Valley Journal
Valley Journal

This Week’s e-Edition

Current Events

Latest Headlines

What's New?

Send us your news items.

NOTE: All submissions are subject to our Submission Guidelines.

Announcement Forms

Use these forms to send us announcements.

Birth Announcement
Obituary

Lecture valuable for understanding centennial

Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local. You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.



Subscribe now to stay in the know!

Already a subscriber? Login now

Editor,

I was part of a sizeable audience that heard attorney Daniel J. Decker speak last Thursday at the SKC theatre. For those who missed this, Decker reviewed the last 100 years of Tribal land issues - chronicled through U.S. Congressional Acts.

The delivery clarified what I already understood of the Hellgate Treaty, which recognized the Flathead Nation as sovereign. This was based on constitutional law to the exclusion of states. That fact bears repeating to all of us, no matter how long this place has been our residency. The most valuable insight for me was learning that the Dawes Act set off a series of Congressional action that was ultimately not arrested until 1934. The Indian Reorganization Act – for those of us who don’t know this – returned future surplus land allotments to the tribe rather than continuing the bidding for anyone else.

How many of us know that tribal land at one point was 22 million acres? Homesteading began 100 years ago on this highly desirable terrain. The fact that we all still live in beauty is clearly to the credit of the tribe, going to court if necessary.

Decker shared a personal thought during his lecture to which I heard audible audience affirmation. Rather than using the term “member” when referring to tribal affiliation, why not use “citizen?” I also agree. Wouldn’t this wording more accurately describe CSKT as a sovereign nation? 

Finally, here is my hope in timing the next area centennial in 2034 as the year where the Flathead Nation began to rebuild its identity through the land held so sacred. This makes as much sense to me as this year’s events. Why not consider the Salish wisdom with which Decker opened his lecture: “When you get knocked down, you get back up.”

Surely we all can relate to this, and in 24 more years, I hope I am still here to celebrate.

Nancy Glueckert
Polson

 

Sponsored by: