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9 Statement on Yellowtail Dam To National Congress of American Indians 13th Annual Convention By Edward Whiteman, Chairman Crow Tribal Council Undoubtedly many of you are acquainted with the problems with which the Crow Tribe is confronted in our attempted negotiations with the Federal Government with respect to the dam site--commonly known as Yellowtail. First, in my opinion it is important and imperative that we develop our human and natural resources; but at all times we must be mindful of the protection of our rights solemnly promised by treaty and law honor and fair dealing or just and equitable treatment by the Government with its Indian citizens toward the end existing conditions will be resolved to the satisfaction of all parties concerned. To do this it will take the united assistance of each tribe in promoting the necessary matters which we are all concerned with at this time. Already the United States has commenced condemnation proceedings to forcibly take from the Crow Tribe this valuable natural resource. This was done notwithstanding the fact that by three separate acts of Congress the Congress provided that no further construction of irrigation projects upon the Crow Indian reservation would be done without first obtaining the consent of the Crow Tribe. The legislation is now the law of the land. The American Indian of today is the oldest minority group in the United States. We are small, weak and expandable. We pose no threat to our national security. Helping the Indian will not "pay" in the sense that foreign aid pays to such countries as Yugoslavia. This observation applies in the case of the administration that is in power today. I deem it advisable to inform you that the Congressman fro your district in Montana, Congressman Orvin B. Fjare, has introduced legislation setting the price at $1,500,000; a price the Crow Tribal Council has unanimously refused on three separate occasions. The Fjare plan is solely his. The Fjare plan by legislative fiat takes title to the land and the powersite away from the Crows. The resolution of Congressman Fjare is unfair to us--unprincipled in legislative taking and the consideration is inadequate. The Crow Tribe has done nothing to deserve the reckless charges hurdles by Congressman Fjare of the arbitrary treatment accorded us by the Bureau. The Government is trustee of our resources and now the Government is attempting to take from us this natural resource; notwithstanding the fact that we have attempted to negotiate with the Government in the sale of the right-of-way for the dam and reservoir site. Both political parties are now making political ammunition out of this natural resource. We asked the amount of $5 million for the sale of the right-of-way. We attempted to reserve certain rights in making the sale. When the resolution providing for the payment of $5 million was passed by the Congress, the Congress totally disregarded our rights, partially in the reservations which we had requested to be made and totally misrepresented the entire matter to us. We need the help of this organization in our efforts to procure the proper consideration to be paid to the Crow Tribe in the event Yellowtail Dam is constructed. We did not prepare to sell the right-of-way to the Government. The Government proposed to take the right-of-way from us. Consequently we ask your cooperation in all legislative matters relating to any effort to take the dam and reservoir right-of-way without paying the remuneration requested by the Crow Tribe.
