Crow Agency, DCI 054, Year 1935, File 69154, Part 2 [2 of 3] (2025)

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CONTENTS

DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO LEASING OF CROW TRIBAL AREA
INCLUDING THE BIG HORN, THE PRYOR AND LITTLE PRYOR
MOUNTAINS. EAST PRYOR AND LITTLE FRYOR MOUNTAINS ARE
TO BE BASED TOGETHER AS IN ONE UNIT.

DISCUSSION ON THE GOLD LEASE TO THE BIG HORN PLACER
MINING CORPORATION, AND THEIR AGREEMENT TO GIVE THE
COMPANY 15 PER CENT REDUCTION IN THE ROYALTY AND TO
EXTEND THEIR TIME.

VOTE TAKEN T0 REPEAL THE AMEN[...]ENGTHY DISCUSSION BY ATTORNEY BURKE, OF BILLINGS,
AND THE TRIBE KITS REGARD TO THE WATER AND IRRIGATION
PROBLEM AND WATER RIGHTS IN THE RIVERS. QUESTION IS
MAINLY STRESSED THE POINT “I TH REGARD TO LETTING WYOM-

ing.

RESOLUTION OF THE BIG HORN P[...]ON WITH THE 15 PER CENT REDUCTION IN
THE REYALTY, AND AN ADDITIONAL PERIOD OF TIME.

RESOLUTION[...]

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Place: Crow Gymsim

Present; 51 adult members[...]ted; By all districts except Pryor.

Oliver Ebert and an associate of the Big Horn Placer Mining corpor[...]James Stanton, Range Supervisor, was present only on the question or correction -»
of council decidon on leasing the Crow Tribal area, namely: The Big Horn, The f
Pryor, and Little Pryor mountains.

Superintendent: “I ask that the tribal Comilflg authority is given to the l
Superintendent to lease its East Pryor and Little Pryor Mountains. Is it your
understanding that these two go together as in one unit, and toa remark about it myself at that council meeting held May 10, 1910 also at a
minis-Mn price of 25 cents per acre.

Supt.: 'Tl'[...]man: "It seems unanimous agreement at first time to take up the Big; Horn
and all of Pryor Liountains at the same time."

Supt.[...]from the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs relative to the go 1d lease matters, which have been a subject of some con-
siderable correspondence such as Oliver Ebert's history up to date. Then the
question of the rights of the Crow[...]in the Supreme Court. These two questions are for
you to discuss."

(At this point, the Superintendent turned the meeting over to fine chairman of the 5
Crew Tribal Calmcil)

Oliver Ebert of Livingston, liontana and Tom Burke, of Billings, Montana, were in-
troduced to fine council.

Oliver Ebertls statements were in[...]y, of the Big Horn
Placer Mining Corporation! "We have been out East, in New York trying to get
sons one with money to finance our gold lease. lir. Roots, my associate, and I
were well received at various places. After considerable investigation, these
people questioned us as to the royalty to be paid to the Indians. Hone of them
seemed to be interested in financing our proposition unless a reasonable reduc-
tion was rude, Ls everywhere in[...]ent is all that is

allowed 9°? 'mlthh" He reads a letter from Norton, experienced engineer and a

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manber of the executive ttee. In this letter, a revion is also re-

quested then the Big Horn Min[...]ill be given favora-
ble consideration.

In order to carry on the work and the expenses met, we want his fair
reduction. We cannot pay no more than 15[...]y Whiteman: 'Is this 15 per cent straigit royalty on the gran?"

llr. Hoote; “Yes, on the grass."

Hurry lhiteman: (Here explains that a 15% of reduction of royalty would mean
one-half of what the agreement was in the first place, which was 30‘.)

Mr. Roots: I'We have been in New York, now we have come to ask the Crow Council
for a 15 per cent reduction in the royalty. As a result of our investigation
the South American Gold and Platinum Company, largest operators in the World,do
not think that it is a paying proposition at the rate of 307., but that it is
customary to pay 107, royalty. he want you to help us to consider carefully and
make it possible to test the property so that the initial action of t[...]n begin. Twenty-Five cents per yard is considered a good bed of gold. Thirty
per cent marginal is impractical with them or any of our associates, but usually
a per cent is paid to negotiate in order to proceed inure diately in advance of
operation. We would like to expedite the work in the initial operation. Those
who are interested asked us to visit the Crows for this reduction, then to come
back to New York and report he action of the Crow council. If we give them a
report of a reduction, then we will immediately commence operation. Successful
operation can be made on a 20 cent per yard basis, but the 50 per cent royalty
on this much gold per yard is not practical. Six cents per yard in sand on
marginal property at 30% royalty is not reasonable, so that it would pay us to
undertake it at that rate. 'w'xe don't want to go beyond what is practiced. This
is all we ask for and to meat in an agreement, ‘40 have met with the best opera-
tors in Wall Street. All of them asked us to advise them of this meeting. We
want to go through with this phase of' the work and to commence operation to take
advantage of the good weather opportunities.[...]of the marginal

operation in gravel bed. It has to be 20 or 25 per cent per yard in order to
get any good result, if any."

Frank Bethune: "If you retain this gold lease would you use lands leased for graz-
ing of stock? Would you indulge on that range?"

Mr. Roote: "Strictly mining."
Prank Bethum: "We are on the question of gold only."
Mr. Roote: "I am not interested in stock of any kind."

Charles Tenbear: ”We have given this gold company several leases. leases have
run over two years already and no revenue." "Personally I am not in favor of a
reduction'' These leases have been delayed, and we will never get any rettrns.
There have been reports that there is gold, may they are going over it again. It
was agreed that we get 30% royalty. What about Allie Morrison's gold discovery?
The 15 per cent reduction is up to this council." (Interpreted by Harry Whiteman)
Ask Mr. Ebert if 15 per cent royalty is reduced to commence operation, would

30% royalty be considered if gold was mined in paying quantities?"

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Ties His Knees; " I approve of a reduction of 15 per cent and a limitation of
six months. Then if there is no work by that time, then the lease is cancelled.
I make this in form of a motion.”

Frank Bethune seconded the motion.

Oliver Ebert: "I an: that you give us more time than that. It takes time to
get to see these people to finance our gold operation. We want to all mks
money. The tribe has been by us and very reasonable. Iwent to thank you."

Harry Whiteman, "I’e meet here for business.[...]ere
is gold in the Big Horn Canyon. Lots of money and time have been spent to as-
certain this fact. Then the Security Exchange Commission had to investigate
this company in order to protect all who are concerned. It is different th[...]be protected." "Mr. loore’s lease was
cancelled you rerember and nothing was accomplished. It takes lots of money to
carry on a vast operation. If you would get no revenue now, consider your pos-
terity. You should aim to get son of your resources developed, so that you
will have some available tribal funds. Let us determine to get a good enter-
prise started; give merits to arguments on the subject as rendered by each speaker.
We have not been getting any revenue from this source, so let us got this lease
going while we have sore one interested to undertake the work."

Russell Whiteboar: (Asking Oliver Ebert) "Do you want to change the wording

in the old contract or do you want to make a new contract?"

Russell Whiteboar asks flue chairman mitten; to consider him as one in favor.
Mr. Chairman: "I for one agree to reduce this 15 per cent royalty. I have talked
with lv’r. Campbell and Sperry, spokesman for this company and they stated that this
company made too much of a bid to give the tribe 50 per cent, and I find that
this is a fair request that these gentlemen are making. All the council has to
say is yes or no. We should be allowed to make a contract with Ebert 1: Company,
if the contract would be carried out to the letter, that is, fine revenue should
be paid to the Crows and not be denied to us as our funds from the tribal area is
denied us at the present time. We ought to make out a new contract so as to

have terms satisfactory to this tribe. Consider this. No one man should get up
and make a rash deoi sion. These matters require good thinki[...]iciting among white people. It takes lots of time to do this, and much
money is expended. If you have any conditions to put into a contract, and if you
approve, then let us make a new contract. I for one, if there is any gold, let us
have it worked out and marketed."

Oliver Ebert: "I am glad you brought this up Russell. We are operating under
the Security and Exchange Commission. Stock or property could not be sold with-
out consent of $.13. . To do so is a violation of the law. We have to report to
them from time to tine. We are trying to raise money now for the company. The
S.E.C. will tell us how to use the lousy. We, also, have to report to the state
rigzt along. If you grant us more time, say 12 months from this coming September
we will get started right away, as we have $140,000. We could advise you people
from time to time of our progress.”

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Mr. Roote: "I want to ask the gentlemen who made the motion to reduce 15% royalty

and time limitation of six months. We have strange world conditions to comply

with. We have to order machinery and and other equipment to be delivered as they

are purchased, and the preclusion is beyond their time owing to the world condi-

tions. This is specific, we have to abide by the regulations of fine S. E. C. as E
s[...]with prevailing conditions. The Crow Council need not be concerned as

we are bound to comply with the direction of the S. E. C. Then with the cooperation

of those who have money, our work will go on."

hunk batman: “The Crows unlike they were thi[...]y for our children, because I for one, would like to see the develop-

ment of this placer gold to continue. Therefore, I ask that this company ex-[...]seconded the motion for six months. How much time do you want
Mr. Ebert?“

Oliver Ebert: “We have to get a dredge and the movement of it takes time. There
is much to do to get work going. I would appreciate it if you will not give a
definite tins as we will have meetings with you to let you blow."

Prank Bethune‘ "How many months do you ask for?"
Oliver Ebert: “It takes time to get equipment,money, etc."

Frank Bethune: "If we grant a reduction of 157”: then how would it be for you to

report when you have enough money to cormencc operation. Then we can consider the
limitation of time.“

Oliver Ebert: " We have now $140,000 and are negotiating with engineers to commence
drilling, as soon as they are ready, we want to drill two holes every one-half-
mile on up the river."

Hartford Bearclaw: "I am not in favor of one manber to lead the tribe to let
file Big Horn dam. This could be determined[...]nt of gold content in the Big, llorn canyon. L'Ow if conditions as they

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are collide with request 01‘ these gentlemen to get money, then what will happen?

If we turn this company down, could we get others to take up this lease?“

Oliver Ebert: "We would like to have to September 1, next year, 1941." te

01d Rabbit: "I make a motion that the council grant Ebert Company 15% r[...]e at twelve months from September lit, 1940, ‘

and to extend additional time if reqm sted." f

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Oliver Ebert: "It will take one-half to one-million dollars to carry on
work. We want to find a man to put up this amount. We want you to stand
by us as you have done. If you grant us this 15 per cent redmtion in
file ryytlty, it will be easier to get the money."

Ralph Saoo: "1 second 01d Rabbit's motion."

Ties His Knees: "If you intend to secure necessary funds to carry on this
work, supposing war activities lead financiers to invest their moneys other-
wise, what could you do then?"

Oliver Ebert: "Unless Hitler gets over here, I think that we will have
no trouble as we have several sources to get the money. Eastern people
are anxious to invest their money in gold." Give us a stringless change
so that Eastern people do not think that we are tied down."

Max Big Man- ""‘his is a hard question. The crews say yes to everything
bm light before them. This is a question of reduction and time. We can't
get others interested so we have had enough remarks, let us vote yes or
no on the motion."

Oliver Ebert: "Our headquarters will be changed from St. Paul to Billings,
IO that we can work together better."

Chairman: We have important subjects to take up. You asked me and tribal
Secretary to expedite development of the different resources in our reserva-
tion. New this is a good tire to keep this company going, so that the Crows
will at least have some funds to their credit. This maybe enjoyed by our
children. There is good prospects for the old oil lease to be developed by
another cunpany. If we get 15 per cent as royalty for any gold mined, and
all the so plus your revenue from the tribal area, it will net you a good
size per capita payrrent. You or your children will get this money. Now
both sides have made remrks. You will be asked to vote on the first motion
to agree to 15 per cent reduction and time of six additional months and

the second motion to grant a reduction of 15 per cent and tin» limitation
of twelve months from September 1, 1940. Ebert's request is similar to
this second motion. Are you ready to vote?"

Sidmy Black hair; "Does the tribe get any[...]he Crows get $166. 60 annually for
surface rights on the acreage leased at 10 cents per acre)

I understand that this is to be a sliding scale."

Supt. Answered not just at 10 cents per acre.

Sidmy Black Hair: 'ihether you get 10, 15, or more if there is no work
there will be no money. Let us make an agreemmt whereby we can get some
annual incons. If we grant this 15% reduction, what else would hinder the
wad: of this company.“

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Sidney Blackhair: " “If we grant this 15 per cant reduction then you will
immediately purchase necessary equipment to go ahead with the operation?“

Oliver Ebert: "It is hard to tell we would have to get a dredge inedi-
ately to go to work. To test the formation, eto, vi. 11 be gone over again.“

Sidney Blackhedn "Have you saw other leases outside of our reservation?‘
O[...]"

Oliver Ebert: “The testing must be done over toIf we grant 15 per cent reduction how mmh time do
you require to get necessary machinery ready to get into activity.“

Mr. Roote: "In thirty days.“
Sidney Black Hair: “I am ready to vote."

Hank Yarlott: "There are two motions before the council. These ought
to be taken care of now after mmhremarks.

Oliver Ebert."We have been in New York trying: to get financial assistance,
and I an glad that you ask questions."

Chairman: "You have two motions before you. You will have to vote for the
om or the other.“

Oliver Ebert: "[...]time from the motion."
Chairman: "Those who vote to fir st motion stand to be counted:
Four voted for Ties His Knees's motio[...]tand:
Twenty—five voted fir Cld Rabbit's mofi on with no opposing vote.
Chimn: "At a forner meeting, Ties His Kv‘kees requested to repeal the

Amendatory Act of June 20, 1986, We have as ed the Comissiomr repeatedly

for a per capita paymnt, but still we get no safisfection, as per law
of June 4, 1920, a resolution is submitted to repeal amendetory act. (Rs-
solution is at[...]

to tell you about Inter rights in the rivers, and the irrigation on your
reservation. I Im not going to scare you, but rather, I will tell you

file truth as I know it myself. I have been on the qmeticn or water

for twenty years. Your land has water. If your land does not have water
it is not north much. Witnl'onlthis reservetl on rises in Wyoming outside
of your homderies. Now they are using more and more water up in Wyoming,
10 that today we don't have sufficient supply of water for our own use. In
th[...]untain Progect has 100,000 acres. They are aiming to put a
160,000 acre project under ditch. It got so bad, that the Two Leggin

Ditch which supposed to mrnish Indian allotments water for irrigation and
stock purposes had to buy water from the Shoshoni Reservoir. This seems
fimny to me, Inidans who own the land and water rights, had to purchase
water in order to supply enough water. Things will go on until in five
years filers will be no water down the Big Horn river to water your famrs
and your ponies. There is two ways to build the dam on the Big Horn River
one is to impound the water, and the other is to keep ‘n’yoming people from
using the mter. I[...]ing of the dam for three reasons:
(1) The Indians do not want it. It is Indian land and they can do as they
please about it. ('2) Can‘t get money to build the dam, then the assessment
charges each y[...]Army engireers tell us it will
fill up with silt and sand that in seventy years, there will be no dam.
Something; will have to be done to stop leomin; from getting water that
belongs to the Crows. This applies to Pass Creek, Lit? 1e Horn River as
well as the Big Horn diver. ‘ll’Lter to irrigate 6,000 acres over in Wyoming
should come to the reservation, some to the Pass Creek and other streams."
Briefly 1 want to say something about your having this water, and why you
are entitled to it. FNer since Columbus landed here up to now, the lan d
in this country belongs to the lndian. The l*nited States have always re-
cognized this fact. They never secured any land except by purchase. In
May 7, 1886, the Crows and file United States Government entered into a
treaty. “,3; that treaty, the Indians save up their land to the present
reservation bounded by Powder River to the Wind River Divide, down the
Yellowstone, thence across to the Lissouri and down its source to the mouth
of Powder River. The treaty at Fort Larmie was in 1851 and in the year
1886, the treaty was confirmed. The reason why they made that treaty was
to get the Indians to discontinue their romantic life, and. settle down to
be trained in agricultural pursuits and to live a pastoral life. At

that time, nothing was said about water rigxts as they did not use water
for irrigation purposes. But after the allotment system water is meant

to be necessary to the land. After awhile, in a case called Winters case,
the U. S. Supreme Court said thus: “(finite folks in and outside of the reserve-
tion were using the water[...]n was made in the treaty about the land which was a grazing and "
semi-arid country, file water became pertinent to the land, and it belongs
to the Crows so that they could go ahead and farm. They have the superior
right to water of all streams originating in Wyoming or moving through
the reservation, and reserved for the Indians. The case did not make it
clear, so the Government aid alfilough the water is said to belong to the
Crows, it really belongs to the United States Government on that. I believe
that the water like the land belongs to the Crows, not the Government. In
the Power Case, the United states Supreme Court said the water belongs to the

individual whose lends h are under di[...]

you this to let you know how important it is to get all water that belongs

to you. 11' Wyoming continues to use your water, you won't have any water at all.
Altogether they are tontenplating one million acres to be under irrigation. I
do not have the exact figures. A lot more will go under irrigation, and the sad
part of it is that the irrigation Reclama[...]e recall-ads the prejeet.
Absolutely, the Indians have the first fight to the waters of the Big Horn,
Little Horn and Pass Greek. If you don't do something about it you won't have
any water for your own use. I took this mtter up[...]in Washington, D. 0.

I tell then as I an telling you now. I asked them to protect your rights. I
Have done this about ten times already. They say that[...]efore, we couldn't figxt

one another. They can't do anything.. I no! this that people in Wyoming as p[...]e under irrigation
that they can get. I feel that you should protest and serve an injunction in the
Federal court to keep the people in Wyoming from getting water which belongs to
the Grove. White folks have water rights too on this reservation, but there is
76 per cent of irrigated lands belonging to the Crow Indians. This is a serious
situation for this reservation if you don't stop them in time. I am glad to let
you know what I know about it.“

Frank Bethune: 'We have a dam in the Big Horn and a ditch. We ought to get
sufficient supply of water which is ours according to law."

Yellowbrew: “The Indians are not lawyers. Our superintendent knows the different
treaty laws, and the complexing questions that pertain to the irrigation Iater
rights, ete. Let us appoint our Superintendent, Robert Yellowtail to take up this
case for us in the Federal Court. I make this as a motion. '

Harry Whitemanz'l second the motion."

Jasper Long: "There do several thousand acres to he irrigated. If Tom Burke could
defend us as s lavyer, we ought to allow him."

Tom Burke: I‘I never came here purposely seeking a job. No one has ever talked
to me on it hefore.‘

Hartford Bearclaw: "A nan name Simone frah Billings is the representati[...]project
over in Wyoming."

Jasper Long: "We ought to select a member who has irrigation to be used in a test
case, then we ought to form a resolution and send our complaint to the Interior
Department. Maybe this could be settled without litigation. I ask the Council

to agree with me and to as]: Matt Tsahirgi to take up this as a test case in the
Federal Court and let him pay his own lawyer."

Yellodbrov: "The Chairman and Long ought to sign complaints in the tom of an
injunction.‘

National Archives and

lofly-Ono Affirm the election and non.
”pout.

the council “journal" at 5:17 p.[...]al Classified Filas 1907-1939 Crow Agmcy 054

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“BE IT RBOINED, By the cr[...]w Tribe of Indiana, ,-

llont , officially called and duly held It Crow Agency. Montana, on Jun 5, 1940,
flint t certain-geld mining lease entered into on July 28, 1957 and approved

by the Secretary of the Interior on March 21, 1938, whereby file lands hereinafter
described I.“ leased to Short and Company for gold minim purposes to-wit;

mite No. l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11,[...]gin-

ging at the 3. line of Twp. 6 8., R. 30 E., and extending
approximately 3% miles to a point where the Big Horn River
crosses the E. lin[...]T. 6 S., R. 51 E. in
Montana, includizg all lands on both sides of the Big Horn
River--except lands that border on the West bank of the River
described as Lot 4, Sec. 18, Lots 1, 2, 3 and 5, Sec. 17, and Lots
3, 4, & 5, Sec. 16, '1‘. 6 8., R. 51 E. The above leases cover
all the land on the banks and adjacent to the Big Horn River and
its tributaries in the Crow Indian Reservation, from the Montana-
Wyomixg line to the E. line of Sec. 16, '1. 6 8., R. 51, E. M.P.M.
except as noted above.

And which lease has been assigned to Big Horn Placer Mining Corporation,
which assigim[...]percentage of royalty from thirty per cent (50%) to fifteen
per cent (15%) for the reason that invest[...]lease show that the gold contents of said lane is not sufficient
to justify the paying of the higher royalty, whereas, if the royalty is so re-
duced, it will be possible to aecure capital to develop said lands, all to the
ultimate profit of the Crow Tribe of Indians.[...]ent reduction in the royalty
that they requested, and at the expiration of six months, if they have not begun
actual operations for the extraction of gold, that the lease be automatically
declared null and void."

Motion was seconded by Frank Bethune
The following motion was made by Old Rabbit and seconded by Ralph Saco.

01d Rabbit: "I move that[...]their working conditions of their original lease, and that the fifty
(50) per cent reduction in the royalty from thirty (30) per cent to fifteen (15)
per cent as requested by them be granted and reduced from their original lease in
order that the extraction of gold in the Big Horn Canyon, if there be any, be
prosecuted diligently after operations shall have begun and that this royalty re-
duction and extension of time for actual commercial operation[...]lanation made by Mr. Ebert.“

National Archives and Recon‘ls Adminis
Washington I

3,3[...]

I

et the head of this company, is expected to die most any time fran heart trouble

at St. Paul, and inasmuch as another firm in New York is taking ov[...]xtension beginning September 1,

with no oppositi on.

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mm

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“0518339 TUOHEN

and placed in the hands of the Secretary of the Interior, which, in

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the opinion of the Tribe and of this Tribal Council, is an unjust us- ’

urpation of the rights of the members of the Crow Tribe to the moneys
belonging to them, and for that reason the Amendatory Act of June 20th,[...]Congress, from the State of Montana, be requested to

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introduce legislation and to further the passage of the same repealing V‘

t[...]ns of Section 11 of the Act of June 4th, 1920, as to dis-

tribution of balances, under said act, per capita to the. Tribe be “
restored for the benefit[...]

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P.l. Mr. Fister has just returned to this office from a field
trip which included a visit at your jurisdiction. It is hi-
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Ho[...]

Crow Tribal Council Meeting, held on

law
onolo sure a 2

’ 1‘1 |L~q h.
L a . > ’18 {rug Llo‘.‘
" ‘ » '» '5 F’fi[...]of flutes qmstionn for considera-
tion relative to re-adverti sement of their
, ranges for the next 5-year permit period. 1
2. Vote taknn with respect to than three quel-
tiona involved. 2
- i 5. Discussion relative to Sena-tor Wheeler'-
bill introduced in Cong[...]

,. . ,. k.
hm. stocked with the ir own horses, and new they are killed off, and the
Office allared them to do it- thul, today they have no horse power. He states
atul :mthex; that the lessees are getting the range for their bemi‘it and that
the Indian: get a very sniall rentt-l not enough to take care of their needs. He
atetee {that fiey go up against organized stock-nan, and tit. it is a sure thing that
they will not win in whatever they attempt to do, and if there is a revenue for
pub-lune, then the Crows should get i[...]see. He asks, ”Who is

M superintendent over 111a Besemtion; a representative of the Gdermmt or a
lgyer on the outside of our reservation?"

The Superintendent reeds and interprets a proposition of M. H. Techirgi,
a copy of which 1! obtained,

Yollewhraw: 'I' am in favor of rescinding our action at a former council to

have our leases be auctioned off in public. I believe it a wise step to prefer
the seeledhid system. 1,5130 went to say that our tribal aree lease should com-
mence April 1, and terminate at the and of March, next. lwant the Superintendent
to understand that in competent Indian leases if decided not legal and in case more
rental is received by advertilennnt by the superintendent, the entire revenue go to
the Indian er. flake this understood in {he adve[...]the springtime.“

record reqae sting the Office to advertise our tribal area under the sealed-bid—system

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Janos Bufmix 'I on in favor of the sealed bid system, and I move that we go on f
k
and that our leases will commence on April let, hereafter." 1'

tin Ei- Ineu: 'I secon[...]cil rescind their request for auction
bidding Ind have up sealed bid: plan, and that hereafter our tribal area lease will
comm. on April lat.

Richard Whisk.“ "I second the motion.“

‘ é the Superintendent took a vote fu' fine three questions involved, namely-[...]. (2 Extension of the four months to the present pemii'qmountein area

I r, (5) Their foregoing of payment on tribnl'area leased Enly. \

S ‘ to Snyder, thereby making it possible to begin the ‘
W” ‘ > next permit period on April 1, 1941.

Vote; Lhanimoue for all three.

Mir. is

Opposedulone
‘ 1,-3.4
, kc Shperviacr made a statement that the papers will be prepared
mile-l[...]Superintendent states that the Commissioner wants to hear from the
‘ Mullahs; ext assessment charges on irrigation as per bill 5-3732, 76th Congress
elated“. to that he could like his report while this c[...]

“I ask fined; you study, make inquiries and find wt :11 youm so that you can
vote knowing what you are foting for in your respectiw districts. Those who
ere familiar with this question should debate on it so that the rest of you on
find out for yourselves. I don't think, however, that this ‘ill be taken up
during this session of Congress, as time is so short, and I uniorfland that Con.-
grsss will adjourn by the end of this[...]was spent by some of the Indians in discuss-
ing and inquiring about the irrigation construction and operation and maintenance
charges.

The Council noting a[...]

m
«the «fir-t paid“. ml, of tour-o, dun nut uni-do w l-
fig on tho Littlfl I'm mum, and the Cashen Ranch.

mcmxanfifim marmmazahun
huuh[...]‘hmm:

Myrna.
umbw-me-ubynpum

~
w “I manual! and ‘0'
«mix-Mum‘s. ' ”l”

mmunnauuuw[...]

The Superintendnet called the Tribal Count: 5.1 to order at 2:00 o'clock this
Dbh day of New and stated as follows: “You are called here today to consider
primarily three questions, namely; (1) T[...]ranges from the auction plan as heretofore agreed to to the sealed-bid plan;

(2) The extension of four months on to your present permit in order that the
leases on the tribal lands and individual allotments may teminate on the 31st

of March, 1941, instead of on November 30, next, as it new is. and (5) The pre-
sent pemittee on the Pryor Mountains, Mr. Barry Snyder, refuses to accept an
extension of four months on his present contract, therefore, it will be necessary
for you to decide to forego a pagmcnt on “that tribal area for four months and thus
make it possible to begin the next five year period on April 1st, 1941."

«(1.. ...__-..

The Superintendent then went on to explain the conditions surrounding each
proposition herein nentioned, and at the conclusion of his remarks, he also touched[...]results of the minutes of the trial at Billings, on May 7, Grove Stexmrt vs. V
Robert Yellmr'tail, Superintendent. He went on to state that file meeting is now being
turned over to the tribal council to discuss these matters among themselves and then
come to a vote so that file Superintendent will know what your wishes are and report

same to the Washington Office in connection with the adve[...]xt five-year period.

The Superintendent reported to the Council that he had a wire from the Indian w
Office, allowing Charles E. Miller to bid on their leases.

Russell White Bear: “Twenty years ago, three others and myself were dele- *
gated to Washington and at that time we sponsored the reserve of the moun[...]who were with me were, Frank Yarlott, Ties Knees, and ,'
Ben Spotted Horse. For this reason I feel that I am more than interested in what
you ouyit to do with the mountains. I want to see the nountains leased to the best
bidder, not only the best bidder, but anyone yho will look af[...]r mountains by including them with our loll lands and ,,
letting the area known as the triangle go with the mountains fliereby we will be lbl \“
to get more money for our leases. I also advocate that Unit 24 and what tribal
is have south of this unit should. go together and also the Snyder lease on the
aunt-ins. Another thing that I would lilce to suggest to the Council is that hereto
fore there was a piece of land known as part of the Bull Pasture t[...]over int

he unite-y where Mrs. Hendrich-Knowlcs and Pu-ter Krone lease be included in the
Hendrich and Porter Krone leases.“

Prank fiethune: States that if they don't get a good price for their mountain area, 'I'
hey could let it rest due to the fact that the revenue they get from it is not paid , \ ,
in per «pita pqnnts any way. H[...]

A special meeting called by the Superintendent of the crew Reser-

vnt'Lon, whieh was held on may 8, 1940

RoiI Yul ail
Superi[...]

The Superintendent called the Indians of the Lodge Grass District
together for a discussion on the advisability of changing the manner of
re-advertising ranges from the amtion bid plan to the sealed bid plan,
and to extend the present permit period four months, thus makixg me
leases expire on April 1, next, instead of December 1; and to give a
report of the results of the trial {hat took place at Billings, Montana
on May 7, Grove Stewart -vs— Robert Yellowtail, superintendent, in whbh
Attorney Burke on behalf of the Antler Sheep Company and other large
lessees operating on the Crow Reservation, attempted to convince Judge
Pray that the language found in the amendment to the Crow Act, approved
May 26, 1926, to mean flint the Superintendent of {he Crow Indian[...]intent of this act, is the sole leasing authority on fiie
Reservation notwithstanding any instruction[...]Interior nor flxe Commissioner of Indian Affairs to the contrary. andand ’die superintenieut explained the
following in their language. em requested their permission to make the
changes in {he re-advertisement of their grass for the next pennit period.

(1) To switch from the public amnion plan to the sealed bid
plan, which seems to be the best method to pursue since

developments of the trial at Billings, and vhich will in-
sure competition.

(2) To extend the present permit period four months, thus,
making the leases expire on April 1, next, instead of
on Deoanber 1, next. It is believed tint this will make
it better for the stock-men; and will result in an ad-
vantage to the Indians.

After the Indians'[...]

flail it to advice the Office that the matter was thoroughly
dilouned, and they understand the questions involved very clearly,
but, they prefer to handle the voting by district: in form of a
refer-Ida vote.

I find a great deal of opposition to this matter on the part

f‘ of the Indians, who do not hnve lande under the irrigation canola §
and I doubt very much if the measure will be acceptable to them, but f
I we will wait to see what the Crown in each district will do with re-
spect to the matter presented to them as they requested. E
I Very truly yours,
y R[...]ion with Charles stagner
will be taken care of at a later date.

{WW

2. THE TEMAI'IVE BILL S. 3732 to pruvide
for the cancellation of certain easeu-
me[...]RESOLITIION requesting the Secretary of
Interior to authorize a per capita pay— j
ment to the Crow Indiana imxediately. 1

m , « \.[...]

Place: Cr[...]Yarlctt
Secretary Tribal Council, Superintendent and office stenogrspher

Indian, employed at the C[...]the Council was advised that this is
with respect to the Judgnerlt Fund of fire She'ahom Indians and in accordance
with departmental regulations set forth in Superintendent Stone's letter,
it was necessary to get the approval of the Superintendent of the Crow
Indian Reservation and, also, the signatures of the officers of the Crow
Tribal Council; thus, it was put to the Tribal Council for approval. Deer-
nose: made a move that the program outlining the expenditure o[...]e app?
Coumil. James LaForge seconded the motion. A vote was taken.

The question of agreeing to the request of Charles Stagner, filoshone ![...]gre called for the
express purpose of considering a message of the Commissioner of Indian ‘1
Affair[...]Comissioner's letter.

The Tentative Bill S. 3732 to wipe out all irrigation charges was to
be read and interpreted before any action was taken. The action of the ‘
council was to be sent to Washington so {not the Commissioner of Indian F
Affairs in turn could make a report to Congress. :

The latest statement of assessment accounts on the Crow Irrigation
project from the Crow Irrigation office was submitted to the council for
their infomtionin the discussion[...]Bethune: States that the Crow chiefs luvs agreed to 1'1: thq’?‘ ' \
Secretary use tribal mnds to build ditches on Crow Reservation, and “It
in 1920, the tribe asked for a law to have these expenditm'es rehmled.

He further states that he is not in favor of wiping out all these accrued
diarges and does not agree to the action proposed in the bill of Senator l
Wheeler's. He goes on to state that it should be paid back and distributed

in per capita payments as provided i[...]vious he made an inquiry
regarding Hie irrigation refund of Superintendent and at that time, the Super-
intendent informed him that there was no available money to pay for such a

refund and in his judgment, he believes that same would never materialize.

)

v‘L . 4

320 90"! OMRQQA A‘-

Central Classified Files 1907-1939 Crow Age[...]WOW”?
Record Group 75 . EH”
National Archives and Records A ‘ '

Was'

“I ‘ l. .

Ties goes on to state that the Superintendent informed the Indians at this
gathering that 111s Indian Office is requesting a report from the Tribal
oounil as to what its decision is with respect to the conditions set forth

in e bill introduotd by Semtor Wheeler. He flirther asks if this money
was a lump sum and available.

The Superintendent responds to the questions by Ties to the effect that

the last paragraph of the bill i[...]ads as follows: "Provided, That the crar Indians

on such reservation by action of the Crow Tribal Council release all claims
to reimbursement of the total amount of Tribal hands heretofore expended in
constructing irrigation systems on such reservations.‘ The Superinteniemt
went on mther tc explain to Ties by using an example--that when Mr. Walsh
was United States Senator he introduced a bill without requesting advice of
fire crow tribe as towhefimer they would be in agreemmt with such a proposal
or not and upon the oonsmt and counsel of Father Tallinn, a Cotholic priest
who was stationed at the st. Xavi[...]ill of complaint
that was introduced in the (mute on behalf of the crow lndihnsumoneys that
were taken[...]ans.
The total aggregate of such amount rewesents a claim against the" We ~.~
for funds taken from th[...]f the irrigation division at this agemy is unable to mrnish {he Superin-
tendmt with those figures, dw to the fact that the records are kept in the
Billing[...]e total ‘
amount of the Crow 0 d: 11 charges up to March 31, 1940, which is $550,882.32,

and this amount represents the total amount that the Indians have not paid.

With reference to the statement of Ties, the Superintendent told hi[...]d be no recovery from the united States Treasury

on any claim submitted by any Indian tribe due to the attitude of Congress-

men Cochran, of Missouri, who has blocked any withdrawal of money on behalf

of Indians no matter how meritorious the claim might be, and as long as Con-

gressman Cochran and others assumed that attitude and are able to block aw
withdrawal of money from the United States Treasury and as long as that

attitude is maintained by S enatozr King on the Senate side, chances for the i
withdrawal of[...]ga-
tion charges, as he has land under the ditch, and a great pjority of the}!
Indians on the Oral Reservation are also concerned. He Me:-[...]umzlate so_l so 5
, first it would be impossible to make settlerent, thereby causing him to ' oose " :
his cum allotment and all other interests flint he may have under the ditch. f
He goes on to state that these charges for exclude the value of his lands,
and states that he is speaking on behalf of he mejoirty of Indians who are

-._ ' '[...]gency 054 x513;
Record Group 75
National Archives and Records

Was

‘ VI’

Page 3

in the some position, and throtgh his inability he has failed to pay for
fixese charges and they have accumulated to a large sum, but now he rea-
lizes he fact that these charges have to be taken care of, and if some
relief of this burden was given him, he believed that he now has the abili-
ty to take care of the‘ charges in the matter. He states that when he dies
and these debts are hanging over his lands, it will be a burden on his
hints, and he feels confident that his heirs rill not be able to tab

care of fine debt. He goes on to state that he minke this is the best
solution for this matter and that is why he is supporting the legislation
for[...]ve bill say that
there is no available irrigation refund momy, and now youwent to have
it legislated to wipe out all charges. He requests that this be explained
to him. He furfixer states that the tribe is on record giving its approval
to all moneys used for ditches, but that there is acertain amount used
without the consent of the tribe and this is what they want to recover,
stating tlnt it is in the Crow claim.

T[...]nt reads ihe last provision of the Tentative bill and in-
terprets it.

James Blaine: Asks if the word "claim" has as broad a meaning as to
include the claim of the Crows called “River Cr[...]ses that this provision of the Wheeler
Bill means to release claims of reimbursement of irrigation construction
operation and maintenance cl’arges up to the date of the passage of this Act.

, Jasper Long: "I aim to help the Crows by asking Congress to remove the

burdens of all irrigation chrages up to the date of the passage of the
bill, 8-3732. This bill is intended to help such fellows as Plenty Hawk
whose 80 acres on the hill at Lodge Grass has charges against it to the
amount of $1,868.35. These charges connenced in 1914 and are mmting

to high figures. There is the question of whether to charge the cost

of the construction of Willow Creek: dam to those whose lands that are
benefited or to charge or sell water direct to the users. If you stay on
these allotments with heavy charges against it continually, you will be
poor. Total cost of ditch projects up to date is $2,251,012, and
$651,274- ie United States money. Total expenditures for construction
that have been paid are 325,542. Total operation ani maintenance cost is
$1,578,550, and $625,350 has been collected up to Jum 50, 1939. I think
there is about $820,921.69[...]y
taining consent of the Crow Council. This could not be used to purchase
more lands for the Crows, as they have too much land alreatw, sws Mr.
Wheeler. 3.11.2777. Different Districts in our reservation have charges
against their respective ditches, as per letter of March 21, 1940, from
A. L. Nathan, Director of Irrigation, Washington, D. C. (Irrigation 9066-56
an.) I was assured if the Crows release all claims on irrigation charges
up to the date of the passage of the act then the United States will not
charge for the construction of Willa! Creek Dam against lands affected.

1.

A
am; ”01 udVOflqqaas’

Central Classified Fi[...]WOH‘JUm
Record Group 75 Ximu
National Archives and Records ', ‘

, Wasi ~,_

. U

Page 4
Deer-nose: ash what charges they want wiped out.

Jasper long: I".l'he moneys due the United States and the Crow pends usfid

to construct the ditches on our reservation. If we do this, there will 1"

be no charge to the water users under the Willow Creek Dean, when it is ‘
completed. $820,921.69 was money taken tron you to use in the Comets-n;-

tion of irrigation without you‘ ccnsent. This is a matter of litigation
in the Crow claim.

Deer-nose: Asks what ohrges are on dam; and went on to state that up to
last month thirty thousand dollars were spent on the dam, stating that it
will be approximately $1[...],921.69 or the exact amount I cannot recollect
is a matter taken care of in the River Crow Claim. Tha[...]ning your consent. The present Wheeler Bill tends to wipe away

all ohrges up to the passage bf the act.

flax Big mm: Max Big Man asks, "If the charges already paid by allottees

is used up[...]ttees under the ditch.“ ' "

Supt; 'I’liet is not correct. The funds used without your consent are in

the claim that you have in the River Crow Claim. That is tribal funds
which you may recover.“

Hex Big Man: "The construction charges have been paid by some Crow Indian.
water users, and some have not paid. There is an existing law that lends
under ditch should bear its per acre assessments. Ii‘ fiiis is not done now, our
children may grow up and some day make a claim. Then what? The 1920 law
provides that irrigation construction charges should be paid. It remains a
lien on lands benefitted. Some of our children now are exempt from allotments
and to share in our per capita payments. If this present act is law, they
could not recover any refund money. To release all claims of reimbursement
does not mean our claim in the River Crow claim. mat is something else."

Plays: '‘The tribal funds used to build ditches is supposed to be refunded.

Ihen it is paid those who have no irrigation will get a larger per capita

than those who have to pay their debts on the irrigation construction. I an . l
not in favor of wiping out irrigation assesments agai[...]“

Jasper Long: "The purchased allatmnts are up to the court to say, as to
their status on irrigation."

Superintendent: 'The accrued charges are paid not until the land is sold
by the Indians."

Lee Hugs[...]me of his experiences while he
was in lashizgten, and that he was treated with courtesy) He states as[...]ntral Classified Files 19074 939 Crow Agency 054 A333” T003310»
A“

Record Group 75

National Archiv[...]

told that these adjustments are now being made and that finally we will not
be charged only for lands that actually get benef[...]ians are involved
whether by allotment or by heir to lands under the ditch. This is such a
burden that is vhy we want to clean the slate and start anew. The proposed
land purchasing program is a dead bill now. You have no irrigation refund
moneys available for distribution. Our Congressman, O'Connor, and Senator

Murray approve our bill. Grourd, clerk o[...]we submit.

Frank Bethune: states that they mould have more than Just a few hours to
consider a question of this kind. He suggests that if they cannot remedy
this question after careful consideration that they ought to then sell the
ditch to the Government. He further states that they always run it 131a way
they want to and that those who pay for its building of the ditch and are
owners have nothing to say in the management of the ditch. He states that
the whites will soon have all of our property, and asks furiher where their
herds of horses are that once roamed their ranges. He goes on to state
still further that if they go according to the present law, all moneys re-
hurled will be paid to all of us whether we have irrigation on their allot-
ments or not.

Superintendent: IIThe policy of the present ministrafien is against t'dole"
to Indians. How if the irrigation construction charges are ever refu[...]in file Crow Act, June 4, 1920, I doubt whether you will
ever get it in per capita payments. If it is in the nature of a claim, as
long as Cochran of Missouri and King of Utah are in Congress, you'll never
get settlement. They will not permit a claim to pass Congress. The Lone
lolf'e decision is that your trust properties are yours to use for your bene-
fit. Congress could do as it sees fit regarding your trust lands. These
irrigation construction charges and other charges have accrued ever since
1914, twenty-six years ago, and these accurdixg to present law must be paid.
You cannot get out of it. The author of the bill of J[...]alsh. The accumulation will continue unless paid, and all under
the ditches must pay in order to operate and maintain these ditches."

Deernose: Reqm sts that[...]avor or against the bill.

He further states that if may are not ready to vote, that copies be nude of
{his tentative bill to be sent to every district to be studied by members
of the Crow tribe for action at a later council.

Walks with Wolf: States that this[...]numbers of
the Crcw tribe who wanted their moneys to be refunded, and that it finally

become law at that time, now they want to wipe out those claims or reimburse-
ment.

Blake Vlhiteran: States that they all know that fine Cross have a claim taken
up by Kappler, but that there are alo[...]ribe here who knew
nothing about these irrigation refund claims. He suggests that they be given
time to study this question and take it up at the next council, and that

when they vote every adult Indian be permitted to vote by ballot. He further
suggests that copies of the tentative bill be sent to every district for con-
sideration and that vote by ballot be taken at every farm station in charge of
the agemy office and our council officials.

CHARLES TEX sang. Second[...]o,
Record Group 75 K354"

National Archives and Records
Was " "

Chaimm “I will set another date to pass on this subject, bill 8-3732,

You have heard from the two delegates, Jasper Long and Leo Hugs, and the
superintenient."

Chairman; “You no doubt have seen the papers giving a proposed relief to
the Indians, who are starving, particularly the P[...]O'Connor.“

Chairman: "Now this per capita Wis not any other money, but moneys
derived from our own tribal area. I want the Secretary to read the letter
from our Senator James Hurray relative to his request on our behalf to the
Commissioner, and the letter signed by Assistant Commissioner, Zimernnn

in answer to Jane Murray's letter, objecting to our request for a pennant."

Secretary reads and interprets two letters.

Jasper Long: States that the Klamath Indians received a per capita payment,
and that their delegates get ten dollars per diem. He[...]s very sick, has only
five potatoes in his house, and that this is all he has to eat, and states
that such a condition as this is very pitiful. Jasper Long makes a motion
that the council Secretary prepare a specific resolution requesting fiae Secre-
tary of the Interioz‘ to authorize a per capita payment to fie Crow Indians
immediately, and that copies of the resolution be sent to Senator melanand
Senator Murray. (Resolution is hereto attached to the minutes).

James Blaine: Seconds the motion.[...]ing, which date is
May 15.

‘Ihe Secretary read and interpreted amendatory act of Jun 20, 1956 (49 Stat 244)
~ uh

fies: Suggests that if they rescind the request for farm implements and repeal
the Amendatory Act of June 20, 1956, then[...]ntended.

Jack Covers Up: Asks the Superintendent what the Indian Office says about
reedvertising the lands for grazing.

Superintendent. ‘I am instructed to advertise for thirty days, and the

terms that you have requested, your minimum sate of 25 cents per acre,

seems to have hem approved. The auction sale has to be cmmcted by

some of you, if you care to do so, as it takes $75.00 to pay an auctioneer.

and we have no funds for that purpose. You have good prospects for he lends
northeast of here. More than one cattle man wants to lease his area. Woodsen
Moss and Junior Spear will not bid over thirty cuts for their respective
leases[...]"W‘Te—w -

understand first they will have a meeting on May 6, about which tin, we will E
law {he intention of the company about heir proposed nativity on file Gold lease.”
The Coumil adjourned at 5:50[...]ncy 054 ‘33:;
Record Group 75
National Archives and Records .
w r s

EEEBEEEEBE

WHEREAS, The Crows had legislated and secured I lair June 4, 19”.

which provi dea that all moneys available in one fund to be paid in
per capita payments,

WHEREAS, The Jum[...]of tribal funds as designated by the Crow Council and approved by
the Secretary of the Interior,

WHEREAS, The per cent of relief on our Reservation is null, and the

needs of our unemployed adults, and its mew indigent Indi ane, are very
urgently in n[...]tary of the Interior te-
coneider our request for a ten dollar per capita payment before vre too

have to rely on the public relief funds contemplated by our Representative
James F. O'Connor, and that immediate payment be authorized.

y
?[...]Crow Agency 054 “may ands
Record Group 75 7, , "a H2451

National Archives and Rewtie '

W

ato tho lint” of tho Orv! fribol Counoil ”in;
of[...]l at it:
County 6 loom.

1- your lost" or Jmuy 10 you "goon tho "e «um- of
tho Offloo in tour! to tho porch-to It“ um» m 0‘ C
kids-tin out!“ no ‘1‘. on too-tool mm of iho Mo h ‘o
mood for m: mooo. It in iqouiuo for \u to «uni-o «only
in to dooirod in row! to m. unor oinoo minor tho ooonoil
lint“ on your hm um amount owl-notion. lo an: no 31o!

to tho WP ufl- om thio nttor whoa oooploto harm-um io
(uni-bod. ’

fur «mum to oulod to Orrin oiroulor of Anguot 15, 1988.
ohioh not. tom. «unholy one cloudy ouuootiunl for tho prop-nun
and «motion or nimtoo or tribol council notion. no nuuuo- of
m oo-oil io oopooiouy «and a» notion II, pawn c, of mo
“roam filoh ooh (on): o-o Ii-plo nloo tho council than“ loop in
do! in proooncing Odin-noo- ond rooolutiono. lot tho[...]o-o in tho prooonc inn-loo tho «by h muting oofion on NI
nmooouuthonmmoo. Imumtmmrnuum
moor tho burp-An[...]Molly om!“ own-mo Iii
tho ohm-noon oimlot I111 do .oh u moo on “no; of

mm buoinooo and to tog-nun tho utiono or tho mu: ”no“
liothot th[...]hndoiohhonmwmm
amortunmcmmr-uummhm.uunur

ooooioo a. mat in to to no“. not .9 «no "lo-t Woo tho
can.“ my oioh to {union Io.

My ”on,

,. gned.) FRED N. DAN!

mu"

Cuban (or Indian O[...]ow Agency 054

Record Group 75

National Archives and

LQ’"""‘"
a?
’7’

:l'

‘ \ M Ca-niaaioner of Indian Aff[...]at, which was pu'ohnud with 3.1.-
burlable funds and which they desire to have transferred to rum

property.

Pipe $40.60
Pimp 95 .00
Eng[...]$210.80
Repair 12.50
Total Cost 92%

I trust that you will give thin matter your prompt attention
and that a reply from the Washington Office will be frthooming.

granumme .

; to lens. if any oil is found‘in the Two LegélnA area. '1' he new
”a tmil ion is her=to attechnr'. These were read and. interpreted by Harry

I. i. ”sin of Crow Agenqr,‘!ort1n9 v.15 present to represent the may
and. the Indians were at liberty to as}: win all the questions they cg, g: owe.
Ibo Indian: discusfiei the 51“,}:31: vet’v f:a~1y.fl1e provision in‘e re lution
(ughout W mth[...]he 320' Tribal Council) wzws thormwhly explained. to th
91- members 0! the Council. v“
I. i. Stein prflpdd the Indians that he 1-111 not sable-as- without‘rst gettim- th-
approral of t[...]ell V. ~Dear moved that the resolution be adopted a: read, and seconded
Charles 3;]; lock.

5 J voted for the above rasolation, and one append.

Uherre was 56 voted in favor of tne[...];

Ruched; By the {iron T ribal Council assembled on this 6th (233’ a! January

19%, request the Secretary of the Inthior to authorize a ten ”Ml-:1 per with

ca ita "*ment to the Crow Tribe wit;nzt N" ingecnssu’y delp ' *"[...]Crow Agency 054
Record Group 75
National Archives and R... _ ’

“Lu“! 0'00!!!

ml 03‘ ll. 'ASHINM‘ON D_0

Imam ,

cm! Am mom Jul 6 19%

$1090” D[...]D mm IS AGAINST rm
0' man “‘01 nmmns WITITION AND ALSO DOES NOT HIS] m mu 2m
01 MING UNITS III} 09. W3
CHA[...]

"1L Z'W‘CLL WELD n 53"" ALTFECY, A

24.47," N. :nn}; 3.341.; 232.03%”)! T5[...]Mm we 3'6;ch W ma WW
tut try that smart-l7. ?‘m and?» Asia . ‘W

- 1:. m! comet: w ‘h‘mnxr '[...]-
bunni- 9:, our

3gb}: fave": -
mp1”, in!) L'-
and; In? as

mm 7&33’4;[...]939 Crow Agency 054
Record Group
National Archivm and R- -

won 29- 1940; clues ssrscmm TO PASS upon momma snow-nos In- "2:12:69“
‘ If
m an arm Pmm so We 2mm. » APR— 11940

11.0.[...]alott. ‘ ' '
‘ chsimx The resolution prepared and presented will be read and inter-
preted by the secretary. Your snilsble funds «per office record was set

forth in ow council on February 17 th, at which tine youyou! fimhle finds hsd hypoths- '
outed. Thu: your proposed purchase will hsve to be plsnned so as to use funds
thd: will be milsble by June I et- This[...]ad our minutes carefully.
Isoretsry, ( Here reeds and interprets the resolution hereto sttsched.)

”B[...]hat their

uspeuses shsll be reimbursed. we still have a small amount left which could
7/“). used to refund these delegates.

noes-nose: To purchase threshing outfit is not an economical investment

at the present. We should have considered very thoroughly before we pused

on this subject at the last council. I opposed the purchase plan then, and

I oppose it nos.

Bird Above: I approve of the purchasing of the threshing outfit, but I

do not agree to the purchase of a. combine. The Tractors and the plows should

he purchased first, so that garden plots could be plowed for the older Indians,

nd then to housed by the younger Indium on larger tracts. I oppose the

using or the money o[...]ome of our funds for the women's sewing project,

to purchase garden seed, pumps, etc. why do you want to tux-n this proposition

dalm- If this council disspprcves the purchase plan, then from now on, I

Mot thstt our funds shall be used for no other purpose, but for per cepita

pskymnts. We should be resdy on our allotments, so that when the trust period

expires, we could beindependent.

Frank s’hsne; ".‘a have no definite accounting of: our funds, it seems. he
'Wm "3!"th “430’ dollars. This amount should be used to help the
boys who went to Washington because they are or our tribe, and they are there
(entry to help us. I move that we authorise the concussions:- to expend this
gaunt to refund the expenses of the deleptes, has in wuhington.[...]rovenue from the resources of our reservation is to be used only for
pse- cspitq psyms'nts. Sons delegates unauthorized had the emudstory not of
June ’0, 1936 pulsed. If the Indian Office disspprcves of the notion of the
council reh‘kive to the purchssing the farm nohinsry, then I will any that
trainee on, our funds shill not be used for no other purpose thsnufor per
”its[...]the contents of the resolution. J. P”
“pits, and to refund the delegates their expenses. : ‘ ”or"

Jsmes[...]it.
The Wins in the Wysls District who elwa etsy on their sllctsents deserve
this good interprize. Th[...]pm. Such nohinery my amour.» the younger Indians to get beck to their
.m Allotm- in tin, thus to rehabilitate.
‘ Issksem stem. fie ere not nurse the- or the collier 2111 Indians.

w[...]Agency 054
.7 Record Group 75 U
National Archives and Records - ' .
w . ' .

WHEREAS, the said Crow Delegation has made this[...]same has, by the Indian Department, been refused on the
; ground that the Crow Tribal Council has heretofore on the 9th day
of March, 1940, made a request for the use of Tribal funds for the

purc[...]action taken by the Crow

Tribal Council relative to the purchase of such threshing outfits ‘
was clearly made with the intent that if the same were purchased, the ”hi
purchase of the same was not to be made out of present Crow Tribal 3
Funds, but to be made out of available Crow Tribal Funds due Ju[...]y the minutes of said Council of the above date,

and

WHEREAS, there is available out of the Crow Tribal Funds,

out of which a per capita payment can now be made, approximately 1

the sum or Nineteen Thousand Six Hundred Sixteen and 07/100 Dollars I

($19,616.07), and that it is necessary for a per capitay payment of J
' ’“v‘nozeo, the s[...]llars ($17,680.00, which per capita payment would not in anyw'ise ‘

interfere with the proposed purc[...]on of the Crow Tribal Council for said purchases, and if
expended for this purpose there would remain sufficient balance in said
run! to take care of present commitments for sewing proiect, seed

L' and expenses of the'Crow Delegatfiy and 4

Central Classified Files 1907-1939 Crow Agency 054 Wm" '
Record Group 75 ~.
National Archives and Records Administration

Washington DC

grown or to be grown and there are only approximately 500 acres

of all[...]ming lands, upon which grain is now being

grown, and, therefore, it would appear to this Council that the

“:va

' "so or such meshing outfits would be economically unwise

7‘3! to! in accordance with good business Judgment since the depre-
ciation of‘such machines and the wear and tear on the sane alone

wool! more than pay the costs of threshing all grain on Indian owned
3a

1%!)

" now, THEREFORE, BE 11' RESOLVED, that this Council go on

record as opposing the use of any of the present[...]r purchasing said threshing outfits at this time, and

Q ' that to protest the use of Tribal moneys to be obtained in the future

for such an investment because of the unsoundness and unwise invest— «

é! ment of our moneys for s[...]the former action of the Council authorizing the

A as.» ‘:A

‘ purcmlse of said threshing outfits, this Council now feels that it

would not be in the exercise of good Judgment to proceed with the in- «

:‘Yéstment of Tribal funds in such manner, and, therefore, we oppose the

same. ‘
BE IT FURTHE[...]uest for per capita

payment of $10.00 be granted on the ground and for the reason that a

Indority of the Crow Indians are now in distress and such per capita ;

payment would be a great relief to such Indians for the purpose of

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be

,
forwarded to the Crow Delegation now in Washington and to each Repre—

"s,entat1ve and Senator in Congress from Montana.

I R)!!! 13 Tri[...]w Agency vs»
Record Group 75 .
National Archives and Records Adminimmon

WashingtonDC

Ir. Harris! .

In Win- mmnu o[...]SUBJECTS!

30.01““an mun; Jupr Long.“ to.” to p
“In-Wtuwhtmhmwmfil
mm-dmmhcflwhwuh‘umudp
mulwwnww-bwmmq
no». '1‘“ a. urn MIMI...

Poul“:- puul roan-nth; mum to at «to flu
Winn-n mmmrum Md- upunhuu anion
and and pot-ton to be uud for not, Ind

kahuna, inhxch tho rum Cannon horoby W « a[...]h-ohmM-dhh-lh
thud -0.“

381: .901 GMEQ‘IA A

Central Classified Files 1907-1939 Crow Agency 054
Record Group 75
y'onal Archivw and Records Administration

Wasmwnvc m

HOflASBSFI TUOFIJUO

X1: a!

and Leo Hugs, selected by various allottees, to go to I
Washington to appear before the Indian Department and

Committees of Congress to sponsor legislation to wipe _ :.,- ;-'
out ailpherges fina’c have gcrued on the 'rrtiign
W’ a" I‘lfi‘EO' , :1 ' . : ,_. "[...]

wdm to wipe out :11 duty" in“ has m In
in brig-um tyct[...]m.
m 4911:" 0 MN hub in m

t/-.

m Ind m potato" to b. and for not. In

Rouluuu, in which the ma OM11 hunky we to
tro- ut smut tuba MI, or mail but!"
to: nth-r projects, 01.000 to ha and far 50
pm or uterin- and ethol- expan- W
to flu manual operation of x Boring Prod-ct d thy
c[...]. tho Cra- Mbal Gown in union thi- 0.
any of lush do hereby indium that: dons-o

(2) Thu a. of {haunted donn- nu ruolnd in open um-
on to be not "up for mu yutahue 01‘ gird“ nod uni
pot-ton to ho and far nod from are: Tribal funds.

48) haul moth[...]r than" at public‘ V ‘
' “$05. , ' at
w .,

What-natura-
m

Mmg

nut-um:[...]

srmmm of Shot in the Nose or Ties His Knees.

m'. chsirnsn; I wish toand in this end we
decided with your permission to send, at their own expense, two of the
Indians from the Big Horn Valley; namely, Jasper Long Tail and Leo Hugs,
These men are proceeding to Usshington, at their own ex me, to do what
Wonmthevlyofeomm “new...“
or all inter curses, including 0. a: M. so that the Indians osn‘he P,
ted to start with s. new slste. To this end, we wish to ssk the general
council to give them permission for this one purpose only. Upon this
point, I should like to have the Chairman cell roll to see whether the majority {
of the Indians are in favor or such a proposition or not. After mmh debste f
and expression of opinion, the Chairman put the quest[...]te was as follows: Vote for ; Against: " . Thus,

to Indians of the Big Horn Volley were g e the reques 0 send two of
“air matters, at their am expense, to the City of Washington To do that
fluyesn town-d the annulment of or t[...]

Record Group 75
_ National Archives and Records Administration

:udl-Iumm‘gmfii[...]

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». . m.
s .m a”
“_w‘.m. 1 Wm .. . M
_.. . r._fl M “.m .[...].mm “Em“ _ max. m

mrmmarm .mmmru 4 T. m .3: a MW

my W “WWW$ gunmwm‘mm mm- wwmum mmfi nmmfl » m uw
fium ”a

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C[...]

w. “WNWHM/
:3_1bmm-mwwm

,.umm4.s:wmm.m a.
u m,“ “m we“ aw £3

mkflmfid

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Ce[...].m M)” m emumm W m.3 mm..mm mm
mm mwmmwmmq u ,m a: w _.

. a m syn
".mu mm_mmmmfl %WWm. .w—mmwuwg a“ mm.

2. ..
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W“'““8‘°“DC “m.

??

uIIOLUIIOI
t a

I O .

nnnmmeuoOnIM-m

.ecmm.m.m~horw

Mlnmbhfl[...]mnumm-hummuu

mumhnummmmmuumum
ummmnm

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x;

W. ill “I! of Ib- cm W rolldix ‘ ”on. My
duirl n com-any hall in commun 11th the publi[...]RE‘S, '1‘!th Ltnbu‘ 1n the Big Hun Mountain on the cm
noun-u- a “lulu- for an m. ‘ “ ' WW

mu, m roqunt by the crow labor- a! flu m1- Mitt“!
ll hlflby $1.“ boron tn. Trihnl (Jamil fr I’ll I“ II M
.1“ to his in th- pull-u,

II I 1-01-1- Iht h 6?. mus[...].

now-in 9pm cannon ut Crow Agency, Home-m. this afih day a:
hit. 1919.

I 4w 461 6mm“;
mesa TUOH'JUO
Ce[...]gency 054 .

_. Record Group 75
' ‘oml Archives and Recmds Won
' - .. WashingtonDC -

mm» by the m- nib-l couneii duly emu
thie on do] or Iereh, mo, et cro- Amy, Montene, that
it ie t[...]em it advisable that thie requen
be granted no as to enable the MASSEY OIL & GAS OOI‘PANY to have
en entire drilling nei‘acm eve ileble without t[...]by the MASSEY OIL 3c GAS

COMPANY.

PASSED, imam) AND 11-me3 this 7 day or

Much, A. n. 1940.

L e ouneil

Central Classified Fil[...]Crow Agency 054
Record Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration
Washington DC

5

_—-r_

i. -1‘. A

1
4
.
‘5
.
i

Mi scellaneous ”M '
Greenwood

ht ensi on

V 1’
2-
3.
49
5.
6.

7.
B.

9.
10-

Forestry V[...]Irrigation Zd'

2/7"!

lotion passed requesting a per caoits pument in View of lconomic
status or the Indians. and expressing impatience at delay.
Question raised as to income. if any, from“the oil lease. River
Ores Claim, Coal, and. the Gold Lease.“ _
Vote carried to determine all tribal matters by majority of adult[...]ack Foot.
Discussion of general leasing problems, and decision to lease
the lig‘lorn Mountain area as a whole instesd of by unit Wen.
Gomplsint entered r[...]Gro- lospital, who. it
is charged. are unfriendly to Grow patients.
Motion carried to sponsor a. sewing project by nsing $1,000 out of
avtilsble tribal funds.
Vote carried to use $500 tribal funds in the uurchase of girden seeds.
considerable discussion and distension over question of removal
of pre[...]

Ir. loin. 10w,
Bin" onnot! in no mutu- um and In an mun-I

m m nu mun“ of upon-1 ua «punk o-mu-l to
\In In“. or“...

n 01- «aunt-n 1 than un u an you An.“- to
cm.- ctnllu- of August 15, 19”. u Inn-h an “Inn“ comm
unsoun- nd ciao-Mm u to m. an": of mm Ind
ninth“; mat... Mim- lnd nuluum or trim «II-ill.
You nu an. on mu 5 and 6 or flu- Circular. - lop: of ‘10!
1| hand“, um no alumna: :- Ind. how-on tuba mu
undo: the nu- Bnorunauu. A“ And unu- Subo- an III IQ!
mar u» A». (h plan I or um cumulu- x In" on“ th- u.-
nm that m upon-111 pout-u. So no I010“ of mu mm.
x valu- mm on. I" no. a cunt“ “Into-1 untu- io an
In no“! to an In”. in in emu-Inn. :- ‘1'. u no
mu[...]

Sir:

Transmitted herewith is a copy of the proceedings of the
Tribal Council, held here on February 17, 1940.

May we have an answer to the various questions raised by
the Crow people?[...]s that the Indian Office
is very slow in replying to council resolutions and proceedings.
In the absence of such reports, the Indians do not know the atti-
tude of the Office with respect to their resolutions and proceed-

ingl.
I am mailing a carbon copy of the Minutes to Geo. M. Nyce,

Regional Forester, of Billi[...]

:1 - ny-_----—-

mm (”at mum a'm can rum. cannon. mm A: can mun.
nannm mo. cum 31mm. mm rwsmn BY GIORGEI[...]: e I follow“ ‘19, 616. O7 .)
2 nd The cement to leiee Mountdn tree. by unite or by the entire u-e[...]‘ -
5 rd ”000.00 of Trib’el hands requested to eponeor crow Indium women” eating
project.
I th 0500.00 of ltribe]. hind- requeeted to purcheee gel-den need.
5 th Reeclution reletiv‘ to reoreetionnl eree.
6 th neeolutiane for tribe]. d[...]Robert Yellow tail
5170 e Mod report of hie trip to the Shonehon'e end mpehoe country.
Old arm. an old u'nbe'r of the cf?!- Trfifiy "‘3' pke in senor-1 to +43%
meme or the crow counoil. I
Chnirnn; Open‘gd the meeting at (bout three o'elook P. M. subject: to be
dieeueeed will be taken up in their order. senito‘r Burton K. Wheeler writee
e letter to the Superintendent to mud crow Act of June ‘4, I920, Section 2
ureeomnded by the 1959 Crow Delegntion. a»; _ .
secretes-y reeds semtor Jime- Mir 1’ “[...]in letter tendi tomeil . pip-m “' ufunqr Nov 1: you cm to, let
gees-y one help to eonpoie I resolution by tW comeioner will mm no
mnee to turn it dam. Il'he‘ pcheede‘»: oi: the tribel'nree ie our non-y, it in
notto buy food, cod.) aid clotheing. ugh out I ’reeol[...]met of the Indian.
‘ June worse; I witneee the not thet lot of the crow people ere in dire
me! e: e per cepite peynnt. The I nut to turn up the question at the leu-
in; of the [aunt-in eree.
inc Hugs; ape-k- in generel to tho-e present to work in hex-mow. I doubt,
favor a eomittee to eolve our problem.
Prank Tehee The mm; Re-introduoed A resolution to remove the preeent.
cling-n, Cherlee Yerlott. (Re[...]hereto attached)

In Big lhn; I more thet we vote to uk for e per eepite peymt. Old ——
whit edonnd[...]y-ent. etend.
ILL THOR! mm ”000 UP I! FAVOR or. A PER WIT; rum.

- losses, and his money tron-this looses. let us one e ruminant[...]dbideorhtuedopttheuetionsysten
I move the no: new on, Is determined the votes on tibel mettors by nJority
.dult votes so it is in[...]BY CHIEF BLACK FOOL

«VI-s merge; I believe that if we create the unit system on the mount“n
me. we will get cognition. lo will get more rental for our mutein green.
to should inelude in tho edvsrtissnnnt meny provisions to protect the poo-pectin
lessee, gm else that we sh[...]getting our
lenses for the purpose of subleeeing to other stoohnsn end nukes lots of money. E

Jones Mela; You uked et the lest leesing for fifty cents poo- sore for ‘
your trlbl louse. You did not get it. You should be more libsrel. I under-

‘m stead tltt the Forestry Depertnnnt olossiried the munteins, end thst you ere

‘ not getting peid for sueh erees es timber, sage brush[...]te]. for entire ete- epproximstely. 1 sm inclined to believe that stoohen do not
like the any fences lending up to the mounteino. I. should oloer the peso“ m 7,
to the mounteins for egress end the ingress. Let us edvertiee to the highest ‘F‘T
bidder end twenty—rive eon[...]the buffslo posture. ’ _
Joel: Coversup; I move to vote whether you went to loose the W or.
by the unit system or by the enti[...]nded by ilk. with 1:! Volt?
pull over the 3111. 1 don't favor the unit system. You unfigmuo
providing for your buff-.10 if you e110! lessees to run the mountei'ns under the
unit plen. I believing in loosing the mounteins in the entire grog. to most
mks provisions for our buttelo Md other wild life. 1!
mm: Bethune; You should be snowed te’hunt, fish, oenp, end piok berries.
Rulings should be etriok es to fire preysntion. Son's white lessees heve proud-ed
to bid twenty-sit eents per sure for about 80,000 sores. You should get rentel for
entire money of the nounteins. If you oen't get your prise, then we too cu:

m money by subleesing just no form lessees hen been doing. sings this is ,
e seesmel[...]or stock. ‘

?

32v 901 CHVOR’JS‘A ['2
“amazon YUOHDUO
Ccnual Classified F[...]

Ie went to reeerve tram leeee thet pert of the mountiene kno[...]ure. between the Little Bull Elk, Big Horn canyon and the Bleak Cwon.

! prefer the motion wetem. open[...]ain we tribe, property. It is under your
control. you on lee” it uw w you went to. You will heve to prod.“ for your

~ buffalo and en. 1:. know by nut; eiperienee what to de in the future. Our duty

1. to help to benefit .11 nefiere 9: the tribe. the helium newt-at will help

ue providing we do our pert to help ourxelvee. I megeim eny did-ion of

the mmteine. Advertieemnt should be nude to leeee mamtiene by its entire

see, I my here it t[...]y of thi- omjb “my the

anew tribe, 1 will help to oreete e movement which will iwh then.

'1 ' Mord Beerclew; The provisions V111 he to reserve the Willa. penal-e
«gift! Weloee elononmd thet the buffalo ehell hen the fine eeoeee to
dgprwte of the 1121’an urea Allen ”‘0 be al lowed to cw, £1933, hint

gtepiekberriee/M muymmhnuputhem[...]ut the eprin‘e end other Inter emcee“umot

QW to «use, the Wine under the wit plan. We are“ era: ~ '15"

you lho help reohirgi, Powere uni other; to get theee leeeee.

'* V flee 51; been You ought to provide theta the levee- ehell buy our hm

Hg they nee to do we" e50.

_‘ ’ nerti'ord Beerclew; I: you edopt the unit eyeten, the lover perte will bring[...]antel!!! will, bring no bid.

any; I reoomnd that you elweye hep the mounteine for the benefit

of the[...]eecther that wild end the domeetie min-ll get. It you believe in the

diving, your mountain ere. will be sold. It would be impouible to set All

lgeeeee to egeeto allow your butfelo to run et lerge. The so celled buff-.10

We ehould be rushed from lee-e. If the Ioppee Pole ere: would bring teenty-

" eente[...]eeide. end leeee it for whetever it

will king. I on notified that ny friend, Chnrlee Miller (Indian n[...]ke Mett Teohirgi. For the ooxnmon good,I

rfiher not believe in the unit eyeten. Thie e tribel eroe, e[...]he reeerw‘ion

_ , fi‘ut‘imometent Indian- to eign leeeee to commence utter the expiration

of the,preeent lee[...]or the inoometent
indign- heve eiged. He hes been to leehington te-loe up to thie dgte. There
ie géing to be eomthing sham up econ. Ihether The Diaries-m 1‘
maneuon over the ineonpetent Mien leeeee or not. Ihe semi-7 e! the ,

1 V merge: ergeted th’hre[...]tendent hee e mtg-y ‘

mug; tune leeeee wording to cash“ Jen. 4. I“; ~ « We
Tore-w Dideion tek'[...]eethfi1nthn IQ, Ijhinkthlt them” ”the leeeee
a; to mop thi we ere eegoerned, ee e tribe to weit until we get nerd from the
,~ 121“;an "sho[...]w wt 3. Teehirgi. Then we will hia'w ihet eouree to perme- nont be in
.7 ‘ e hurry to we on thie opinien. ‘Ie heve eeverel epplioetione to leeee
- p.11 ereee in the Big Ron I unteine.
all our the If“; rhi- uit §eten ie for the 31; non noun-due only
a- ie t;- kyer Weill inolued. eel: thie quee[...]

“mom our button hm noon to tho entire oroo, o1: large, on well
go whom lire It tho nonstoino I out. snooty five eonto por non for t).
on“. We ooreop. ‘ "
3*?m1 robooroforthooidoyounonttovote. rho unit oyotenwillho
a? m HM no it too Iii-oh: My hoteorth' eon-on. Tho “lord-m
in out?“ ak for twenty five cent per ooro so tho lingui- price. 51-0 to
reoem the buffalo pootm.‘ Ten-wot he m tho rim to on, hm d
non. the too there on ”0'1“.qu Moo to to We in tho tonal-time
inerdor to protect future leueoe.
’~'"--' burnout Thole un[...]t-g or the entire oroo in no loose. 1

01d crane. not us tort togdthor. You hoven't boon gutting but - little
dint m eont por[...]o hold our m for fifty
M i 1:5. loot looting, but you did’not otlnd tmhl’o EM! ti.” i“ no.
Mugshot. Rooem the More for tho horfolo. I m M on V
was 1... diotflet ho 51m tho right to loo-sun. mW'
W tho: would lilo to loo”. The Main country 1- 1M1 {HIM R m
anther»[...]e oooho “www.mthyeonhid show-this

1 , You” Brow: [hieh toothed in tho but, no wont at other-tine no on oh to
* got ”him uni tho noot rentol. You hove nod your rot-ob, lot. no vote
in tho moot fr[...]”tho entire mountoin mo, therefore I know thot you ought to be so?»
ting nude" thou twenty cent- per oere. Toohirgi 1: not the only 1- 'ho
all 1716;" Mo will be othero, if thgy oro prateoted properly to bid for .1),
tho unto or tho entire oroo of the B[...]uyoten first, then for tho other i

oyoboli-

=~ and Fu my; Which our the oide tho nJority vou- tor, 1[...]f am udder, thio tin. Ie ohndl '

,I
r
gout- , j

a)“: .7

4....

flagioo hood, on! give no ono ony portereuoo. »-
(M A‘ ml rm TE! WIT SYSTBIt toooo u/ngb
was m m mm W[...]Robots 1mm“. _- _
Old Crone: me: o trio: eaplom to moo-filo muo- m on M:
_ Woke nut-loan: to ctoo Indian poem in to. ”moan.- ooh-risk.
__ groom ouporintemlonh, hoh[...]vio': lilo mug-ntflu "
, m ' . ‘“ “ n.3,; A km ‘
:f “ -' choir-o; who no” mum in the ac[...]ma We:
pm nooo.oo eo ope-oa- the cr- IndinoIo o—on uni-g pomfim-
‘ an as; Ion; (Bern emu“ tho wen-k of tho «Ian.

V m 1o no rem-b, I ook the ennui]. to vote. Iii}; riho
V qwethonflowotowthommsegu “WW F
r :gloeooono qua. 43.!
, 1—- and: You on uoothotthonody uncommon-rm“
QM“. Imooo[...]

when: ,-».-c

he Big Men; Speciel meeeuremente heve to be teken for fet people if they went
av thing thet oen be nude in the sewing club.

Deemeee; Thole who ere the noel: in need cash? to be helped tint.

Mex Big In; It ie up to the soperintemlell: to approve eny requee? for
elehheing.

lriee Hie bee[...]mzmmm. nmorrom. ,
‘ cheirnm The next eubjeo? ie to cement to the nee of 0500.00 out of .
eer trim made to purehue gerden seed end poteeoee for eprh‘g- ;g[...]triek, the membere of the sewing club distribute to fever their

ii 81; inn; ll'he work of the eev[...]? ie your edeh ebom: theuee or ”omen “mm " “a!
eeed etc-u , ‘ '

muslin. Yeuvill expended 1cm[...]ur regent fer ten doller per eepifie . ’
would not be epproved. fie ehoul'd manage our young men to fer-L when at
you who get eeed ought to try te ehew good example. q» ,
"' i! VMD I'll run 0! USING ”00.00 to pureheee wden eeed. No Oppoeitien.

”eatery: He[...]er 0;
eer ‘buei-ee.

Rent Tie- the cum Ineieted to telne up the reeoiution to reno- the

pun? diam. -

"‘= Jeeper Meg; I eeoo[...]hich requeeted for e five duller per dien.)wulin5 to gmh the?
We be.” en the ew ebmxt their individu[...]d out in the hille, therefor it
ie e dieedventege to try to work on their hilly ellotmenoe. I eek tn! e veto
on fine neelution 1e remove the eneirnn;

’ neernoee; why do you went to remove cherlei Yes-lot? ee oheirnn‘l He in
regu[...]on of M90“ Boerqlel.
term-r oheimn. Hie term in not yet expired. mt hm ya: gel: mm ' ,
hie. omn- Yerl[...], 3;“le
e W. hen email ofiieiele go? no N; why do you em their
no; heve ehildrem our intereete ere thei[...]the Gang (nepeetedly requeet that the weigh

M}. to decide.) ‘ ’ , " F
ne’er Rymwmtoehnvobeim h[...]er eppreeel') " m

Hereford neerc‘lee; rhie ie notto go hy. Nothing definite to die-

Mme ere not orderly. You e110: other- te epeek out or order.

"A

seu no: OSVOM[...]

- e ‘.~

up to the Indians who they want for their council chairman.

Chairmen; The speaker is out or order. You seek nothing but to agitate
and to stall the business that we have been trying to talus up for several
oounoil meetings.

Iillian B[...]nt
be removed without any good reason?

Supt; NO. you have no organisation. You have no constitution, rules
and hy-lgws. All you M" in that these council netings are yours to say.

It is up to the majority. What the oounoil passes here is sent to lashington.
It you want to remove your chairman, that is up to the council to tale up.

lnliams Bends; When I was a chairman, I In to look out for our future posteri

ity. It is not so with Hartford Bearclaw who now seeks to be a chain-n.
no he by crookedness, dismembered as heir his own relation, a brother, and
robbed hill of his birth-right. He advocated the unendmnt of June 20,1956,
ilioh alencst took any that what we tried for years to hue ennoted into 1.,
null}. to divide our moneys among the members of the tribe equally. When this
on up, I and another delegate refused to consent as us were not instructed
to ask for sueh an act. the present sspirent for chairs-n also seeked to take
w prinleges p: the cmpertent class. I was talking to mother crow about
e"poesi‘ble loan tron the governnnt so ss to get the boys back on their places.
‘This loan wild he use to purchase cattle, horses, or any other equipement needed
to ste‘rt eaoh Indian on his own allotment. I talk with the extension agent who
thought it would be a good thing. Eertrord knew about it. and told Runyon to
get let the Indians know about it. This is the type or a follow, the present
entrust for the council ehairnnJ'hen I was the chair-m, I ma to sign the
proceedings of the council whether I like it or not.
.. Holds the knew; Why is this talk about removing the present ehairmsn.
gis term is not up yet. When Hartford Bear Claw was chairmen, he would not
alloy the uneducated Indians to speak at our councils. A cheirnn's place
”to occupy the chair, not to go around whispering to mentors of the council
while the session is on. I am in rover 1n retsining the present ohairnnn until
the end of his tern. '
/ A * era Bear-claw; Goes among the Enew's estate In[...]s. I never attend an of the hearings. W state-2st
a?“ in public about no is not so as I had no active part in the my. ‘6.
cording to the determinntion of his estate, I and Minnie crooked m ere
e93»). shore holders. Lots of the crows elloed thnt I be the oheirs-n. m-
1"?) to the mjority or the crows to say. bout believe everything “you . v
'79 _ .‘9‘: ;!4 rm
Al Holds 1:!» my; I went old Indium to have tin full eye 81““!
giyieion of our lands, not[...]I get ‘
dollar pm!- m President's ten: expires on lurch sth'. so '50th
cones around, you can elect a chain-n. I want s long haired 1nd
oW.sndth‘se-stora «mt-ar- _.[...]om‘y yntes '1th be M prfli’w um
:m1po no): i to liege" the o'he‘lrgn,’ “1%” he council te
.‘yotown it. ‘0 ”new new sheet these- was: end m no you

ran-ere fife?pr nsrerentalreryeeoww
EMKrmroqu-s[...]esentupor-

uhhe'wfli‘.

A . ._-W,

4

[pend ti.- end money to eone here to dieeun nttere or greet iqaortanee to
the tribe. The Depertnent officiele get good pey end tine houees to live in, etec-
!eu heve no rules cad by-lewe, you ere not org-mind. Importut utter. te be
taken up before the congress need educated minds to solve then. Lots of you
oere not to etudy wthlng thnte vitel to your welfere.

sooreteryg tht in the wieh of the couneil ehout the eoverel MW
referred to, which in the work of e representetive oomdttee?

lac Hugs) The minim rate per eere on the mounteine ehell be twenty five
unto per acre.[...]eeeeued heevily tor ell kinde or oherges which in not right. so - - , v
mm: in your eonsideretiene. Be euro before you go eheed. It ””1151, ~r «3
sound with white leueee to help then, we do not went then to he otfioiele
e! the eon-oil. we went offloiele who will take the pert of their people;
We appoint you n ehnirnnn, eo thet we can work to the end where ', 1”
meet good for the crown. we didn't come here to eon-en in “-‘2‘

Yellow Brew; The council o[...]~
09‘ council lteelf. Benh dietriot elected two to repreeent «eh dim.
They not and dieeuesed your problems et different timer, totel[...]ettendin; theee verioue meetinge. We were oerefu) to W no
nletekee. we should now vote to take up these resolutions for emiderwtien. r
One thought is thet we should telae up the reeolution reletive to parcheee _
”queued deed eetetee. I: we remain ee we ere now, some dey the lent-”will ,
he eold to seetiety eeoh heir, end the lend will be deeded to A white pur- "}
angler. You will finelly hove no more lends for your future peeterity. It ’
we try to do eonethin; new for our future, I In sure, thet the Indien Office
will help no to get whet we went. Let us pen on the heirehip puroheee re-
eolution. seconded by J[...]d eduoeted mdiene here elwm helped their .
people to heve property. We were not in went in those deys. why do you went "%
our mane to pey for the irrigetion aha-gee. Give ue eagle ti-‘tejfieoide ,
on trihel questions. If we work together to voice for e per eepite pm 1
fleertein that the s[...]ision of our present resemtione We depend
lergely on the imam of the leeee on than lende. Dont be hnety mm m—r-g‘
peeing of[...]th'filew
by the covenant. Be cereml in ell than; you do es you ere sweets by m.
may epond for irrigetion construction ie clerk's Fork M my.
whet you ere doing, sppeel to those who ere educated end work temw
rend your ri[...]it uppoeed trhe pest we meg. '
the Question will have to be salad, who will thin dam to when it w' 7
lop-um. rhetgdollerpereepiteiselwqel[...]e ”ell snout damnel‘br ontoot our tribel M Q
to perehue teed ellotnnte tut we in connected etetus where the heir} consent 67

to sell ete.- I. met do thin or not dq ggggehildren will be lendless,L or 2"
m[...]

mmnmwuammurumu.
Womcmfi-«ICOWCQD
mm[...]In... mam-n sun-nu. t:- n- can In
all: int-t noun on to uni.

hwx-pruplumuuhumm

“mu-un- naturmkuo Mum-[...]tor-chm».

(Sigfiéfi'fim 'HTHMCK

ASSISTANT TO THE

Jim 2 7 l9“!

é:

Mada!

l-Ib-w /'
on India: Ora-mutton.

amt" crow Anny.

0n- l‘h’n has:
On- lul'. In...
ham M, 19.

M“

Gal-intent of Indi[...]an
an" in tuna-iii“ bruit): in “plan“, “a was"

or no Junior are: run: council Inna.[...]

mun Ml! Cur-I. hove “nae-t
he! flee”. to

Grove Steven, Ming hair-an, opened the mee[...]lulu
Gown. fie noting Ionian will be given over to reading and “lonely th
Preeeut Goutitut ion, and election of te-pornry office". he net“; I- an
open for Men-ulna"

nan-y trout eae eleetel terrary chair-u to prune our tb moth.-
htl llller eae elected temporary eeoretery to tab can of th Aimee. 1t na
decided to eloet per-aunt orneere at the mxt general nettle or the council.

he hair-n called upon Jeee Hill to read the noun Conatitution. Inch
eeetln of the constitution.“ real and explained by Kr. 3111. At an earlier
ute Allen an Inn, I11" fighter and Jeee Ill). prepared the orlglnel unetltut-
10-. I[...]or Tribal Gannon would
let in an In he e «til-en to the regular ct" Indian mm council. on

til 1- In Drely to give th younger peple a volee in utter: pertain“; to
trfial attain.

It In euueeted by Evil! Stuart Jr. ”at a eo-ittee be anoint“ to go
over the Coutnutiou and nke aw umeeery eheoye. and gain preaent it to
tb council before it le for—11y edopted.

It In[...]that the Junior ero- Indian Tribal Council eould not only

have helm-e netlxge but would eleo hold aoclale. damn, program when
reereatlou aetlvltiee on well.

Dona“ heme" atated that n ehould nut era[...]l. ‘

h. Ital-lee Yulott, hulk Yarlott, George [on all .1 315 in. nine
01 the restler Grove Indiauflrlbal Council eeae in ettendune. M were cello.
upon to give any eoneute upon the pronoun Junior Crow and Council. It.
nuke:- polnted out the paeelbllltlee[...]treeael the upon-nee of lush en organnatlon n, th you‘d! unhere or in
en- mu.

here Iae dlemeln at great length ‘7 HI you) on the appoint-u! e!
truteee, ee refined to: in the continua. a fee e! In .nbera we":

are et “ret in fever or[...]anee, fer the m of gettlu the organuat son undel- on. But it ne

551‘ ”02 Clavoi- w. ,
Cent[...]

It In voted upon toon lore drove ate-m
hvid [inert Jr.

he abut-u eppointed Allen on Born to eat ee eheu-een or the eomttee. It'. 1111
Jennhge eweted thet eeehere of the older omncil be requeted to help the. p

over the Boneutut in end eat in en edvieoq uepeoity on the eo-ittee. A nation
en .de to uni effect enl eppraved.

he council edjourned at[...]- nre eerved at the eleee

o: the helme- Ieetlng. A vote of thenke wee given It. John Dune of cm- deem,
re:- Genetic- a: the amen-fie.

It In ennnunced the: the next council would be held on Hensley, Jenner] In
1940.

emu cum-n, or a[...]Crow Agency 054 “094383;! Tuonauo

w. n ».

;«a-w-c ~ _ 3min

flank-tin
t. h:

on - kph. Cm Agncy

12-00-12

1.

‘0

(15 Hana-«m[...]”, nu

SUBJEIS x

Mum-non m nprucutltivu' inn", and
Mini uhhn of who.

”Moan-Int of math:- to ram or «and
but an hold by Georg. A. In; and tho
ndlud kph. on Cm of 01:10.30.

Mot dim-lion- on both tidal ion truly
exhumed on hondntory Lot of 1m.

Genet-I1 dilouuion eons-nu; och-r gut-tin“.

u. Dohr lotion on douche unwind luck.
I). hondnut of luv or[...]

V you",

‘2 2171113»: and
was fires; :1“ INS! thiI

acid-cent.

uncant'xui‘ martini-6 leni- IM -

’o: prel : nomad or a» W; (”M
ion «nun on Maui an» m. In
it: tho ”712:“.

' mammals; u-ban tom-MWMIXIII. mm a!"
m. mInmr-vwmsmnmsmkmm '1‘
mummawmnamwmwfil.

.{

1
4

75.1mm. "

“63:0th reeds and interprets eidst important subjects whi eh had
less presented to the districts to disease.

Chairman we tribe's financial standing as per mice record.
Secretary reeds and interprets resolution number one.(Kerstoee.ttedie[...]presentative body. me: they 7
Wild study. diecuss and make decisions to be reviewed by the general

council. Oopies of all council proceedings ehalI be send to the Shula

dominion», Gomttees or 'ndian “fair[...]on.

Nine members of the new council were present to vote without op- }
position for the passage of re[...]bal financial accounts was discussed.

'hether to rem-.2 e:- 1 the lease now held by George A. King and
the Midland Empire Oil Sonar] of "hicago was prospcnded till after this
conpsw and the Argo Oil company have made a settlement. "hi s was (firmed ‘
by acclaimation[...], It was voted uninamously to requst the presence 0! Dan Maddox of
Hardin to tell about resolution which he submitted. about a year ego. asle-
:ing the Crow council to repeal amendment of I925 which gives the Crow Tribal
W appmvdng power on extension of tribal oil lenses and rules ‘d
rsoslations pronultgstsd by th; Secretary or the Interior.

Brief discussions on both sided were freely extended on amendatery
act of 1926

’me question, law of de[...]flhe question of present method or the Becrdmry a! fill Interior in
collecting irrigation charges on deceased Indian ailments was left 4:111
in the morning. ,

Elbe uneducated members requested to have laws, instructions. cir-
culars. miles and regulations of the Secretary of the Interior be read and:

esyleined to then before any action. is taken by the council.

In Elect Balk moved to sdJourn ti}! tomorrow ten o'clock.
Seconde[...]

he m[...]the Baptist Church vestibule.
Ihe tihe wee £0320 A. Ii‘

Ihe preunt oil lease Ia.- explained to the members present.

Ike amendment Blane of 1926 use diam-eel.

All when of importance to the firm: 1 ribe mu discueea so that etc.
(“are noting or this canneil, it we texe‘ a name. much" 1': ’
It 12 O'clock the council mou[...]n:
3111! the lineal nnpire 011 Company or Chicago andnotto the above settle-
ment.

1.11 Metricte were notified by ‘Heir members present to enpoint their

representative council . These ehmzld have credentials to shove e: their
election. . ’y

Jazes Blaine bro[...]the next
trite]. lease.

no entire council agreed to hold anothernmeettng {Ru-new nevenber‘Z.
at to o'clock Lit.

T be two day council adjourned at 3[...]ted.

Am...‘ I“_‘I*“‘ve L...“ A

E

tute such council and 5:
WHEREAS. such a council members of necessity met incur personal expenses }[
in going to and from councils called by either the superintendent[...]he Crow Representative Council fine the chairman and
5501‘ etery of Gran Tribal Council be paid five dollars per dine when
called to meet to attend to tri be). business by the superintendent of
the Crow Indian Agency. and that the sum of One thousand and eight W
and twollers be set aside and made available to pay members of the ‘
Representative Council, delegations to Washington, and that the em: or
t one hundred dollars out of the above sun be expended by the secretary or

the council to purchase one modern typewriter, necessary etetioneriel.

postage stamps. and other incidental expenses that meg; incur[...]

p
/l.b
I?

«99“

a
L‘
c.
p.
..

”VIII“

1;.
5n:-

”m

C[...]Enclosed please find in duplicate Minutes of the on"!
Tribal Council of October 19, 1939.

Ver[...]

mm 1y» .. . > _»-.- Maetnneyrrfia

L ‘-\ 22-41 the Show to

ant; mfrru é'wk'l b‘a
Joke-i game cmn'cil opens? iii-:ghe nutfié¥fi

331%; letter with eight defferent subjects to be discussed at the var-
a onsy‘dziy‘tari‘cte. (“turns attnqheg. hereto.) , , at ~» 9.“ -, a;
“1317533516 sail to he general anions the Indians that Sm. lax-y" Iaein.
4m 1 clerk and (we: Sloan, field clerk,m1sin1'om. slighted and eon-
Man‘s about their financial accounts and leasing matters. It is
the conscious of the Indiana that they will not tolerate with the kind of
treat-fit that these employees have been giving them.

‘lhe subject of having a new Trepresentotive eiimcil with the assistance of
e. local attorney was tazen up. and the superintendent was asked his opinion
on it.

fits superintendent gave an extehdfi remarks apnrqviyng such a move provid—
ing the Grows have sufficient fluid.l_. L f , , [2"

The subject new counsellors for th e fime;% 'WW and con,
reviewing past ronreeentatiossof the tribe. the host...” ire member's o are not
elected to the council. and the statutary act .vhich give every adult Indian

his right to have aand wh ever a ey pass on them the ‘genere'i‘ ems“ did” . Znu ril‘
Plante- ' right to rew 1so, amend, enacel or pass upon any subject. Pending
the use the; thyis a}; be logislyieea, m from each alum '111 be your
c[...]row Tribe
elect two from the respective districts to constitute the new representative
council. Ehat they be paid 55.00 per diem: also to compensate the services of
a local attorney when requested by this council.

J[...]he vasT resources in our felt?-
vstion that ought to bring forth revenue, the much needed capital that

will revive the social and economic order in the Crow Indian Manon.
further[...]by the chaimsn.

Stanl'irg votes resulted 17 for and 8 against lies His ane's motion‘

the secretary of the Grow Council read and interpreted resolution, #1
hereto attached[...]

l'he superintendent urged the Oren to gro- a null pach of alafafa u it ie
the but thing again; no! that will burn you nut money from a wall area.

The motion of gratuity appropriation from dang-ea: to help the Grove to re-
never no work their own allottmente was broug[...]istance tom the
Gong-u.

he Indians were notified to elect their new council immediatbly so that they
will proceed to work on trbal matte" next lhruaday. October 26. [9[...]

(E! unites or Tribe}. Conneil (Cree) noting
ll on Sept. I5, 1959

U Forwarded by Supt. on Sept. 29, 1959

It. zips-n 5
Ir. lunch 0‘
It. l[...]of agenda of nesting by Supt.
intion
2. Decision to «for action on previous request for
$5,000 reinburseble loan, pe[...]3. Detailed explanation of method which Supt. is to
use in distributing surplus camoditiea none needy.
7 4. Report from Agency Carpenter re needs and progress

MW] 01’ Crow Fair Grounds under VIPA[...]bal eon-
N tributions.

5. Postponement of action on resolution pertaining to
oil leases.

6. Appointment of committee of 5 to investigate site
report on best method to get 01]. royalties soon.

-_—u .4.

Indian O[...]y 054 E I
.H

. Record Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration

Washington DC “ .

39"“le 3! “Swarm o: ”mums :9 1.01; 153;? ~.
‘5'911 royalties miter

Septexber 22, 1939
a?" ‘smy. man;

330 flaw man A'-
HOfiAaaafi mouauo

“I have called you men here today to take up the discussion of the recent
letter concerning the 55000 reimbursable appropriation. he also have a request
to change the language of the mining lease regulatio[...]is claimed
prohibit the development of our mining and other natural resources. I also wish
to discuss wheat prices with those that are interest[...]m with this nutter
will be necessary. I also wish to discuss the surplus food commodity distribution
and to correct some of the misstatenants concerning the issuance of such commodities.
I also wish to discuss the sponsorship money on the part of file crows for the
completion of the IPA project on the Fairgrounds, which is a tribal proposition.
Perhaps we will discuss the irrigatim matter which has been much discussed and
I mt to talk to you concerning the loss of a pair of binoculars which were
Government property."

The Superintended: proceeded to discuss these various subjects in the Crow
language, as most of the old people present did not speak English.

The discussion of the wheat prices and Campbell's leases was not taken up
at this time because there were not my Indian present who were concerned.

The matter of the 295000 reimbursable loan was taken up and after some dis—
cu ssion it was decided to hold the matter in abeyance until the Superintend[...]Office whim will clear up the mis-
understanding on the becretary's new method of makinr: agilication[...]then discussed the matter of relief commodi ties and rations to E
be issued this winter. The distribution of camodities and cash .elief to disabled f
and aged Indians under the presmt relief and the old way of issuing rations to

sane Indians was explained. The Superintendent t[...]n for relief rations as soon as he can get around to it =
and sane older Indians will get srall assistance this[...]e agency carpenter, was called before the council to give
his itemized account of material to be purchased to improve the crow Fair Grmnds
Indrr me was project[...]n stated that his list called for about $3,059.00
and tint was for material only, and did not include the hauling or logs,etc. He ‘
said tint[...]d be about tries as much !_
as the tribe Mnished, and the tribe would furnimfl the material and money for ‘
tens, trucking, etc. Mr. Nelson also stated that his request for $6,000 which he ,
and. so- tine ago fit this project was enough and that he was not asking for more
my at this fine. he told. of the[...]office in getting tb

r03.“ with-rap mi waxed. and said that he believed that Inc: the ignora[...]

-2-

) . the Crows would be the owner of a well equipped Fairgrounds that
s, o ‘be “1.1 fenced.

$331950le presented by Dan Maddox of Hui-run on Febrw'y 2, 13a, MW
Mary“. .

. ‘ Illa. um:- making sane remarks on he present authority of the crow ;
CwnoiLJn' ng extenlierns on oil leases, asked that this question be die-
cussed a t a future date.

The Superintmdent notified the council that on September 15 a letter from
the Indian Office stated that the pro[...]iteman moved that the council postpone discussion on the oil resolution.
This nation was seconded by h[...]e thought the Crows understood the present law as
to their authority to approve rules and regulations for any extension. He told
them to study both sides and make no mistake.

Ties Hie lnees moved that the camoil authorize the chairman, the secretary
and Harry Whitman to inroltigate and reccmmend the best method to pursue in order
to get sane oil royalties soon.

This was seconded by James Buffalo.
Prank Hawk objected to the nomination of this committee by one man. He urges,

if it is the wish of the council, to pass m these three as a committee, thatihey
work hard and get results that will most benefit the members of the Crow Tribe.

I“ ‘11 utters of report to be published so that young and old will know.
lax Big Man requested a vote to postpone the resolution. t
A vote was token and resulted as follows: 24 in favor *
none opposing.
A vote was taken on Ties His Knees moticn for a committee: 17 in favor 1!:

none opposing.

The action of the council which was not interpreted into hglieh was taken
darn by the council secretary and that which was spoken in English no taken darn
by[...]inutes combine both the notes of the etenographer
and those of the secretary.

’vos and Records Admini- ;

‘ M o \J
., ‘ cam-a V /
at 1?
(Q Grow ‘
all Imb- 02 MM]. haul “in; :I:
a bid hp". u. 10'. r“:
l

”turd-l by hporint-bn[...]t“! load with tribal MI.

2. Mention for smith. to work with ortieinn ot 6m rum

Council an irrigation ohm-got, Writ“. and)... and rot-d- an
irrigation.

8. Chin-a lists prom-n mu; Rout-nun: ilhriunu,

migntian cc[...]npprouion.

no - fin" Crow Indian Agony
Mada-12
if 1501‘]: [into- film! in Indian OI'wiMiI-[...]

TXT

1. DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO LEASING OF CROW TRIBAL AREA
INCLUDING THE BIG HORN, THE PRYOR AND LITTLE PRYOR
MOUNTAINS. EAST PRYOR AND LITTLE PRYOR MOUNTAINS ARE
TO BE LASED TOGETHER AS IN ONE UNIT.

2. DISCUSSION ON THE GOLD LEASE TO THE BIG HORN PLACER
MINING CORPORATION, AND THEIR AGREEMENT TO GIVE THE
COMPANY 15 PER CENT REDUCTION IN THE ROYALTY AND TO
EXTEND THEIR TIME.

3. VOTE TAKEN TO REPEAL THE AMENDATCRY ACT, June 20, 1936.

4. LENGTHY DISCUSSION BY ATTORNEY BURKE, OF BILLINGS,
AND THE TRIBE WITH REGARD TO 'THE WATER AND IRRIGATION
PROBLEM AND WATER RIGHTS IN THE RIVERS. QUESTION IS
MAINLY STRESSED THE POINT WITH REGARD TO LETTING ViYOM-
ing.

5. RESOLUTION OF T[...]H THE 15 PER CENT REDUCTION IN
THE R0YALTY, AND AN ADDITIONAL PERIOD OF TIKE.

6. RESOLUTION WITH REGARD TO THE REPEAL OF THE AMENDATORY
ACT. of June 2[...]Record Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

Superintendent: "I ask that the tribal Councilyrwhat authority is given to the
Superintendent to lease the East Pryor and Little Pryor Mountains. Is it your
understanding that these two go together as in one unit, and to be advertised
as such?”

Russell Whitebear: "Yes, I know that is the way it passed the council as I made
a remark about it myself at that council meeting held May 10, 1910 also at a
minimum price of 25 cents per acre.

Supt.: "That[...]igman: "It seems unanimous agreement at that time to take up the Big Horn
and all of Pryor Mountains at the same time."

Supt.:[...]from the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs relative to the gold lease matters, which have been a subject of some con­
siderable correspondence such as Oliver Ebert's history up to date. Then the
question of the rights of the Crow[...]in the Supreme Court. These two questions are for
you to discuss."

(At this point, the Superintendent turned the meeting over to the chairman of the
Crow Tribal Council)

Oliver Ebert of Livingston, Montana and Tom Burke, of Billings, Montana, were in­
troduced to the council.

Oliver Ebertls statements were inte[...]y, of the Big Horn
Placer Mining Corporation^ "We have been out East, in New York trying to get
some one with money to finance our gold lease. lr. Roote, my associate, and I
were well received at various places. After considerable investigation, these
people questioned us as to the royalty to be paid to the Indians. None of them
seemed to be interested in financing our proposition unless a reasonable reduc­
tion was made, As everywhere i[...]is all that is
allowed for royalties." jje reads a letter from Norton, experienced engineer and a

Central Classified Files 19[...]d Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

member of the executive , nmittee. In this letter, a ret. %ion is also re­
quested then the Big Horn[...]given favora­
ble consideration.

In order to carry on the work and the expenses met, we want this fair
reduction. We cannot pay no more than 1[...]Whiteman: "Is this 15 per cent straight royalty on the grass?"

Mr, Roote: "Yes, on the grass."

Harry Whiteman; (Here explains that a 15% of reduction of royalty would mean
one-half of what the agreement was in the first place, which was 30%.

Hr. Roote; "We have been in New York, now we have come to ask the Crow Council
for a 15 per cent reduction in the royalty. As a result of our investigation
the South American Gold and Platinum Company, largest operators in the World,do
not think that it is a paying proposition at the rate of 30%, but that it is
customary to pay 10% royalty, he want you to help us to consider carefully end
make it possible to test the property so that the initial action of t[...]n begin. Twenty-five cents per yard is considered a gocri bed of gold. Thirty
per cent marginal is impractical with them or any of our associates, but usually
a per cent is paid to negotiate in order to proceed immediately in advance of
operation. We would like to expedite the work in the initial operation. Those
who are interested asked us to visit the Crows for this reduction, then to come
back to New York and report the action of the Crow council. If we give them a
report of a reduction, then we will immediately commence operation. Successful
operation can be made on a 20 cent per yard basis, but the 30 per cent royalty
on this much gold per yard is not practical. Six cents per yard in sand on
marginal property at 30% royalty is not reasonable, so that it would pay us to
undertake it at that rate. Tie don't want to go beyond what is practiced. This
is all we ask for and to meet in an agreement, We have met with the best opera­
tors in Vfall Street. An of them asked us to advise them of this meeting. We
want to go through with this phase of the work and to commence operation to take
advantage of the good weather opportunities.[...]l of the marginal
operation in gravel bed. It has to be 20 or 25 per cent per yard in order to
get any good result, if any."

Frank Bethune: "If you retain this gold, lease would you use lands leased for graz­
ing of stock? Would you indulge on that range?"

Mr. Roote; "Strictly mining."

Frank Bethune: "We are on the question of gold only."

Mr. Roote: "I am not interested in stock of any kind."

Charles Tenbear: "We have given this gold company several leases. Leases have
run over two years already and no revenue." "Personally I am not in favor of a
reduction" These leases have been delayed, and we will never get any returns.
There have been reports that there is gold, now they are going over it again. It
was agreed that we get 30% royalty. What about Allie Morrison's gold discovery?
The 15 per cent reduction is up to this council)' (interpreted by Harry Whiteman)
Ask Mr. Ebert if 15 per cent royalty is reduced to commence operation, would
30% royalty be considered if gold was mined in paying quantities?"

01[...]Group 75
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Ties His Knees: " I approve of a reduction of 15 per cent and a limitation of
six months. Then if there is no work by that time, then the lease is cancelled.
I make this in form of a motion."

Frank Bethune seconded the motion.

Oliver Ebert: "I ask that you give us more time than that. It takes time to
get to see these people to finance our gold operation. Tie want to all make
money. The tribe has been by us and very reasonable. I want to thank you."

Harry Whiteman, "We meet here for business. Pr[...]ere
is gold in the Big Horn Canyon. Lots of money and time have been spent to as­
certain this fact. Then the Security Exchange Commission had to investigate
this company in order to protect all who are concerned. It is different th[...]t be protected," "Mr. Moore's lease was
cancelled you remember and nothing was acoomplished. It takes lots of money to
carry on a vast operation. If you would get no revenue now, consider your pos­
terity. You should aim to get some of your resources developed, so that you
will have some available tribal funas. Let us determine to get a good enter­
prise started; give merits to arguments on the subject as rendered by each speaker.
We have not been getting any revenue from this source, so let us get this lease
going while we have someone interested to undertake the work."

Fussell Whitebear: ^Asking Oliver Ebert) "Do you want to change the wording
in the old contract or do you want to make a new contract?"
Fussell Whitebear asks the chairman xxxmxtxjoxx to consider him as one in favor.
I.Ir. Chairman: "I for one agree to reduce this 15 per cent royalty. I have talked
with ?.r. Campbell and Sperry, spokesman for this company and they stated that this
company made too much of a bid to give the tribe 30 per cent, and I find that
this is a fair request that these gentlemen are making. All the council has to
say is yes or no. We should be allowed to make a contract with Ebert & Company,
if the contract would be carried out to the letter, that is, the revenue should
be paid to the Crows and not be denied to us as our funds from the tribal area is
denied us a t the present time. We ought to make out a new contract so as to
have terms satisfactory to this tribe. Consider this. No one man should get up
and make a rash decision. These matters require good thinkin[...]iciting among white people. It takes lots of time to do this, end much
money is expended. If you have any conditions to put into a contract, and if you
approve, then let us make a new contract. I for one, if there is any gold, let us
have it worked out and marketed."

Oliver Ebert: "I am glad you brought this up Russell. We are operating under
the Security and Exchange Commission. Stock or property could not be sold with­
out consent of S.E.C. To do so is a violation of the law. We have to report to
them from time to time. We are trying to raise money now for ihe company. The
S.E.C. will tell us how to use the money. We, also, have to report to the state
rigjit along. If you grant us more time, say 12 months from this coming September
we will get started right away, as we have $140,000. We could advise you people
from time to time of our progress.>7

Cent[...]rd Group 75
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j'r. Boote: "I want to ask the gentlemen who made the motion to reduce 15% royalty
and time limitation of six months. We have strange world conditions to comply
with, Vie have to order machiner-y and and other equipment to be delivered as they
are purchased, and the preclusion is beyond their time awing to the world condi­
tions. This is specific, we have to abide by the regulations of the S. E. C. as
soon[...]with prevailing conditions. The Crew Council need not be concerned as
we are bound to comply with the direction of the S. E« C. Then with the cooperation
of those who have money, our work will go on."

Frank Bethune: "The Crows unlike they were thi[...]y for our children, because I for one, would like to see the develop­
ment of this placer gold to continue. Therefore, I ask that this company ex­[...]the motion for six months. How mubh time do you want
Mr. Ebert?"

Oliver Ebert: ""We have to get a dredge and the movement of it takes time. There
is much to do to get work going. I would appreciate it if you will not give a
definite time as we will have meetings with you to let you know."

Frank Bethune: "How many months do you ask for?"

Oliver Ebert: "It takes time to get equipment,money, etc."

Frank Bethune: "If we grant a reduction of 15% then how would it be for you to
report when you have enough money to commence operation. Then we can consider the
limitation of time."

Oliver Ebert: " We have nor/ $140,000 and are negotiating with engineers to commence
drilling, as soon as they are ready, we v.'ant to drill two holes every one-half-
mile on up the river."

Hartford Bearclew: "I am not in favor of one member to lead the tribe to let
the Big Horn dam. This could be determined la[...]mount of gold content in the Big Korn canyon. Now if conditions as they
are collide with request of these gentlemen to get money, then what will happen?
If we turn this company down, could we get others to take up this lease?"

Oliver Ebert: "he would like to have to September 1, next year, 1941."

Old Rabbit: "I make a motion that the council grant Ebert Company 15% r[...]time at twelve months from September 18t, 1S40,
and to extend additional time if requested."
(Resolution is hereto attached)

Ha[...]Group 75
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Oliver Ebert: "It will take one-half to one-million dollars to carry on
work. We want to find a man to put up this amount. We want you to stand
by us as you have done. If you grant us this 15 per cent reduction in
the royalty, it will be easier to get the money."

Ralph Saco; "I second Old Rabbit’s motion."

Ties His Knees: "If you intend to secure necessary funds to carry on this
work, supposing war activities lead financiers to invest their moneys other­
wise, what could you do then?"

Oliver Ebert: "unless Hitler gets over here, I think that we will have
no trouble as we have several sources to get the money. Eastern people
are anxious to invest their money in gold." Give us a stringless change
so that Eastern people do not think that we are tied down."

Max Big lian: "This is a hard question. The crows say yes to everything
brought before them. This is a question of reduction and time. We can’t
get others interested so we havo had enough remarks, let us vote yes or
no on the motion."

Oliver Ebert: "Our headquarters will be changed from St. Paul to Billings,
so that we can work together better."

Chairman: We have important subjects to take up. You asked me and tribal
Secretary to expedite development of the different resources in our reserva­
tion. Now this is a good time to keep this company going, so that the Crows
will at least have some funds to their credit. This maybe enjoyed by our
children. There is good prospects far the old oil lease to be developed by
another canpany. If we get 15 per cent as royalty for any gold mined, and
all these plus your revenue from the tribal area, it will net you a good
size per capita payment. You or your children will get this money. Nor.’
both sides have made remarks. You will be asked to vote on the first motion
to agree to 15 per cent reduction and time of six additional months and
the second motion to grant a reduction of 15 per cent end time limitation
of t[...]m September 1, 1940. Ebert’s request is similar to
this second motion. Are you ready to vote?"

Sidney Black Hair: "Does the tribe get an[...]the Crows get $166.60 annually for
surface rights on the acreage leased at 10 cents per acre)
I understand that this is to be a sliding scale."

Supt. Answered not just at 10 cents per acre.

Sidney Black Hair: "T.nether you get 10, 15, or more if there is no work
there will be no money. Let us make an agreement whereby we can get some
annual income. If we grant this 15% reduction, what else would hinder the
work of this company."

Oli[...]ecord Group 75
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Sidney Blackhair: " "If we grant this 15 per cent reduction then you will
immediately purchase necessary equipment to go ahead with the operation?"

Oliver Ebert: "It is hard to tell wo would have to get a dredge immedi­
ately to go to work. To test the formation, etc, w 11 be gone over again."

Sidney Blackhair: "Have you any other leases outside of our reservation?"

Ol[...]y."

Oliver Ebert: "The testing must be done over to satisfy engineers of
-those who lend the money."[...]"xf vie grant 15 per cent reduction how much time do
you require to get necessary machinery ready to get into activity."

Er. Roote : "In thirty days."

Sidney Black Hair: "I am ready to vote."

Frank Yarlott: "There are two motions before the council. These ought
to be taken care of nw after much remarks.

Oliver Ebert."Vie have been in New York trying to get financial assistance,
and I an glad that you ask questions."

Chairman: "You have two motions before you. You will have to vote for the
one or the other."

Oliver Ebert: "C[...]time from the motion."

Chairman: "Those who vote to first motion stand to be counted:

Four voted fbr Ties His Kn[...]it's motion with no opposing vote.

Chairman: "At a former meeting, Ties His K^ees requested to repeal the
Amendatory Act of June 20, 1966, ,.e have asked the Commissioner repeatedly
for a per capita payment, but still we get no satisfaction, as per law
of June 4, 1920, a resolution is submitted to repeal amendatory act. (Re­
solution is attached[...]ecord Group 75
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The vote to repeal the Amendatory Act, June 20, 19J6, is unan[...]rpreted by Barney Old Coyote) "I was invited here
to tell you about w ter rights in the rivers, and the irrigation on your
reservation. I am not going to scare you, but rather, I will tell you
the truth as I know it myself. I have been on the question of water
for twenty years. Your 3and has water. If your land does not have water
it is not worth much. Water on this reservation rises in '.'.yoming outside
of your boundaries. Now they are using more and more water up in Wyoming,
so that today we don't have sufficient supply of water for our own use. In
th[...]untain Project has 100,000 acres. They are aiming to put a
160,000 acre project under ditch. It got so bad, that the Two Leggin
Ditch which supposed to furnish Indian allotments water for irrigation and
stock purposes had to buy water frcm the Shoshoni Reservoir. This seems
funny to me, Inidans who own the land and water rights, had to purchase
water in order to supply enough water. Things will go on until in five
years there will be no water down the Big Horn river to water your famrs
and your ponies. There is two ways to build ths dam on the Big Horn River
one is to impound the water, and the other is to keep Wyoming people from
using the water. I am ag[...]ing of the dam for three reasons:
(1) The Indians do not want it. It is Indian land and they can do as they
please about it. 1)2) Can’t get money to build the dam, then the assessment
charges each y[...]Array engineers tell us it will
fill up with silt and sand that in seventy years, there will be no dam.
Something will have to be done to stop ‘Wyoming from getting water that
belongs to the Crows. This applies to Pass Creek, ■‘-‘itt le Korn River as
well as the Dig Horn River. Water to irrigate 6,000 acres over in Wyoming
should come to the reservation, some to the Pass Creek and other streams."
Briefly I want to say something about your having this water, and why you
are entitled to it. Ever since Columbus landed here up to now, the lan d
in this country belongs to the Indian. The United States have always re­
cognized this fact. They never secured any land except by purchase. In
May 7, 1886, the Crows and the United States Government entered into a
treaty. By that treaty, the Indians gave up their land to the present
reservation bounded by Powder River to the Wind River Divide, down the
Yellowstone, thence across to the Missouri and down its source to the mouth
of Powder River. The Treaty’’ at Fort Larmie was in 1851 and in the year
1886, the treaty was confirmed. The reason why they made that treaty was
to get the Indians to discontinue their romantic life, and settle down to
be trained in agricultural pursuits and to live a pastoral life. At
that time, nothing was said about water ri^its as they did not use water
for irrigation purposes. But after the allotment system water is meant
to be necessary to the land. After awhile, in a case called Linters case,
the U. S. Supreme Court said thus; ’.'.hite folks in and outside of the reserva­
tion were using the wate[...]n was made in the treaty abort the land which was a grazing and
semi-arid country, the water became pertinent to the land, and it belongs
to the Crows so that they could go ahead and farm. They have the superior
right to water of all streams originating in Wyoming or flawing through
the reservation, and reserved for the Indians. The case did not make it
clear, so the Government said although the water is said to belong to the
Crows, it really belongs to the United States Government on that. I believe
that the water like the land belongs to the Crows, not the Government. In
the rower Case, the United States Supreme Court said the water belongs to the
individual whose lends is are under ditch. I[...]Record Group 75
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you this to let you know how important it is to get all water that belongs
to you. If Wyoming continues to use your water, you won't have any water at all.
Altogether they are tontemplating one million acres to be under irrigation. I
do not have the exact figures. A lot more will go under irrigation, and the sal
part of it is that the irrigation Reclama[...]e recommends the project.
Absolutely, the Indians have the first right to the waters of the Big Horn,
Little Horn and Pass Creek. If you don’t do something about if you won't have
any water for your own use. I took this matter up[...]’Washington, D. C.
I told them as I am telling you now. I asked them to protect your rights. I
Have done this about ten times already. They say that[...]refore, we couldn't fight
one another. They can't do anything.. I know this that people in Wyoming as[...]e under irrigation
that they can get. I feel that you should protest and serve an injunction in the
Federal Court to keep the people in Wyoming from getting water which belongs to
the Crows. White folks have water rights too on this reservation, but there is
76 per cent of irrigated lands belonging to the Crow Indians. This is a serious
situation for this reservation if you don't stop them in time. I am glad to let
you know what I know about it."

Frank Bethune: "We have a dam in the Big Horn and a ditch. We ought to get
sufficient supply of water which is ours according to law."

Yellowbrew: "The Indians are not lawyers. Our superintendent knows the different
treaty laws, and the complexing questions that pertain to the irrigation water
rights, etc. Let us appoint our Superintendent, Robert Yellowtail to take up this
case for us in the Federal Court. I make this as a motion. "

Harry Whiteman:*! second the motion."

Jasper Long: "There «rs several thousand acres to be irrigated. If Tom Burke could
defend us as a lawyer, we ought to allow him."

Tom Burke: "I never came here purposely seeking a job. No one has ever talked
to me on it before."

Hartford Bearclaw: "A man name Simmons from Billings is the representat[...]project
over in Wyoming."

Jasper Long: "We ought to select a member who has irrigation to be used in a test
case, then we ought to form a resolution and send our complaint to the Interior
Department. Maybe this could be settled without litigation. I ask the Council
to agree with me and to ask Matt Tschirgi to take up this as a test case in the
Federal Court and let him pay his own lawyer."

Yellowbrow: "The Chairman and Long ought to sign complaints in the form of an
injunction."

Central Classi[...]Record Group 75
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Units No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 6,[...]ging at the E. line of Twp. 6 S., R. 30 E., and extending
approximately 3-|- miles to a point where the Big Horn River
crosse[...]31 E. in
Montana, including all lands on both sides of the Big Horn
River—except lands that border on the Yfest bank of the River
described as Lot 4, Sec. 18, Lots 1, 2, 3 and 5, Sec. 17, and Lots
3, 4, & 5, Sec. 16, T. 6 S., R. 31 E. The above leases cover
all the land on the banks and adjacent to the Big Horn River and
its tributaries in the Crow Indian Reservation, from the Montana-
T.yomirg line to the E. line of Sec. 16, T» 6 S., R. 31, E. M.P.M.
except as noted above.

And which lease has been assigned to Big Horn Placer Mining Corporation,
which assignm[...]percentage of royalty from -thirty per cent (30%) to fifteen
per cent (15%) for the reason that invest[...]ease show that the gold contents of said lands is not sufficient
to justify the paying of the higher royalty, whereas, if the royalty is so re­
duced, it vdll be possible to secure capital to develop said lands, all to the
ultimate profit of the Craw Tribe of Indians.[...]ent reduction in the royalty
that they requested, and at the expiration of six months, if they have not begun
actual operations for the extraction of gold, that the lease be automatically
declared null and void."

Motion was seconded by Frank Bethune

The following motion was made by Old Rabbit and seconded by Ralph Saco.

Old Rabbit: "I move that[...]their working conditions of their original lease, and that the fifty
(50) per cent reduction in the royalty from thirty (30) per cent to fifteen (15)
per cent as requested by them be granted and reduced from their original lease in
order that the extraction of gold in the Big Horn Canyon, if there be any, be
prosecuted diligently after operations shall have begun and that this royalty re­
duction and extension of time for actual commercial operation[...]d Group 75
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Motion was seco[...]d Group 75
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RESOLUTION ADOPTED at a regular and duly called and authorized Council
of the Crow Indian Tribe held at Crow Agency, Montana, onto the members of the Crow

Tribe of all balances remaining after payment of said administrative

and other expenses mentioned therein, and IT IS the WISH of the Tribe

and of this Tribal Council that such RIGHTS be RESTORED to the members

of this Tribe, and

WHEREAS, by the Act of June 20th, 1936[...]funds was taken away from the will of the Tribe

and placed in the hands of the Secretary of the Interior, which, in

the opinion of the Tribe and of this Tribal Council, is an unjust us­

urpation of the rights of the members of the Crow Tribe to the moneys

belonging to them, and for that reason the Amendatory Act of June 20th,[...]Congress, from the State of Montana, be requested to

introduce legislation and to further the passage of the same repealing

the sa[...]ns of Section 11 of the Act of June 4th, 1920, as to dis­

tribution of balances, under said act, per capita to the Tribe be

restored for the benefit of the mem[...]Record Group 75
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2. Discussion relative to Senator Wheeler's bill
introduced in C[...]cord Group 75
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Dear Mr. Tallowtail:

This will refer to your latter of May 10, file €54,248,
relatIva to the purchase by the tribo of a portable irrigation
outfit.
You referred to the notion of the Tribal Council at its
January 4[...]y 10 wakes it clear that an Iten of $18.50
should have been shown for "repnirs" in order to Make the total
cost of this equipnmnt $203.30.
The above resolution does not actually provide authorisa­
tion for the purchase by the Tribo of thia equipment. In
addition to definitely stating this, the resolution should
in[...]pment desired was purchased foraimburse-
ble sale to an individual. The following fora of resolution
w[...]____ day of __________ that applicable funds now
on deposit in the United 'States Treasury to the credit of
the Crow Tribe, be authorised for the purchase of a •sortable
irrigation outfit consisting of the f[...]Record Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

If the above resolution or eae containing the essent[...]ted by the Tribal OoumII, it
should be forwarded to us immediately. Open receipt ef it,
standard font 1080 will be prepared and forwarded to the Oen-
erel /.booanting Office for eettlament, and you will be allotted
applicable funds with which to complete the transaction.[...]n
6 ds 308

P.5. Mr. Plater has just returned to this Office from a field
trip which included a visit at your jurisdiction. It is his
understand[...]Record Group 75
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2. Vote taken with respect to these three ques­
tions involved. 2

3. Discussion relative to Senator Viheeler's
hill introduced in Cong[...]X3
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

heretofore stocked with their own horses, and now they are killed off, and the
Office alloyed them to do it; thus, today they have no horse power. He states
still further that the lessees are getting the range for their benefit, and that
the Indiana get a very small rentcl^not enough to take care of their needs. He
states that they go up against organized stockmen, and ttet it is a sure thing that
they will not win in whatever they attempt to do, and if there is a revenue for
sub-lease, then the Crows should get[...]"Who is
the Superintendent over the Reservation, a representative of the Gcfernnent or a
lawyer on the outside of our reservation?"

The Superintendent reads and interprets a proposition of M. H. Tschirgi,
a copy of which is attached,

Yellowbrow: "I am in favor of rescinding our action at a former council to
have our leases be auctioned off in public. I believo it a wise step to prefer
the sealed bid system. I also want to say that our tribal area lease should com­
mence April 1, and terminate at the end of March, next. I want the Superintendent
to understand that in competent Indian leases if decided not legal and in case more
rental is received by advertisement by the superintendent, the entire revenue go to
the Indian Fake this understood in -the a[...]buffalo: "I am in favor of the sealed bid system, and I move that we go on
record recuo sting the Office to advertise our tribal area under the sealed-bid-system
and that our leases will commence on April 1st, hereafter."

Ties His Enees: "I second[...]cil rescind their request for auction
bidding end have the sealed bid. plan, and that hereafter our tribal area lease will
commence on April 1st.

Richard DayLight: "I second the motion."

The Superintendent took a vote fcr the three questions involved, namely:[...](2) Extension of the four months to the present pemit«,mountair. area
(3) Their foregoing of payment on tribal area leased /only,
to Snyder, thereby making it possible to begin the
next permit period on April 1, 1S41.

Vo[...]ed:None

Mr. Stanton, R nge Supervisor made a statement that the papers will be prepared
and advertisement of the ranges will be ready within[...]Superintendent states that the Commissioner wants to hear from the
Crows about wiping out assessment charges on irrigation as per bill S-3732, 76th Congress
3rd[...]X;
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

"I ask that you study, make inquiries and find out all you can so that you can
vote knowing what you are Noting for in your respective districts. Those who
are familiar with this question should debate on it so that the rest of you can
find out for yourselves. I don't think, however, that this will be taken up
during this session of Congress, as time is so short, and I understand that Con­
gress will adjourn by the[...]was spent by some of the Indians in discuss­
ing and inquiring about the irrigation construction and operation and maintenance
charges.

The Council meeting a[...]roup 75
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*ho purpose of this letter is to reduce to writing the proposi­
tion I node to you verbally regarding ny deeded lend and all loosed
lend, lying within the boundaries of R[...]Ity proposition io this—-that I will gxurantee to sub-lease all
of the lands controlled by ms lying within the boundaries of Range
Units Hos. 46 and 24, which includes all deeded lands, state lands,
and oonpetent Indian lands leased by ns within these units, to the
suoeossful bidder, who caaspletes his erasing perwit son4raot and
furnishes proper b-nida, at the rates as you are new authorised
by Indian allottoea ownlnj; ad[...]ao units or 26 or 30
cents per acre respectively, and under the sane conditions that your
OfHoe contract provides* Shis, of course, does not include ny Ttaeo
Bsnah Lands on the Little Horn Valley., and the Cashen Ranch.

Tills offer is Made with[...]nding that all of the area
known as suits Hos, 45 and 24, as is Indicated on your rrosent office
waps, be included as one unit and the greslng porait issued for a
five-year period.

The IMit boundaries are e[...]ap initialed by Range
Supervisor, Jas, W, Stanton and Myself, dated May 10, 1940. A copy
of this nap is attached herewith.

This action is in ar. effort to cooperate with the Crow Office
in the advertising[...]ecord Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

The Superintendnet called the Tribal Council to order at 2:00 o'clock this
10th day of Ii’ny and stated as follows: "You are called here today to consider
primarily three questions,namely; (1) Th[...]ranges from the auction plan as heretofore agreed to to the sealed-bid plan;
(2) The extension of four months on to your present permit in order that the
leases on the tribal kinds and individual allotments may terminate on the 31st
of March, 1941, instead of on November 30, next, as it now is; and (3) The pre­
sent permittee on the Pryor Mountains, Mr. Harry Snyder, refuses to accept an
extension of four months on his present contract, therefore, it will be necessary
for you to decide to forego a payment on ihat tribal area for four months and thus
make it possible to begin the next five year period on April 1st, 1941."

The Superintendent then went on to explain the conditions surrounding each
proposition herein mentioned, and at the conclusion of his remarks, he also touched
upon the results of the minutes of the trial at Billings, on May 7, C-rove Stewart vs.
Robert YenOTrtail, Superintendent. He went on to state that the meeting is now being
turned over to the tribal council to discuss these matters among themselves and then
come to a vote so that the Superintendent will know what your wishes are and report
same to the Washiigton Office in connection with the adve[...]vo-yeer period.

rhe Superintendent reported to the Council that he had a wire from the Indian
Office, allowing Charles E. Miller to bid on their leases.

Russell White Bear: "Twenty years ago, three others and myself were dele­
gated to Washington and at that time we sponsored the reserve of the moun[...]who were with me were, prank Yarlott, Ties Knees, and
Ben Spotted Horse. For this reason I feel that I am more than interested in what
you ought to do with the mountains. I want to see the mountains leased to the best
bidder, not only the best bidder, but anyone who will look af[...]ur mountains by including them with our low lands and
letting the area known as the triangle go with the mountains thereby we will be able
to get more money for our leases. I also advocate that Unit 24 and what tribal land
we have south of this unit should go together and also the Snyder lease on the -Pryor
mountains. Another thing that I would like to suggest to the Council is that hereto­
fore there was a piece of land known as part of the Bull Pasture t[...]er into
the territory where Mrs. Hendrich-Knowles and Porter Krone lease be included in the
Hendrich and Porter Krone leases/1

Frank Bethune: States that if they don't get a good price for their mountain area,
they could let it rest due to the fact that the revenue they get from it is not paid
in per capita payments any way. He states f[...]d Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

1. Discussion on advisability of ehanging the manner
of re-advertising ranges from the auction bid plan
to the sealed-bid plan.

2. Disoussicn to extend the present permit period four[...]XJ 4M
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

a special meeting called by the Superintendent of t[...]Record Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

1. Discussion on the advisability of changing the
manner of re-advertising ranges fron the auction
bid plan to the sealed-bid plan. 1

2. Discussion to extend the present permit period four
months[...]Record Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

The Superintendent called the Indians of the Lodge Grass District
together for a discussion on the advisability of changing -the manner of
re-advertising ranges from the auction bid plan to the scaled bid plan,
and to extend the present permit period four months, thus making the
leases expire on April 1, next, instead of December 1; and to give a
report of the results of the trial that took place at Billings, Montana
on May 7, Grove Stewart -vs- Robert Yellowtail, Superintendent, in which
Attorney Burke on behalf of the Antler Sheep Company and other large
lessees operating on the Crow Reservation, attempted to convince Judge
Pray that the language found in the amendment to the Crow Act, approved
May 26, 1926, to mean that the Superintendent of the Crow Indian R[...]intent of this act, is the sole leasing authority on the
Reservation notwithstanding any instructions[...]Interior nor the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to the contrary, and
various other questions concerning the Indians'[...]year period.

The meeting was well attended, and the superintendent explained the
following in their language, end requested their permission to make the
changes in the re-advertisement of their grass for the next permit period,

(1) To switch from the public auction plan to the sealed bid
plan, which seens to be the best method to pursue since
developments of the trial at Billings, and vhich will in­
sure competition.

(2) To extend the present permit period four months, thus,
making the leases expire on April 1, next, instead of
on December 1, next. It is believed that this will make
it better for the stockmen, and will result in an ad­
vantage to the Indians.

After the Indians’ signature[...]Record Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

This is to advise the Office that the matter was thoroughly
discussed, and they understand the questions involved very clearly,
but, they prefer to handle the voting by districts in form of a
referendum vote.

I find a great deal of opposition to this matter on the part
of the Indians, who do not have lands under the irrigation canals
and I doubt very much if the measure will be acceptable to them, but
we will wait to see what the Crows in each district will do with re­
spect to the matter presented to them as they requested.[...]es Stagner
will be taken care of at a later date.[...]Record Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

2. THE TENTATIVE BILL S. 3732 to provide
for the cancellation o[...]ting the Secretary of
Interior to authorize a per capita pay­
ment to the Crow Indians iianediately.[...]Record Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

Place:[...]Secretary Tribal Council, Superintendent and office stenographer

The question of agreeing to the request of Charles Stagner, Shoshone
Indian,[...]the Council was advised that this is
with respect to the Judgment Fund of the Shoshone Indians and in accordance
with departmental regulations set forth in Superintendent Stone’s letter,
it was necessary to get the approval of the Superintendent of the Crow
Indian Reservation and, also, the signatures of the officers of the Crow
Tribal Council; thus, it was put to the Tribal Council for approval. Deer­
nose: made a move that the program outlining the expenditure o[...]y the
Council. James LaForge seconded the motion. A vote was taken.

V[...]gre called for the
express purpose of considering a message of the Commissioner of Indian
Affa[...]sioner's letter.

The Tentative Bill S. 3732 to wipe out all irrigation charges was to
be read and interpreted before any action was taken. The action of the
council was to be sent to Washington so that the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs in turn could make a report to Congress.

The latest statement of assessment accounts on the Crow Irrigation
project from the Crow Irrigation Office was submitted to the council for
their information in the discussi[...]Frank Bethune: States that the Crow chiefs have agreed to let the
Secretary use tribal funds to build ditches on Crow Reservation, and that
in 1920, the tribe asked for a lav/- to have these expenditures refunded.
He further states that he is not in favor of wiping out all these accrued
charges and does not agree to the action proposed in the bill of Senator
’'heeler’s. He goes on to state -that it should be paid back and distributed
in per capita payments as provided i[...]vious he made an inquiry
regarding the irrigation refund of Superintendent and at that time, the Super­
intendent informed him that there was no available money to pay for such a
refund and in his judgment, he believes that same would neve[...]Record Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

Ties goes on to state that the Superintendent informed the Indians at this
gathering that the Indian Office is requesting a report from the Tribal
council as to what its decision is with respect to the conditions set forth
in the bill introduced by Senator Viheeler. He further asks if this money
was in a lump sum and available.

The Superintendent responds to the questions by Ties to the effect that
the last paragraph of the bill in[...]eads as follows: "Provided, That the Crow Indians
on such reservation by action of the Crow Tribal Council release all claims
to reimbursement of the total amount of Tribal funds heretofore expended in
constructing irrigation systems on such reservations." The Superintendent
went on further to explain to Ties by using an example—that vhen Mr. Walsh
was United States Senator he introduced a bill without requesting advice of
tire Crow tribe as to whether they would be in agreement with such a proposal
or not and upon the consent and counsel of Father Talman, a Catholic priest
who was stationed at the St. Xavi[...]ll of complaint
that was introduced in the courts on behalf of the Crow Indians—moneys that
were tak[...]ns.
The total aggregate of such amount represents a claim against the Government
for funds taken from[...]the irrigation division at this agency is unable to furnish the Superin­
tendent with those figures, due to the fact that the records are kept in the
Billing[...]cil the total
amount of the Crow 0 & M charges up to March 31, 1940, which is $550,882,32,
and this amount represents the total amount that the Indians have not paid.

With reference to the statement of Ties, the Superintendent told hi[...]ld be no recovery from the United States Treasury
on any claim submitted by any Indian tribe due to the attitude of Congress­
man Cochran, of Missouri, vzho has blocked any withdrawal of money on behalf
of Indians no matter how meritorious the claim might be, and as long as Con­
gressman Cochran and others assumed that attitude and are able to block any
withdrawal of money from the United States Treasury and as long as that
attitude is maintained by Senator King on the Senate side, chances for the
withdrawal of mo[...]a­
tion charges, as he has land under the ditch, and a great pajority of the/
Indians on the Crow Reservation are also concerned. He furth[...]accumulate so large
-that it would be impossible to make settlement, thereby causing him to loose
his awn allotment and all other interests that he may have under the ditch.
He goes on to state that these charges far exclude the value of his lands,
and states that he is speaking on behalf of the majoirty of Indians who are[...]ord Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

T[...]t reads -the last provision of the Tentative bill a nd in­
terprets it.

James Elaine: Asks if the word "claim" has as broad a meaning as to
include the claim of the Crows called "River Crow[...]es that this provision of the "Wheeler
Bill means to release claims of reimbursement of irrigation construction
operation end maintenance charges up to the date of the passage of this Act.

Jasper Long: "I aim to help the Crows by asking Congress to remove the
burdens of all irrigation chrages up to the date of the passage of the
bill, S-3732. This bill is intended to help such fellows as Plenty Hawk
whose 80 acres on the hill at Lodge Grass has charges against it to the
amount of $1,868.35. These charges commenced in 1514 and are mounting
to high figures. There is the question of whether to charge the cost
of the construction of Willow Creek dam to those whose lands that are
benefited or to charge or sell water direct to the users. If you stay on
these allotments with heavy charges against it continually, you will be
poor. Total cost of ditch projects up to date is §2,231,012, and
$651,274 is United States money. Total expenditures for construction
that have been paid are $23,342. Total operation and maintenance cost is
$1,578,550, and $625,330 has been collected up tonot be used to purchase
more lands for the Crows, as they have too much lend already, says Llr.
Wheeler. H.P-.2777. Different Districts in our reservation have charges
against their respective ditches, as per letter of March 21, 1940, from
A. L. Wathan, Director of Irrigation, "Washington, D. C. (irrigation 9066-36
A.L.W.) I was assured if the Crows release all claims on irrigation charges
up to the date of the passage of the act then the United States will not
charge for the construction of "Willow Creek Dam[...]H3AA333A jr.
Central Classified Files 190[...]ecord Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

Page 4

Deernose: asks what charges they want v.'iped out.

Jasper Long: "The moneys due the United States snd the Crow funds used
to construct the ditches on our reservation. If we do this, there will
be no charge to the water users under the Willow Creek Dam, when it is
completed. $820,921.69 was money taken from you to use in the Construs­
tion of irrigation without your ccnsent. This is a metter of litigation
in the Crow claim.

Deernose: Asks what charges are on dam, and went on to state that up to
last month thirty thousand dollars were spent on the d$m, stating that it
will be approximatel[...].69 or the exact amount I cannot recollect
is a matter taken care of in the River Crow Claim. Tha[...]ing your consent. The present Viheeler Bill tends to wipe away
all charges up to the passage of the act.

Max Big Man: Max Big Man asks, "If the charges already paid by allottees
is used[...]e allottees under the ditch."

Supt: "That is not correct. The funds used without your consent are in
the claim that you have in the River Crow Claim. That is tribal funds
which you may recover."

Liax Big Man: "The construction charges have been paid by some Crow Indian
water users, and some have not paid. There is an existing law that lands
under ditch should bear its per acre assessments. If this is not done now, our
children may grow up and some day make a claim. Then what? The 1920 law
provides that irrigation construction charges should be paid. It remains a
lien on lands benefitted. Some of our children now are exempt from allotments
and to share in our per capita payments. If this present act is lav/, they
could not recover any refund money. To release all claims of reimbursement
does not mean our claim in the River Crow Claim, that is something else."

Plays: "The tribal funds used to build ditches is supposed to be refunded.
When it is paid those who have no irrigation will get a larger per capita
than those who have to pay their debts on the irrigation construction. I am
not in favor of wiping out irrigation assessments aga[...]ill
be no misunderstanding.

Sam Horn: "If these charges are fefunded, whose money will it be?"

Jasper Long: "The purchased allotrrnts are up to the court to say, as to
their status on irrigation."

Superintendent: "The accrued charges are paid not until the land is sold
by the Indians."[...]f his experiences while he
wss in Washington, and that he was treated vri.th courtesy) He states as[...]rd Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

Frank Bethune: States that they ^iould have more than just a few hours to
consider a question of this kind. He suggests that if they cannot remedy
this question after careful consideration that they ought to then sell the
ditch to the Government. He further states that they always run if the way
they want to and that those who pay for the building of the ditch and are
owners have nothing to say in the management of the ditch. He states that
the whites will soon have all of our property, and asks further where their
herds of horses are that once roamed their ranges. He goes on to state
still further that if they go according to the present law, all moneys re­
funded will be paid to all of us whether we have irrigation on their allot­
ments or not.

Superintendent: "The policy of the present administration is against "dole"
to Indians. Now if the irrigation construction charges are ever refu[...]ed in the Crow Act, June 4, 1920, I doubt whether you will
ever get it in per capita payments. If it is in the nature of a claim, as
long as Cochran of Missouri and King of Utah are in Congress, you'll never
get settlement. They will not permit a claim to pass Congress. The Lone
Wolf's decision is that your trust properties are yours to use for your bene­
fit. Congress could do as it sees fit regarding your trust lands. These
irrigation construction charges end other charges have accrued ever since
1914, twenty-six years ago, and these according to present law must be paid.
You cannot get out of it. The author of the bill of J[...]alsh. The accumulation will continue unless paid, and all under
the ditches must pay in order to operate and maintain these ditches."

Deernose: Requests tha[...]avor or against the bill.
He further states that if they are not ready to vote, that copies be made of
this tentative bill to be sent to every district to be studied by members
of the Crow tribe for action at a leter council.

’■Talks With Wolf: States th[...]mbers of
the Crow tribe who wanted their moneys to be refunded, and that it finally
became lav; at that time, now they went to wipe out those claims of reimburse­
ment.

Blake TOiiteman; States that they all know that the Crows have a claim taken
up by Kappler, but that there are al[...]ibe here who know
nothing about these irrigation refund claims. He suggests that they be given
time to study this question and take it up at the next council, and that
when they vote every adult Indian be permitted to vote by ballot. He further
suggests that copies of the tentative bill be sent to every district for con­
sideration and that vote by ballot be taken at every farm station in charge of
the agency office and our council officials.

CHARLES TEN BEAR: Seco[...]cord Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

Chairmans "I will set another date to pass on this subject, bill S-3732,
You have heard from the two delegates, Jasper Long and Leo Hugs, and the
superintendent."

Chairmans "You no doubt have seen the papers giving a proposed relief to
the Indians, who are starving, particularly the P[...]payment
Chairmans "Naw this per capita justaay is not any other money, but moneys
derived from our own tribal area. I want the Secretary to read the letter
from our Senator James Hurray relative to his request on our behalf to the
Commissioner, and the letter signed by Assistant Commissioner, Zimmerman
in answer to James Hurray's letter, objecting to our request for a payment."

Secretary reads and interprets two letters.

Jasper Longs States that the Klamath Indians received a per capita payment,
and that their delegates get ten dollars per diem. He[...]s very sick, has only
five potatoes in his house, and that this is all he has to eat, and states
that such a condition as this is very pitiful. Jasper Long makes a motion
that the council Secretary prepare a specific resolution requesting the Secre­
tary of the interior to authorize a per capita payment to the Craw Indians
immediately, and that copies of the resolution be sent to Senator 'Wheeler, and
Senator Itarray. (Resolution is hereto attached to the minutes).

James Blaine: Seconds the motion[...]ing, which date is
May 15.

’The Secretary read and interpreted amendatory act of June 20, 1936 (49 Stat 244)

Ties: Suggests that if they rescind the request for farm implements and repeal
the Amendatory Act of June 20, 1936, then[...]tended.

Jack Covers Up: Asks the Superintendent what the Indian Office says about
readvertising the lands for grazing.

Superintendent. "I am instructed to advertise for thirty days, and the
terms that you have requested, your minimum rate of 25 cents per acre,
seems to have been approved. The auction sale has to be conducted by
some of you, if you care to do so, as it takes $75.00 to pay an auctioneer
and we have no funds for that purpose. You have good prospects for the lands
northeast of here. More than one cattle man wants to lease this area. Woodson
Moss and Junior Spear will not bid over thirty cents for their respective
leases that they have now. About the Big Hora Placer Mining Corporation, I
understand that they will have a meeting on May 5, about which tire, we will
knew the intention of the company about their proposed activity on the Gold lease."[...]ord Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

WHEREAS, The Crows had legislated and secured a law June 4, 1920,
which provides that all moneys available in one fund to be paid in
per capita payments,

■WHEREAS, The[...]f tribal funds as designated by the Crov; Council and approved by
the Secretary of the Interior,

WHEREAS, The per cent of relief on our Reservation is small, and the
needs of our unemployed adults, end the needy[...]ary of the Interior re­
consider our request for a ten dollar per capita payment before we too
have to rely on the public relief funds contemplated by our Representative
James F. O’Connor, and that immediate payment be authorized.[...]X3 •>/
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

I regret the delay in regard to this matter, but there is nothing
this Office can do until we know who is to be responsible for the pur­
chase of the outfit and the funds to make such purchase, in what con­
nection the outfit is to be used, and any other relevant information the
council may wish to furnish us.[...]National Archives and Records Administration[...]

Sir:

This is connection with a resolution made by the Tribal Council,
during the[...]w, which was purchased with reim­
bursable funds and which they desire to have transferred to Tribal
property*

Pipe[...]Total Cost $223.30

I trust that you will give this matter your prompt attention
and that a reply from the Washington Office will be forthcom[...]Record Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

BC AR W1D1.
G H Washington Del 5IP[...]RA31E
OVER PROPOSED L21SE EXCEPT ZIMMERMAN WHO IS NOT ACTIVXY OPPOSED BUT WANTS TO THI’B
IT OVER AND SEE IKES. WHEEXER TOBE Zir'Et’.’CAN THAT HE TUTTS I”DTArC SH(WD uy
GTtrpp THEIR RIGHTS IE THEY WANT TH?'

r H TSUIS[...]egeev nil ?nd gas company made an application for a on* ye*r permit to
nrospect ord tn lease if any oil is found in the Two leggin area. T he resolution--
o.nd r.mli motion is hrr*to at' ached. These mere read gnd interpreted by Har[...]E. X. Stein of Orow Agency, Montane was present to represent the company
end the Indians were at liberty to ask him all the questions they care to make.
The Indians diacuscei the srl'jcut verv fre[...]OROW Tribal Council) ~’-s thoroughly explained tonot sublease without dCrst getting the
approval of th[...]ear moved that the resolution be adopted as reed, and seconded
Charles Bell Sock.
6_I voted for the above resolution, and one opposed.
Ther e was 56 voted in favor[...]Resolved; By the Crow T ribal Council assembled on this Sih day of January
IhUO, request the Secretary of the Interior to authorize a ten dollar per with
capita payment to the Cror Tribe without ary unnecessary delay in a[...]ord Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

It was moved and seconded to have the Office letter of June 2 1939 to
read at this time , and action be taken at the next tribal council meeting.
The letter referred to Ind. Org. 7U927-39 - 7U92- 39.

Chairman re[...].

Sunt. Stober Yellowtail told of his trip to che scutherm California.

By 3.3O there were about 91 adults present, who all voted to have the
following telegram send to Congressman James O’Conner;
The telegram i[...]wf.s uninamously voted that the present chairman and the Sectetary sign
the telegram.
John Whiteman moved that the allottees sit in council to authorise some one
to represent them. By acclamation it was so done by appointing the Chairman of the
Crow Council and the secretary to send the above mentioned telegram.
I he Indi[...]7-1939 Crow Agency 054 H3HA333R TUOH- 4 A.
Record Group[...]xa -tv
National Archives and Records Administration

Al® '.7HEREAS, it appears that said company is ready, willing and able to suc­
cessfully drill and complete said well;

NOW THEREFOIE, Be it reso[...]council
duly assembled, that the said Massey Oil and Gas Company be and hereby is, granted
said Gas and Oil Mining Permit and lease in accordance with the terms of its
petition and lease as submitted, and

Al® BE IT FURTHER RESO1VED, and we hereby request the Secretary of the Interior
to approve said permit and lease as proposed, without further reference of same
to the Ctow Tribal Council and in all cases subject to the approval of the
Superintendent of the Crow In[...]at Crow Agency, Montana, this 6th day of January
A. D. I9UO.[...]Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

JIC'A ’ur’WEWJl* 3« ff W[...]<P>ITJ 8 4 Svicfcf 'T *A •' J .
1[...]T ZIHMERMAi 'WHO 13 KOT ACTIV1Y OPPOSED BUT WANTS TO

THINE IT OVER AND SEE ICKES. WHEELER TOLD ZIMMERM[...]IANS

SHOULD BE GIVEN THEIR HIGHTS IE THEY WANT THEM[...]D C

CONCENSUS OPINION OF OOUNCIL AND ALLOTTEES ASSEMBLED TODAY IS AGAINST PLAN

OF BURKE WHICH ELIMINATES COMPETITION AND ALSO DOES NOT RAISE PER ACRE RATE

OF GRAZING UNITS XI®[...]X;
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

1. Discussion as to reimbursements to Washington delegation.

2. Consideration as to purchase of threshing outfit and combine.

3. Review of facts re status of Triba[...]chasing said threshing outfil at this time",
and further requesting, again, a per capita payment of 110.

cc - Supt., Crow A[...]xa im
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

;ARCH 29- 1940; CAT-TED E3FBCIALLY TO PASS UPON ADOPTION RESOLUTIO” FOR[...]s Yarlott.
Chairman: The resolution prepared and presented will be read and inter­
preted by the secretary. Your available funds asper office record was set
forth in our council on February 17 th, at which time you voted uninamiously
for the usual ten dollar per capita payment. A&aiQ on page two of the council
minutes of '.'arch 9 th, you werj told of your available funds had hypothe­
cated. That your proposod purchase will have to be planned so as to use funds
that will be available by June I st. This is clear. The Indian Office should
knew this, if they read our minutes carefully.
Secretary, ( Eere reads and interprets the resolution hereto attached.)
max B[...]that their
expenses shall be reimbursed, he still have a small amount left which could
used to refund these delegates.
Deornose: To purchase threshing outfit is not an economical investment
at the present. lie should have considered very thoroughly before we passed
on this subject at the last council. I opposed the purchase plan then, and
I oppose it now.
Bird Above: I approve of the purchasing of the threshing outfit, but I
do not agree to the purchase of a combine. The Tractors and the plows should
be purchased first, so that garden plots could be plowed for the older Indians
and then to be used by the younger Indians on larger tracts. I oppose the
using of the money of those who get no benefit from the farm iiipleraents.
Your have allowed the use of some of our funds for the women's sewing project
to purchase garden seed, pumps, etc. Why do you want to turn this proposition
down, If this council disapproves the purchase plan, then from nor; on, I
favor that our funds shall be used for no other purpose, but for per capita
payments. TTe should be ready on our allotments, so that when the trust period
expires, we eould beindependent.
Frank Shane: ".’e have no definite ,.°£ our it seems. e
a balance of about 436.00 dollars. This amount should be used to help the
boys who went to 'Washington because they are of oar tribe, and they are there
to try to help us. I move that we authorize the Commissioner to expend this
amount to refund the expenses of the delegates, now in Washington.[...]revenue from the resources of our reservation is to be used only for
per capita payments. Some delega[...]d had the amendatory act of
June 20, 1936 passed. If the Indian Office disapproves of the action of the
council relative to the purchasing the form anchinery, then I will say that
from now on, our funds shall not be used for no other purpose than for per
capita[...]p: Let us discuss the contents of the resolution. A per
capita, and to refund the delegates their expenses.
Janes Laforge:[...]he Indians in the Viyola District who always stay on their allotrents deserve
this good interprize. The records will show that it received a large najority
vote. Such machinery may encourage the younger Indians to get back to their
own allotments in time, thus to rehabilitate.
Jackson Stewart: '.ic are not members© fht- of the Collier Dill Indians.[...]Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

Loneys and lands are given to then, but v.e have our own lands and moneys.
Our request should have been approved. I heard the superintendent dictate
the letter to The Commissioner. The tractor and the these bottom plws were
to be purchased immediately after the Commissioner's approval. The thresh­
ing machinery to be delivered later. The large iiqple.nent anageraent are will­
ing to wait for the June payment. It was not intended to yse the present
available funds for nothing else,[...]provided that our funds shall be con­
solidated and distributed in per oepito payments. I refuse to recognize the
unauthorized amendatory act of June 20, 1936. I that, the ggungj1 t>£
on record to have'thd amendatory act be repealed.
James Laforg[...].
Stephen Driftwood: The use of tribal funds to help younger Indians is a
good idea. As for the '.yola and the Lodge Grass Districts, I am willing to
expend their share of the tribal funds to be expended for this noble ente r-
prizo. The rest of you could draw your payments. I oppose that pert of the
resolution which seeks to eliminate the further use of tribal moneys for the
good of x.any, ,.e ought to look out for our postei’ity.
lax Big lan: To discuss the financial business of the tribe, we should
delegate, prank Yarlott to nas'irgton, to present the opinion of the tribe.
T'e is well acq[...]1e-
lieve that the younger Indians should go back to their allotments.
Chairman: The Crow Bill qf[...]or the administration of the Crow Agency, School,
and etc-, the balanceor moneys due the Crow Tribe the[...]endatory act of June 20, 1936
allowed the Council to use undivided funds for any purpose they wanted w[...]he Secretary of the interior. Deer NOs'e asks for a repeal.
Is there any remarks?
Bussell . “ear: Tn that part relative to per capita payment, just a
little word, (er) means a whole lot. It gives the Indians Department more
say on our tribal funds. A committee should be appointed to draft a tenative
bill to be presented to the next Congress.
Chairman: ,.e can not change the amendment, but we could go ?n record as
the Crow Council opposing the act. It ought to be as it was before.
•ax Big iani It is too late now to get its passage, but we could dele­
gate Frank Yarlott to proceed to ..ashington, and start a tenative bill.
Deer Nose: Too late now to send another delegate.
I.£x Dig Lan; It is better to send a delegate than to send by correspon­
dence •
’.'illiam Be[...]gress.
. ax Big Lan; I move that we now take a vote on Deer Nose laotion.
Ralph Saco: T second the[...]Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

of the Crow Tribal Council that a per capita payment out of Tribal

funds available of $10.00, and

WHEREAS, the said Crow Delegation has[...]same has, by the Indian Department, been refused on the

ground that the Crow Tribal Council has heretofore on the 9th day

of March, 1940, made a request for the use of Tribal funds for the

purc[...]action taken by the Crow

Tribal Council relative to the purchase of such threshing outfits

was clearly made with the intent that if the same were purchased, the

purchase of the same was not to be made out of present Crow Tribal

Funds, but to be made out of available Crow Tribal Funds due Ju[...]y the minutes of said Council of the above date,

and

WHEREAS, there is available out of the Crow Tribal Funds,
out of which a per capita payment can now be made, approximately

the sum of Nineteen Thousand Six Hundred Sixteen and 07/100 Dollars

($19,616.07), and that it is necessary for a per capitay payment of
$10.00, the sum of Seventeen Thousand Six Hundred Eighty and No/100

Dollars ($17,680.0(), which per capita payment would not in anywise
interfere with the proposed purchase[...]on of the Crow Tribal Council for said purchases, and if
expended for this purpose there would remain sufficient balance in said
fund to take care of present commitments for sewing project, seed

and expenses of the Crow Delegat^rti, and

Central Classified Files 1907-19[...]Record Group 75
National Archives and Records Administration[...]

grown or to be grown and there are only approximately 500 acres

of allott[...]ming lands, upon which grain is now being

grown, and, therefore, it would appear to this Council that the

purchase of such threshing outfits would be economically unwise

and not in accordance with good business judgment since the depre­

ciation of such machines and the wear and tear on the same alone

would more than pay the costs of threshing all grain on Indian owned

lands,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this Council go on

record as opposing the use of any of the present[...]f nurchasing said threshing outfits at this time, and

that we protest the use of Tribal moneys to be obtained in the future

for such an investment because of the unsoundness and unwise invest­

ment of our moneys for such purp[...]ng outfits, this Council now feels that it

would not be in the exercise of good judgment to proceed with the in­

vestment of Tribal funds in such manner, and, therefore, we oppose the

same.

BE[...]uest for per capita

payment of $10.00 be granted on the ground and for the reason that a

majority of the Crow Indians are now in distress and such per capita

payment would be a great relief to such Indians for the purpose of

buying food and clothing ano sustenance for themselves and their children.Kg
That this per capita payment be[...]ictions.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be

forwarded to the Crow Delegation now in Washington and to each Repre­

sentative and Senator in Congress from Montana.

DONE in Tribal[...]Group 75
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2. Resolution passed requesting permission to set aside five
hundred dollars from the Crow Tribal Funds to purchase garden
seed and potatoes to be used for seed, and

3. Resolution, inwhich the Tiibal Council hereby voted to sponsor
from its current jtribal funds[...]re sponsored for
other projects, 1,000 to te used for the purchase of materials
and other expenses Incidental to the successful operation of a
Sewing Project at the Crow Indian Agen[...]uncil in session this 6th day of
March do hereby indicate their desire, either acquiescence[...]ated 4>» Fund (Reimbursable) 1940, Symbol lie. 14A7371. 413,
and such amounts as may accrue and are deposited to this fund
during the fiscal year, 1940[...]nstruc­
tion of homes for individuals and for loans to them for the pur­
chase of seed, tux[...]H39A333«t •
Central Classified Fil[...]ecord Group 75
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(2) The sum of five-hu[...]rs was resolved in open coun­
cil to be set aside for the purchase of garden seed and
potatoes to be used for r.oed from Crow Tribal funds.[...]ion for granting of permission for
a site to be improved for the use of public recreational
ground. This site not to exceed five acres of Tribal
ground to be selected by the Superintendent, and to be
improved by the use of funds al[...]cord Group 75
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STATEMENT of Shot in the Nose or Ties His Knees.

Mr. Chairman: I wish to say a few words. V/hat I have in mind is as
follows:

"The Indians of the Big Horn District met in Council the other day
and discussed, at some length, the question of the an[...]arges against Indian lands in the Big Horn Valley and in this end we
decided with your permission to send, at their own expense, two of the
Indians from the Big Horn Valley; namely, Jasper Long Tail and Leo Hugs,
These men are proceeding to Washington, at their own expense, to do what
they can in the way of conveying to the Congress the matter of annulment
of all water[...]ng 0.& M. so that the Indians can be permit­
ted to start with a new slate. To this end, we wish to ask the general
council to give them permission for this one purpose only. Upon this
point, I should like to have the Chairman call roll to see whether the majority
of the Indians are in favor of such a proposition or not. After much debate
and expression of opinion, the Chairman put the question before the council
a nd the vote was as follows: Vote for ’7'7 ;[...]of the Big Horn Valley were-g/aifted the request to send two of
their members, at their own expense, to the City of Washington To do what[...]ord Group 75
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