UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
CORPORATE CHARTER
OF THE
CONFEDERATED TRIBES
OF THE
WARM SPRINGS RESERVATION
OF OREGON
RATIFIED APRIL 23, 1938
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 1938
CORPORATE CHARTER OF THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES
OF THE WARM SPRINGS RESERVATION OF OREGON
A FEDERAL CORPORATION CHARTERED UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 18, 1934
Whereas, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon are a recognized Indian tribe organized under a constitution and by-laws ratIfied by the members of the Confederated Tribes on December 18, 1937, and approved by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior on February 14, 1938, 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 Confederated Tribes have petitioned that a charter of incorporation be granted to said Confederated Tribes, subject to ratification by a vote of the adult Indians living on the reservation;
Now, therefore, I, Oscar L. Chapman, Assistant 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 Warm Springs Reservation
of Oregon, 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 at an
election in which at least 30 per cent of the eligible voters vote.
Corporate Existence. |
1. In order to further the economic development of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon by conferring upon the said Confederated Tribes certain corporate rights, powers, privileges and immunities; to secure for the members of the Confederated Tribes and assured economic independence; and to provide for the proper exercise by the Confederated Tribes of various functions heretofore performed by the Department of the Interior, the aforesaid Confederated Tribes are hereby chartered as a body politic and corporate of the United States of America, under the corporate name "The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon." |
Perpetual Succession. |
2. The Confederated Tribes shall, as a Federal corporation have perpetual succession. |
Membership. |
3. The Confederated Tribes shall be a membership corporation. Its members shall consist of all persons now or hereafter members of the Confederated Tribe, as provided by its duly ratified and approved constitution and by-laws. |
Management. |
4. The Tribal Council established in accordance with the said constitution and by-laws of the Confederated Tribes, shall exercise all the corporate powers hereinafter enumerated. |
Corporate Powers. |
5. The Confederated Tribes, subject to any restrictions contained in the Constitution and laws of the United States, or in the Constitution and By-laws of the said Confederated Tribes, shall have the following corporate powers, in addition to all powers |
Termination of Supervisory Powers. |
6. Upon request by the Tribal Council 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 |
Corporate Property. |
7. No property rights of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation 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 Confederated Tribes shall not be subject to any corporate debts or liabilities without such owners' consent. Any existing lawful debts of the Confederated Tribes shall continue in force, except as such debts may be satisfied or canceled pursuant to law. |
Corporate Dividends. |
8. The Confederated Tribes 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 tribe and may distribute per capita, among the recognized members of the Confederated Tribes, all profits of corporate enterprises over and above sums necessary to defray corporate obligations to members of the Confederated Tribes or to other persons 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. Any such distribution of profits in anyone year amounting to a per capita cash payment of $100 or more, shall not be made without the approval of the Secretary of the Interior. |
Corporate Accounts. |
9. The officers of the Confederated Tribes shall maintain accurate and complete public accounts of the financial affairs of the Confederated Tribes, which shall clearly show all credits, debts, pledges, and assignments, and shall furnish an annual balance |
Amendments. |
10. This Charter shall not be revoked or surrendered except by Act of Congress, but amendments may be proposed by resolution of the Tribal 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 living on the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon, provided at least 30 per cent of the eligible voters shall vote, such ratification to be formally certified by the Superintendent of the Warm Springs Agency and the President and Secretary of the Tribal Council. |
OSCAR L. CHAPMAN,
WASHINGTON, D. C., March 31, 1938.
CERTIFICATION
Pursuant to section 17 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984) this Charter, issued on March 31, 1938 by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior to the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, was duly submitted for ratification to the adult members residing within the Reservation and was on April 23, 1938, duly ratified by a vote of 180 for and 62 against, in an election in which over 30 per cent of those entitled to vote cast their ballots.
GEORGE MEACHEM,
AMENDMENT-CORPORATE CHARTER OF THE CONFEDERATED
TRIBES OF THE WARM SPRINGS RESERVATION OF OREGON
AMENDMENT I. Section 5 (b) (3) shall be amended to read:
"No leases or permits (which term shall not include land assignments to members of the Confederated Tribes) covering any land or interests in land now or hereafter held by the Confederated Tribes within the boundaries of the Warm Springs Reservation shall be made by the Confederated Tribes for a longer term than ten years, and all such leases or permits must be approved by the Secretary of the Interior or by his duly authorized representative; but mineral leases or leases requiring substantial improvements of the land, or timber sale contracts, may be made for longer periods when authorized by law. Power sites may be leased with the consent of a majority of the voters of the Confederated Tribes voting at an election in which at least 30 percent of the eligible voters vote."This Amendment, having been proposed by Resolution No. 80 enacted by the Tribal Council of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon on September 29, 1941, is herewith approved and submitted for ratification by the adult members of the Tribes living on the Warm Springs Reservation in accordance with Section 10 of the Corporate Charter of the Tribes and pursuant to the authority vested in the Secretary of the Interior by the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984).
Approval recommended October 11, 1941.
WALTER
V. WOEHLKE,
Assistant to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
OSCAR L. CHAPMAN,
WASHINGTON, D. C., November 24, 1941.
CERTIFICATION
Pursuant to sections 16 and 17 of the Act of .June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984), this Amendment, issued on November 24, 1941, by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior to the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, was duly submitted to the adult Indians residing on the Reservation and was on December 19, 1941, duly ratified by a vote of 158 for, and 17 against, in an election in which over 30 percent of those entitled to vote cast their ballots.
GEORGE MEACHEM,