Our Past INSIDE One Opinion ..........................................2 Community News ..........................6 Hundred Administrative News ......................3 Our Past .....................................7-9 Resources .....................................4 Colville Youth..........................10-11 Years WSU Co-Op Extension ..................4 Resolution Index .....................12-13 Please See Page 7-9 Tribal Voices ..................................5 Directory / Photo Album...............14 The next TRIBAL TRIBUNE DEADLINE is set for Tuesday, January 18, 2000 COLVILLE INDIAN RESERVATION The Official Publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation WASHINGTON First Class ~ U.S. Postage Paid December 27, 1999 Address Correction Requested Permit No. 8 ~ Nespelem, Washington 99155 Volume 25, No. 12 -- DECEMBER 1999 Edition P.O. Box 150, Nespelem WA 99155 Map of Reservation History Tribal Members and Colville Gaming Employees I wanted to take the time to speak with as the basis for taking Colville’s gaming you about the latest litigation over Colville machines. gaming that occurred in Seattle on the 8th At the hearing, the court appeared to of December. be particularly persuaded by the fact that As most of you are aware, on December Colville had been attempting to follow the 8th the Colville Tribes appeared before law and reach a resolution on this issue the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Seattle for four and a half years. In addition, the Washington. The Tribe was there on an court took particular notice of the fact that appeal of the federal district court’s decision Colville had applied and qualified for the in Spokane last December that held that the process for class III gaming procedures from Tribe could not operate gaming machines the Secretary of the Interior, and that the without a tribal-state compact, and that the procedure process was currently underway. United States had not breached its trust A decision from the court will not be responsibility to the Colville Tribes by issued for six to twelve months. Until a initiating a forfeiture lawsuit against the decision is issued, the Tribe can continue Tribes’ gaming machines. to operate these machines under the stay At the trial, the government argued that order issued by the district court in Spokane. the Johnson Act authorized the United States Depending on the decision from the 9th to take the Tribes’ 800 gaming machines Circuit, we may be able to continue to operate because all types of gaming machines are these machines for an extended period of time prohibited in Indian country absent a tribal- after the decision is issued. state compact or Secretarial procedures. Regardless of when a decision is issued The Tribe counter-argued three main points: by the court, the Tribe is actively pursuing (1) it is a breach of the government’s trust contingency plans. Unfortunately, the details responsibility to take our gaming machines; of some of these plans cannot be released (2) the lawsuit should be stayed while the at the current time. In addition, the Tribe Colville Tribe was allowed time to proceed continues to have discussions with the state through a process for class III gaming of Washington and is preparing for a hearing For the past 100 years the procedures, authorized by the Secretary in front of the Secretary of the Interior around of the Interior; and (3) due to the decision the first of the New Year. I will detail the in Colville v. State of Washington that background and status of these efforts in a removed the compact section of IGRA, the subsequent article in the Tribal Tribune. Tribe has been learning government could not rely merely on the Sincerely absence of a compact or class III procedures Colleen F. Cawston, Chairperson the Non-Indian way Season’s Greetings The 20th Century will leave us in the next undergone an operation at a Seattle hospital, its Indian youth. She later married Sam Orr few days. Whether the Tribe or individual and that his death was probably caused of Omak. As the 20th century draws to a close, it is an appropriate time to members liked it or not, changes have by going back to work too soon. Many reflect on the events of the past, and look forward to the future in the occurred. Listed below are: SOME of the newspapers paid tribute to him. The Indian 1938 new millennium. As a people, we must be proud of the tenacity we have events that have happened and have affected Chiefs pleaded to have Fr. DeRouge buried at *An Election was held on Feb. 26 to vote demonstrated against great odds to stay together, protect and preserve our the Colville Confederated Tribes...SOME St. Mary’s Mission, but his body was sent to on the proposed Constitution and By-laws events that have affected not only the Tribe, Mount Michael’s Cemetery, Spokane, WA. for the Colville Confederated Tribes. The rich heritage, valuable culture, and continue to practice our traditions but other American Indian Tribes as well... vote was 503 for, and 76 voted against it. that our elders have passed on to us. Not only have we survived, but in and also included are some individuals from 1924 The Commissioner of Indian Affairs, John many way we have prospered! different Tribes who have brought honor and *The U.S. Congress on June 2 granted Collier, approved the results on Apr. 19. As we celebrate this holiday season, let us take some time to reflect respect to the American Indians. American Citizenship to all Indians born *According to “Article III--Nominations upon what we as a people have contributed in these 100 years. At the *Have you ever wonder why the Colville in the territorial limits of the United and Elections” of the Constitution, at the first turn of the century we were fighting to establish our identities in a society Indian Reservation was established by an States. Before that, citizenship had been election for Business Council seats, the two that wanted to ignore our existence. A major step was the creation of Executive Order instead of a Treaty? The given to approximately two-thirds of the candidates receiving the 3rd and 4th highest U.S. House of Representatives with the Indians through treaty agreements, statutes, number of votes in the Inchelium, Nespelem, our Constitution and By-Laws in 1938. It has helped guide us through U.S. Senate’s concurrence used the 1871 naturalization proceedings, and by receiving and Omak Districts would serve one-year; some turbulent times. In the 1950’s the introduction of language in Appropriation Bill to do away with the an Honorable Discharge from the Armed and the candidate receiving the 2nd highest Congress to terminate tribes. During this time our people through treaty system. The House said that the treaty- Forces in World War I. number of votes in the Keller District would great leaders such as Lucy F. Covington, Frank George who with the making powers of the President and Senate serve one-year. support of many Tribal members were steadfast in their fight against could not force the House to appropriate 1926 *The first fourteen Council people were: this legislation. More recently, we have witnessed the passage of the money. The House didn’t want to provide *Jessie Jim, Omak, WA., was chosen INCHELIUM District-Peter J. Gunn, Charles Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, allowing us to develop economically money for projects agreed upon in treaties “Princess America II” at an annual Indian A. Hall, Florence Quill, Barney Rickard; and provide for jobs for our people. We have persevered through this that was approved by just the Senate. Congress in Spokane. She represented KELLER District: Henry Covington, Gus century to keep our communities together. We have stood united and *Let me be a free man—free to travel, American Indians at the Miss America Whitelaw; NESPELEM District: Marcel together against those who want to take away our past and sacrifice our free to stop, free to work, free to trade when pageant in Atlantic City, and was the Arcasa, Moses George, Albert Orr, Hiram future for short-term gains. I choose, free to choose my own teachers, daughter of Annie and Long Jim. B. Runnels; and OMAK District: Joseph free to follow the religion of my fathers, free Adolph, Lewis H. Runnels, Daniel Samuels, We look more and more to each other for support and guidance as to think and talk and act for myself...Chief 1934 and Louie Smitkin. we enter the new millennium. I believe the coming years are going to be Joseph 1879. *The Indian Reorganization Act was positive for the Colville Tribes. We must remember that each of us will designed to restore some of the resources and 1939 be contributing to this positive future, for the future is not determined 1906 self-government that Tribes had previously *Those seven Council people who were by one, but by many. Take time today to stop and look around you; at *The Act of March 22,1906, said that each enjoyed. elected for one-year had to run for reelection. your family, friends and neighbors. We need to treasure our diversity man, woman, and child would receive eighty Those who won would serve a two-year term, of people, opinion, and beliefs of those around us for we gain in our acre allotments. This Act was amended by 1935 and elections after 1939 were then held every the Act of June 25, 1910, which said Indians *Mathew Dick won the first Suicide Race year for the seven Council positions. diversity. would either receive 80 acres of agricultural ever held at the Omak Stamped. During this holiday time in whatever way each of you follow your land or 160 acres of grazing land.