Confederated Tribes concerning their attitude toward the pending termination legislation. As a result of that correspondence we received written requests from 920 tribal members to add their names to letters to Senator Jackson, Representative Tom Foley and other Members of Congress, urging early enactment of the proposed legislation. Those letters were mailed and the names were added as requested, listing the names of 905 that had been received to that date. The original signatures of the persons supporting this legislation are in our files and can be furnished on request. We respectfully request that your committee give consideration to the majority feeling of the tribe as a whole and report favorably on S. 1413. In our experience we have found that both on and off reservation members are strongly supporting the measure. Yours truly, ALICE M. HUBER, President. WICKS AND THOMAS, Okanogan, Wash., March 30, 1965. Re termination of Colville Indian Reservation. U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR JACKSON: This is to inform you that at a meeting of all attorneys in Okanogan County, Wash., regularly called by proper notice for purposes of discussing proposed legislation for termination of the Colville Indian Reservation, that the undersigned was authorized to forward a letter to all of the legislators from the State of Washington in the Federal Congress informing you that all members present at said meeting indicated a desire for termination of the Colville Indian Reservation by appropriate legislation and action as soon as possible. Each of the attorneys present at said meeting did express their approval of termination and urged you to work toward that end. Very truly yours, JAMES R. THOMAS. HERMISTON, OREG., March 27, 1965. SENATE INTERIOR COMMITTEE, (Attention of James Gamble), DEAR SIR: I strongly recommend passage of S. 1413 and/or H.R. 5925 providing for the termination of Federal supervision over the property of the Confederated Tribes of Colville Indians. I feel the Colville Indian has the right under our Constitution to be free and demonstrations such as the present Civil Rights marches should not be necessary. The bill provides those Indians who so desire the right to remain in the tribe and to form their own local governmental body. The remaining members who wish to withdraw will have the money available for education, paying off mortgages, and similar items. Sincerely, EDWARD V. PELISSIER. SEATTLE, WASH., March 29, 1965. SENATE INTERIOR COMMITTEE, I was asked DEAR SENATORS: I intend to vote for termination as I don't live on the Colville Indian Reservation any more. I'll vote for S. 1413, also for 5925. to either write or telephone. I believe you will get this in time. I thank you. Yours very truly, ELLA S. GURRION. SENATE INTERIOR COMMITTEE: TACOMA, WASH., March 28, 1965. I wish to register my testimony in favor of the bill S. 1413. gram will be a benefit to the tribe and is long overdue. I feel this pro Mrs. ROSALEEN B. ZYLSTRA. RENTON, WASH., March 27, 1965. SENATE INTERIOR COMMITTEE, (Attention of James Gamble). DEAR MR. GAMBLE: I wish to register my approval of S. 1413. I feel that this bill should be passed, as it provides for termination with the best interests of our tribal members taken into account. This bill protects the rights of those of us off the reservation as well as those of us on. I believe that this bill fully expresses the wishes of the majority of the tribe. I also request that the Colville Indian Association be ignored, as they are not elected by the tribal members to represent us on any legislation or tribal business. These are the reasons why I support this bill and want to cast my vote in favor of it. Sincerely, WILLIAM R. OPEL. OMAK, WASH., March 27, 1965. SENATE INTERIOR COMMITTEE, (Attention of James Gamble). I have read the contents of this bill S. 1413 over and we think it is a good bill. But one thing we think was left out which is the security of range for Indian cattle, which is very important to the Indian rancher; otherwise we think it is a good bill. If the majority of the Indians want termination we can't see why a few would want to hold them back when they that want to can stay on as Indians. I wish you would file our testimony for the proposed legislation. Thanking you. We are enrolled members of the Colville Reservation. Mr. and Mrs. H. RAY VAN BRUNT. TROY, IDAHO, March 29, 1965. SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS, DEAR SIR: I am an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation. I am writing you to express my support for the termination bill S. 1413 now in Congress. Mrs. LAVERNA S. BRUNTON. |