UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
CORPORATE CHARTER
OF THE
CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE
GRAND RONDE COMMUNITY
OREGON
RATIFIED AUGUST 22, 1936
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 1936
CORPORATE CHARTER OF THE CONFEDERATED
TRIBES OF THE GRAND RONDE COMMUNITY
A FEDERAL CORPORATION CHARTERED UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 18, 1934
Whereas, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community in Oregon is a recognized Indian tribe organized under a constitution and by-laws ratified by the Community on April 4, 1936, and approved by the Secretary of the Interior on May 13, 1936, 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 Community have petitioned that a charter of incorporation be granted to such Community, subject to ratification by a vote of the adult Indians living on the Grand Ronde Pteservation;
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 Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community
to be effective from and after such time as it may be ratified by a majority
vote in an election at which at least thirty per cent of the adult Indians
living on the Grand Ronde Reservation shall vote.
Corporate Existence and Purposes. |
1. In order to further the economic development of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community in Oregon by conferring upon the said Community certain corporate rights, powers, privileges and immunities; to secure for the members of the Community an assured economic independence; and to provide for the proper exercise by the Community of various functions heretofore performed by the Department of the Interior, the aforesaid Community is hereby chartered as a body politic and corporate of the United States of America, under the corporate name "The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community." |
Perpetual Succession. |
2. The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community shall, as a Federal Corporation, have perpetual succession. |
Membership. |
3. The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community shall be a membership corporation. Its members shall consist of all persons now or hereafter members of the Community, as provided by its duly ratified and approved Constitution and By-laws. |
Management. |
4. The Grand Ronde Business Committee of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community established in accordance with the said Constitution and By-laws of the Community, shall exercise all the corporate powers hereinafter enumerated. |
Corporate Powers. |
5. The Community, subject to any restrictions contained in the Constitution and laws of the United States, or in the Constitution and By-laws of the said Community, 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 Grand Ronde Business Committee for the termination of any supervisory power reserved to the Secretary of the Interior under sections 5 (b) 3, 5 (c), 5 (d), 5 (f), 5 (g), 5 (h), and section 8 of this charter, the Secretary of the Interior, if he shall approve such request, shall thereupon submit the question of such termination to the Community for a referendum vote. The termination 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 Community residing on the reservation shall vote. If at an time after five years from the effective date of this charter, such request shall be made and the Secretary shall disapprove it or fail to approve or disapprove it within ninety days after its receipt, the question of the termination of any such power may then be submitted by the Secretary of the Interior or by the Business Committee to popular referendum of the adult members of the Community actually living within the reservation and if the termination is approved by two-thirds of the eligible voters, shall be effective. |
Corporate Property. |
7. No property rights of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community, 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. The individually owned property of members of the Community shall not be subject to any corporate debts or liabilities, without such owner's consent. |
Corporate Dividends. |
8. The Community may issue to each of its members a non-transferable certificate of membership evidencing the equal share of each member in the assets of the Community and may distribute per capita, among the recognized members of the Community, all profits of corporate enterprises or income over and above sums necessary to defray corporate obligations and over and above all sums which may be devoted to the establishment of a reserve fund, the construction of public works, the costs of public enterprises, the expenses of tribal government, the needs of charity, or other corporate purpose. No such distribution of profits or income in any one year amounting to more than one-half the accrued surplus, shall be made without the approval of the Secretary of the Interior. No distribution of the financial assets of the Community shall be made except as provided herein or as authorized by Congress. |
Corporate Accounts. |
9. The officers of the Community shall maintain accurate and complete public accounts of the financial affairs of the Community, which shall clearly show all credits, debts, pledges, and assignments, and shall furnish an annual balance sheet and report of the financial affairs of the Community to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. |
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, shall be effective when 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 Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community living on the Grand Ronde Reservation, provided at least 30 per cent of |
HAROLD L. ICKES,
Secretary of the Interior.
[SEAL]
WASHINGTON, D. C., August 15, 1936.
CERTIFICATION
Pursuant to section 17 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984), this charter, issued on August 15, 1936, by the Secretary of the Interior to the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community, was duly submitted for ratification to the adult Indians living on the reservation and was on August 22nd, 1936, duly accepted by a vote of 52 for and 1 against, in an election in which over thirty per cent of those entitled to vote cast their ballots.
A. J. HUDSON,
Chairman of the Business Committee.
PAUL T. JACKSON,
Superintendent Indian School, Chemawa, Oregon.