Tribes seek trust for land near falls

A certified letter from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes received by Lincoln County commissioners seeks to establish a trust for 8.3 acres near Kootenai Falls.

The letter, which was received by County Administrator Bill Bischoff on March 12, vaguely explained the decision “to acquire property in a trust for The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, (the former Kootenai Falls property).” The letter provided a legal mapping sectionalized description.

Reports of the tribes’ intention to acquire the land for a trust circulated in published reports causing some concern among county residents.

However, Tribes Communications Director Rob McDonald explained the process is just a securing of a trust for the land, which was purchased in September 1989.

“The land, which belonged to Lee McDonald, was purchased in 1989,” said McDonald, who is no relation to the seller. “For some reason, the paperwork then was never completed. The tribes picked up the paperwork again in 2012, and this is just a follow-up to that.” 

McDonald was asked whether the timing of the filing had any relationship to the proposed water-right compact currently being considered.

“We have a great relationship with the county governments in Flathead, Missoula and Sanders counties. We just don’t have that many dealings with Lincoln County,” McDonald said. “However, I know tribal leaders felt there was a little grandstanding by Lincoln County officials during one of the (water-rights) meetings, but no, we’re not at war with Lincoln County. We probably do 100 of these trusts a year, and I have to tell you this is the first that has been appealed.” 

After receiving the letter, commissioners urged Bischoff to respond to the Bureau of Indian Affairs within the 30-day appeal deadline, mostly in an effort to obtain more information.

McDonald said the tribes have been advised of the concession area near the Kootenai Falls parking lot, saying he had not heard of any formal complaint by the tribe.

“I have no hint of strained relations between the tribes and Lincoln County,” McDonald said. “However, the falls are sacred to the tribes. All land is sacred.”

That area of the county lies within the boundaries of Troy Commissioner Ron Downey, who said he was trying to ascertain just where the property is.

“I understood the property to be near the old campground, closer to Williams Creek,” said Downey, who was out of town Thursday.

Deb Blystone, the planning manager and GIS coordinator for the county, said the legal description of the 8.3-acre site and said the tract is west of the Kootenai Falls parking lot. The tract is located on both sides of U.S. Highway 2, and it does not appear to include either the falls proper or the Swinging Bridge.

“It’s difficult to say because I’m looking at a flat map and trying to put it on a round surface, but the area appears to be south of the Swinging Bridge.”

Repeated attempts to get a comment from Julian C. “Chuck” Courville, the Flathead Agency superintendent who sent the letter to commissioners, were unsuccessful.