UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
CORPORATE CHARTER
OF THE
BLACKFEET TRIBE OF THE
BLACKFEET INDIAN RESERVATION
MONTANA
RATIFIED AUGUST 16, 1936
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON: 1936
CORPORATE CHARTER OF THE BLACKFEET TRIBE OF
THE BLACKFEET INDIAN RESERVATION
A FEDERAL CORPORATION CHARTERED UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 18,1934
Whereas, the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian
Reservation of Montana, constitutes a recognized Indian tribe organized
under a Constitution and By-laws ratified by the Tribe on November 13,
1935, and approved by the Secretary of the Interior on December 13, 1935,
pursuant to section 16 of the Act of June 18, 1934, (48 Stat. 984), as
amended by the Act of June 15, 1935, (49 Stat. 378); and
Whereas, more than one-third of the adult members
of the Tribe have petitioned that a charter of incorporation be granted
to such Tribe, subject to ratification by a vote of the adult Indians living
on the reservation;
Now, therefore, I, Harold L. Ickes, Secretary of
the Interior, by virtue of the authority conferred upon me by the said
Act of June 18, 1934, (48 Stat.984), do hereby issue and submit this charter
of incorporation to the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation
to be effective from and after such time as it may be ratified by a majority
vote of the adult Indians living on the reservation;
Corporate Existence. |
1. In order to further the economic development of the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana by conferring upon the said Tribe certain corporate rights, powers, privileges and immunities; to secure for the members of the Tribe an assured economic independence; and to provide for the proper exercise by the Tribe of various functions heretofore performed by the Department of the Interior, the aforesaid Tribe is hereby chartered as a body politic and corporate of the United States of America, under the corporate name "The Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation." |
Perpetual Succession. |
2. The Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation shall, as a Federal corporation, have perpetual succession. |
Membership. |
3. The Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation shall be a membership corporation. Its members shall consist of all persons now or hereafter entitled to membership in the Tribe as provided by its duly ratified and approved Constitution and By-laws. |
Management. |
4. The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council established in accordance with the said Constitution and By-laws of the Tribe, shall exercise all of the corporate powers hereinafter enumerated. |
Corporate Powers. |
5. The Tribe, subject to any restrictions contained in the Constitution and laws of the United States, or in the Constitution and By-laws of the said Tribe, shall have the following corporate powers, in addition to all powers already conferred or guaranteed by the Tribal Constitution and By-laws.(a) To adopt, use, and alter at its pleasure a corporate seal. |
Termination of Supervisory Powers. |
6. Upon the request of the Blackfeet Tribal Council for the termination of any supervisory power reserved to the Secretary of the Interior under sections 5b, 5f, 5g, 5h, and section 8 of this charter, the Secretary of the Interior, if he deems it wise and expedient so to do, shall approve such termination and submit it for ratification by the Tribe. It shall be effective upon ratification by a majority vote at an election in which at least thirty per cent of the adult members of the Tribe residing on the reservation shall vote. If at any time after ten years from the effective date of this charter, such request shall be made and the Secretary shall disapprove such termination or fail to approve or disapprove it within ninety days after its receipt, it may then be submitted by the Secretary of the Interior or by the Tribal Council to popular referendum of the adult members of the Tribe actually living within the reservation and if approved by two-thirds of the eligible voters, shall be effective. |
Corporate Property. |
7. No property rights of the Blackfeet Tribe, as heretofore constituted, shall be in any way impaired by anything contained in this charter, and the tribal ownership of unallotted lands, whether or not assigned to the use of any particular individuals, is hereby expressly recognized. |
Corporate Dividends. |
8. The Tribe may issue to each of its members a nontransferable certificate of membership evidencing the equal share of each member in the assets of the Tribe and may distribute per capita, among the recognized members of the Tribe, the net income of corporate activities including the proceeds of leases of tribal assets, including oil royalties over and above sums necessary to defray corporate obligations to members of the Tribe or to other persons and over and above all sums which may be devoted to the establishment of a reserve fund, and other expenses incurred by the Tribe for corporate purposes. Any such distribution of profits in any one year amounting to a per capita cash payment of $100 or more, or amounting to a distribution of more than one-half of the accrued surplus, shall not be made without the approval of the Secretary of the Interior. |
Corporate Accounts. |
9. The officers of the Tribe shall maintain accurate and complete public accounts of the financial affairs of the Tribe, which shall clearly show all credits, debts, pledges and assignments, and shall furnish annual balance sheet and report of the financial affairs of the Tribe to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. of The Tribal Council shall elect from within or without their number a Treasurer of the Tribe who, under their control and direction, shall be the custodian of all moneys which come under the jurisdiction or control of the Tribal Council. He shall pay out money in accordance with the orders and resolutions of the Council, and no disbursements shall be made without the signature or approval of the Treasurer. He shall keep accounts of all receipts and disbursements and shall make written reports of same to the Tribal Council at each regular and special meeting. He shall be bonded in such an amount as the Council by resolution shall provide, such bond to be approved by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The books of the Treasurer shall be audited at the direction of the Council or of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and shall be open to inspection by members of the Tribe or duly authorized representatives of the Government at all reasonable times. |
Amendments. |
10. This charter shall not be revoked or surrendered except by act of Congress, but amendments may be proposed by resolutions of the Council which if approved by the Secretary of the Interior, to be effective shall be ratified by a majority vote of the adult members living on the reservation at a popular referendum in which at least 30 per cent of the eligible voters vote. |
Ratification. |
11. This charter shall be effective from and after the date of its ratification by a majority vote of the adult members of the Blackfeet Tribe living on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, provided at least 30 per cent of the eligible voters shall vote, such ratification to be formally certified by the Superintendent of the Blackfeet Indian Agency and the Chairman of the Tribal Council of the Tribe. |
Submitted by the Secretary of the Interior for ratification
by the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in a popular
referendum to be held on August 15, 1936.
HAROLD L. ICKES,
Secretary of the Interior
[SEAL]
WASHINGTON, D. C., July 18,1936.
CERTIFICATION
Pursuant to section 17 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 stat. 984) this
charter, issued on July 18, 1936 by the Secretary of the Interior to the
Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Reservation, was duly submitted for ratification
to the adult Indians living on the reservation and was on August 15, 1936,
duly ratified and accepted by a vote of 737 for and 301 against, in an
election in which over thirty per cent of those entitled to vote cast their
ballots.
JOSEPH W. BROWN
Chairman of the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council.
C. L. GRAVES
Superintendent, Blackfeet
Agency.