Looking to the future: Tribes celebrate Salish Kootenai Dam
Berl Tiskus
Berl Tiskus/Valley Journal Yamncut drums a song as the celebration of the commemoration of the acquistion of Salish Kootenai Dam, formerly Kerr Dam, begins.
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Tribal Council Chairman Vernon Finley and Tribal Council Represenative Patty Stevens watch a video about the dam.
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PABLO — When Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council Chairman Vernon Finley said, “Let’s name it after the owners of the dam — The Salish Kootenai Dam,” the crowd at the dam acquisition ceremony smiled and applauded.
After 30 years of litigation and negotiation, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes took possession of Kerr Dam at just past midnight on Sept. 5. They are the first tribe in the United States to own and operate a hydro electrical plant. The same day of the acquisition a commemoration took place at the Joe McDonald Health and Fitness Center.
The commemoration began with a video of historic photographs of workers building Kerr Dam, which was known as the waterfalls before the dam was construction. There were also contemporary photographs of the dam as well as interviews with tribal members and members of Energy Keepers Inc. crew.
Energy Keepers Inc. is the CSKT corporation tasked with managing the $18.2 million acquisition and operation of the Salish Kootenai Dam.
As Yamncut played, a procession of dancers in regalia entered and stood in the gym flanking the speakers’ dias on the east side of the building.
Among the many dignitaries present was Robert Bay, chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Bay spoke of a twist in the path to CSKT’s dam acquisition. A last ditch effort by a couple of Montana men, who filed for a temporary restraining order on the transfer of Kerr Dam.
Due to some “good lawyering,” Bay said on Friday, Sept. 4, the judge found no basis for the complaint and denied it.
“A happy beginning,” Bay said as he congratulated the CSKT on being the first tribe to operate a major hydro power facility.
Chairman Finley thanked the people whose foresight, hard work and negotiating made the day possible.
He asked for a moment of silence for the lives lost in the construction of Kerr Dam and said the tribes are planning a memorial for them.
Everyone was invited to lunch with a traditional menu of buffalo and salmon.
The Tribes also gave away commemorative T-shirts and posters as souvenirs of the day.
