Supporters urging approval of illegal compact
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Editor,
Having read the guest column in the Jan. 9 issue of the Missoulian, I have a few observations regarding this blaze of propaganda and the materiality put out by these whipper-snappers urging the approval of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Water Compact.
First, they cannot be unaware that this compact is illegal and void and was so held to be in the Lake County District Court’s decision of April 15, 2013.
Second, I am astonished at the out-of-pocket squandering of time and money expended that they and their supporters have dished out in advocating the worth of this illegal tribal stunt to regain ownership of the lands within the former reservation (see tribal council chairman’s letter of 1983 and the tribes’ stated goal in 1996).
Let us review some occasions of these expenditures shown in the meeting sites and dates visited in the past six months:
• July 25, 2013 Thompson Falls
• August 6, 2013 Thompson Falls
• August 28, 2013 Ninepipes (Private)
• Sept. 11, 2013 Ninepipes (Private)
• Sept. 12, 2013 Ninepipes (Private)
• Sept. 25, 2013 Ninepipes (Private)
• Sept. 26, 2013 Ninepipes (Private)
• Oct. 9, 2013 Ninepipes (Private)
• Oct. 10, 2013 Ninepipes (Private)
• Oct. 15, 2013 Ninepipes (Private)
• Oct. 16, 2013 Hamilton (Open)
• Oct. 29, 2013 Libby (Open)
• Nov. 6, 2013 Polson (Open)
• Dec. 12, 2013 Billings (Open)
These afore-cited meetings are but a fraction of the gatherings that they called to plead for this illegal water compact.
Who is paying for the car fares and dinners involved? I have my opinion.
In conclusion, I must ask these people what they hope to accomplish in these meetings. Do they hope to overturn Judge McNeil’s ruling that the compact is illegal and avoid the consequences thereof? Disobeyance of the judge’s holding would result in a criminal conviction for contempt with accompanying punishment.
In closing, I am also dumbfounded by the Missoulian’s publishing this guest column when its reporters are fully aware of the compact’s illegality. Is this paper advocating the violation of our legal order? And furthermore, will this letter be published?
Lloyd Ingraham
Ronan
