[PEN-L:9693] FW: Letter to Sassy

["Craven, Jim" <jcraven@xxxxxxxxx>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Long Standing Bear Chief [mailto:blkfoot4@xxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 1999 2:15 PM
To: jcraven@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: Letter to Sassy


Here is the letter I sent to Sassy on "Independence Day". I have yet to hear
from this "leader" of ours.

July 04, 1999


Sassy Running Crane, Vice Chairman and
Members of The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council
Box 850
Browning, Montana 59417

Sassy Running Crane and members of the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council:

        The following is something directly from the Organic Act creating
the State of Montana. It is just part of what I have been trying to explain
to those of you who sit on a council that is supposed to represent our
interests and rights as members of the Blackfoot Nation. So Sassy, you asked
that I begin to inform you and the members of The Blackfeet Tribal Business
Council what it is I am talking about. So, here is a bit of information
about the law that created the State of Montana. It is very enlightening so
I suggest you read it very carefully and seek further clarification from
your legal department if you need further interpretation.

For my part The Organic Act creating Montana, which was enacted by the
United States Government,  is very clearly stated: it means that if any
changes were to be made in our status, especially as it might pertain to the
Blackfoot people becoming a part of the State of Montana, that such a thing
would have to be done in treaty negotiations with the President of the
United States and that office would then be required to obtain OUR CONSENT.
By our consent I mean the members of the Blackfoot Nation, now called
Blackfeet since the 1935 tribal constitution.

Further, the following quotation from this Organic Act is crystal clear
evidence that the State of Montana shall have NO JURISDICTION over our land
or over our person without a treaty that we make with the United States of
America. And as you know only NATIONS make treaties and States cannot.
Therefore, any action by the United States or the State of Montana to assume
or give any kind of jurisdiction for the American or State of Montana
governments is null and void without our assent, meaning our consent. In
other words NOTHING can be done to or for us without a TREATY.

Now quoting, in part,  from the Organic Act of the Territory of Montana of
May 28, 1864:

"Provided further, That nothing in this act contained shall be construed to
impair the rights of persons or property now pertaining to the Indians in
said territory so long as such right shall remain unextinguished by treaty
between the United States and such Indians, or to include any territory
which, by treaty with any Indian tribes,  is not, without the consent of
said tribe, to be included within the territorial limits or jurisdiction of
any state or territory; but all such territory shall be excepted out of the
boundaries, and constitute no part of the territory of Montana ,until said
tribe shall signify their assent to the President of the United States to be
included within said territory,  or to effect the authority of the
government of the United States to make any regulation respecting such
Indians, their lands, property, or other rights,  by treaty, law or
otherwise, which it would have been competent for the government to make if
this act were never passed."

        As I said this law cannot be read otherwise to mean anything other
than what it says. IF, by any chance whatsoever,  any of you come up with a
different interpretation from what is stated above then I would like to see
it. Thank you.

Sincerely yours,


Long Standing Bear Chief
Box 430
Browning, Montana 59417