Wotanin wowapi 1988-09-15

              Tribal Centennial Committee banquet
POPLAR � The Fort Peck Tribal Centennial Committee, to commemorate the close-out of the Fort Peck Tribal Centennial Years, wi'l host a banquet on September 29 at 6:00 p.m. at the Wolf Point Casino.
In accordance with the evening's theme, Tribal Executive Board member Norman Hollow will present the banquet speech, entitled "The Last 100 Years of Tribal Government". Mr. Hollow will draw on his 40 years of tribal government experience and research to prepare his presentation.
In addition to sponsoring the banquet speech, the Centennial Committee will also present a personal tribute to Mr. Hollow. The tribute will be in appreciation
Shown in 1956 photo, councilman Norman Hollow will be honored at banquet.
to Mr. Hollow for his many years of service to the Fort Peck Tribes as an Executive Board member and Tribal Chairman. The Cen-* tennial Committee has invited state and local dignitaries to participate in the festivities.
Tickets for the banquet are on sale at $5.00 per person. Interested individuals may purchase their tickets from persons at
following locations: Caleb Shields, Paula Brien and Spike Bighorn at the Tribal Building; Nancy Dumont at the Wolf Point High School; Wayne Martell at the NAES Site-Wolf Point;; Cynthia Garfield at the Wolf Point Casino; and any Centennial Committee member.
Looking Back �
Articles and photos from the Ft. Peck Reservation's Past.
-Page 5�
Indian Crews Backbone of firefighting effort
�Photos�P. 8�
Badlands Take Championship
�Other Results� United Tribes �P.9�
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'Serving the Fort Peck Reservation
VOL. 19 N0. 36
SEPTEMBER 15, 1988
New Miss Indian America
BISMARCK � The 33rd Miss Indian America Pageant took place during the week of the 19th Annual United Tribes Pow-wow held this past weekend.
The pageant was held at the United Tribes gym. Ten contestants were running for the new Miss Indian America title. The contestants were guests at host homes in Bismarck and activities were scheduled at various places in the Bismarck area.
On Friday evening, Sept. 9, 1988, the new Miss Indian America was crowned, Bobette Wildcat, a Shoshone and member of the Shoshone Bannock Tribes of Fort Hall, Idaho.
First runner-up was Theresa Benally, from Kayenta, Arizona.
Second runner-up and talent winner was Lona Pond, from Pendleton, Oregon.
Third runner-up was Dawn Brave Eagle, from Fort Thompson, South Dakota.
Miss Congeniality was LeAnna Wopsock from Fort Ducshene, Utah.
In an interview with the new Miss Indian America, she was asked how she telt when her' name was announced, "I was shocked, it is something I had really thought about and dreamed about, it was a big moment in my life and I've been in the clouds ever since. I'm very honored to represent not only my own tribe, but all tribes throughout the United States and Canada. It is an honor for my family and for me, it is something
I won't forget for the rest of my life. I'm not just a lady with a title, I'm a lady with a dream and hope for our people."
Miss Indian America stated that she was impressed with the pageant because it's been going on for thirty-two years, and to see something going on this long shows that it has strong people who really believe in it and who are willing to volunteer their time. "They're are so many young beautiful women who are really qualified to be Miss Indian America. All the board of directors and committee members were all so kind and pleasant to us," she stated.
All ten contestants were put in host homes in Bismarck, with no contact with their family members, unless they came to activities they were invited to.
Miss Indian America says, "I believe that this was a good idea for me, because it gave me time to be by myself and to think things out on my own. I can't have mother there all the time telling me what to say, what to w<*af, and how I should present myself, I've got to be able to think fast on my own two feet and to be able to speak the things that I want to say, not"what somebody else told me to say, and to speak from my own heart".
All contestants performed their talents at the Kirkwood Mall and Gateway Mall and attended a number of receptions, both traditional and non-traditional. She said, "I believe that Miss In-
Domestic Abuse Law Approved
Miss Indian America Bobette Wildcat
dian America isn't just a representative of the Indian people, but I believe she is an pxpmnlp nt womenhood and she has so many beautiful things, she walks in narmony, she walks witn a sort step, she's very kind and compassionate and when we grow older, we'll be mothers and it's
(Page 7 � Indians)
Tribes appoint members to ASTI Task Force
POPLAR�The Tribal Executive Board appointed members Caleb Shields and Ray Eder as their representatives to the Task Force being formed to investigate complaints from production workers regarding A&S Tribal Industries. ' October 7 is the tentative date set for a second meeting between the Tribal Board, and ASTI board, management and production worker representatives to get into the specifics of the written and oral complaints.
The Task Force is to include two representatives each from the tribal chairman's office, and the ASTI board and management. ASTI board member Norman Hollow said ASTI has not selected any representatives to the Task Force yet.
Tribal chairman  Ray White Feather reported to the council on Monday that he and councilman Norman Hollow met with ASTI general manager William Nuelman where he again explained the intent of the Task Force, and as a result Nuelman was in agreement to set up the Task  Force to review the employee complaints and make considerations.
When asked what the duties of the Task Force would be, White Tail Feather said it will review the complaints and address the conditions in existance at ASTI that need to be addressed.
They will then make recommendations on what needs to happen, as well as to see if they are going to go with any of the recommendations already presented from the chairman's office.
Based on the oral and written complaints sent into the chairman's office, recommendations were made and were reviewed at a meeting between the Tribal and ASTI board and senior management on Sept. 2.
There was a lot of discussion of the recommendations from the chairman's office.
Hollow said he recommends the recommendations from the chairman's office "be shelved" and the Task Force come up with their own.
Hollow said if he was on the Task Force, he would have reservations about using them since the Tribal Board never approved them.
Hollow said the Tribal Board and the Task Force is faced with a serious matter. A letter from :Neulman to the chairman regarding the recommendations "is putting it on the line." If the Tribes push for all of the recommendations from the chairman's office, ASTI "might fold up," said Hollow.
Voter Participation Project started
POPLAR�The Tribes is assisting in registering tribal voters for the state and national elections in November.
Lillian Christian was authorized by the Tribal Executive Board to identity tribal employees, paid by tribal money, who will register voters from Sept. 26 to Oct. 7 in lieu of their regular duties, and to attend a voter registration and training workshop scheduled Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Wolf Point Casino.
Every year, Christian has worked for the Tribes in voter registration projects.
The Tribes and the Wolf Point Community Organization are co-sponsoring the voter education training.
The Fort Peck Voter Participation Project workshop will be coordinated by Nancy Aims, who is coordinator of the Montana Voter Participation Project, and Rock Ringling, who works for the Montana Coalition for Effective Legislation, who is a political analyst and advisor.
October 10 is the deadline to register in the November state and national elections.
According to Nuelman letter,
"These recommendations conflict with the resolution that was passed by the A&S Board of Directors on August 23, 1988. This resolution was passed by a five to one vote, basically giving the director of operations complete control of A & S operations without political interference from the Tribal Council. These new recommendations of the Council would remove all non-tribal members in supervisory positions and replace them with tribal members based on longevity and only tribal members, based on longevity, would be considered in promotions for the future."
"Ninety five percent (95) of A & S Tribal Industries' sales are with the U.S. Government, which requires complaince to Equal Opportunity Employer clauses."
"A company policy handbook follows these clauses and is the basis of the management of the company. The recommendations would violate our responsibility to our U.S. contracts and we cannot carry them out."
"On behalf of Brunswick Corporation, I am hereby giving 30 days notice of intent to cancelour Management Consulting Contract and it will be necessarv to reolace the three, Brunswick employees: William Nuelman, Mark Stack and Hayden Sheets."
"We intend to continue operating the company for the next 30 days with our standard procedures and policies. If action is taken by the Board of Directors to install these recommendations, then we will have to leave immediately, since we cannot violate U.S. Government contract clauses. "
"Only if the Tribe withdraws these recommendations and lives up to the resolution passed on August 23, 1988, will Brunswick management remain," Nuelman's letter concluded.
Nuelman's letter indicates he does not fully understand the reasons behind the hearing and does not fully understand the
(Page 2 �ASTI)
POPLAR-The Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board approved of the Domestic Abuse Ordinance at their meeting on Monday, Sept. 12.
With the approval, the ordinance is part of Title III -Criminal Offenses.  .
According to the ordinance a person is guilty of domestic abuse if that person intentionally causes bodily injury to a family member or household member; or attempts by physical menace to put a family member or household member in fear of serious bodily harm, or by physical menace causes another to harm himself or herself.
"Family member or household member" means a spouse, former spouse, adult person related by blood or marriage, or adult person of the opposite sex residing with the accused.
Domestic abuse is a Class A misdemeanor, but shall be treated as a felony for purposes of Section 201(b) (3) of Title II of this Code, which states that no law enforcement officer shall arrest a iy person for a criminal offense
except in the case of a felony, the officer shall have probable cause? to believe that the person arrested committed the offense.
Those arrested and charged with domestic abuse shall not o e released from custody except at arraignment as described in Section 402 of Title II. This section describes the various conditions that a defendant shall be released before final judgment of conviction.
According to the ordinance, for any conviction of domestic abuse, the judge may require mandatory counseling as part of the sentence, and shall require mandatory counseling as part of the sentence of any person convicted of a second or subsequent offense of domestic abuse.
Whenever a law enforcement officer is called to the scene of a reported incident of domestic violence, but he does not make an arrest, he shall file a written report with the Chief of Police setting forth the reason or reasons fornis decision.
Whenever a police officer arrests a person for domestic
abuse as defined, if the victim is present, the officer shall advise the victim of the availability of a shelter or other services in the community and give the victim a copy of the following statement: "If you are the victim of domestic abuse, the tribal prosecutor can file criminal charges against your abuser. You have the right to go to court and file a petition requesting any of the following civil orders for relief: an order restraining your abuser from abusing you; an order directing your abuser to leave your household; an order awarding you or the other parent custody �of or visitation with a minor child or children; an order restraining your abuser from molesting or interfering with minor children in your custody; or an order directing the party not granted custody to pay support of minor children or to pay support of the other party if there is a legal obligation to do so."
(Page 7�Law)
Council decides on water rights, other issues
POPLAR� The Tribal Executive Board voted at their regular meeting last Monday, Sept. 12, to seek resolution or a case involving the tribal water rights.
According to discussion, Charles Brocksmith has a ranching operation on the reservation and is a prior water user, while a non-Indian located 200 yards off the reservation was issued a state permit for water. When the non-Indian irrigates, Brocksmiths' stock and consum-nable water supply is affected.
Are state water permits issued Derore ratification of the Tribes Water Compact considered subordinate to a tribal water user, Indian or non-Indian, who have used the water � like Brocksmith � who is considered a "prior user."
Also, are the tribal water rights reserved? These are a couple of the major issues involved in this case.
The council voted to have the Montana Water Compact Dispute Resolutions Board settle the issue.
Tribal attorney Reid Chambers, who was assigned to look into this issue in 1987, advises against seeking resolution from the Compact Board due to the expense the Tribes could face. According to the Tribes in-house counsel Bob McAnally, convening the Water Board is a policy decision of the   council
and no one can really say how much this would cost the Tribes.
Brocksmith, the Tribes, or in unison, could petition the Water Board to convene, but either way, it will be a long process, said McAnally. Since this issue is the first case to come up under the Fort Peck-Montana Water Compact, it is uncertain at this time whether any rules have been set since the board was adopted. Since this is a dispute between an Indian reservation with water rights user and a non-Indian with a state water permit, the Water Board would handle this.
Councilman Norman Hollow said since a non-Indian is infringing upon a prior user -Brocksmith - and the Tribes water rights, the best solution would be to go to the Compact Board.
Brocksmith told the council this case is a "pioneering effort" and the Tribes shouldn't "compromise their very valuable resource."
Councilman Ray Eder said he was disappointed by the stand the Tribes attorneys have been taking when it comes to protecting Indian rights. "They act like we II lose our credibility with sovereignty. It's about time we start."
In other board action, they voted to request technical assistance
from the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council in financial analysis and project packaging for purchase of equipment for West Electronics, a tribal industry. GLITC is working under contract with Region VIII, HUD, and this will be at no cost to the Tribes.
Also, an Emergency Community Services Homeless grant was received by the Tribes and given to the New Life Mission, Poplar. The Mission was given $3284.00 by the Tribes, along with new regulations. Comprehensive services to homeless individuals to provide expansion of follow-up of long-term services to enable homeless individuals to make the transition out of poverty; to have provisions to assist the homeless obtain social and maintenance services and income support services; and promotion of the private sector and other assistance. The funds must be spent on at least one of these purposes.
The Vocational Rehabilitation Program will be losing three staff members on Sept. 14. Only one staff member, Patty Stump, will coordinate the program with Education director Spike Bighorn
(Page 2 � Briefs)
Over 600 registered dancers at 1988 United Tribes Pow-wow, bringing the pow-wow season to an end. (Photc Nina Fox.)