Montanans should reject the CSKT Water Compact

Letter to the Editor:

It takes courage to stand up and speak the truth. Have you heard the onslaught of media propaganda selling the merits of the proposed Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Compact?

Maybe you heard it failed in the Legislature in 2013. And here it is again. And if it fails again, there is legislative action to extend negotiations for another two years.

The truth is, there is no negotiating. There is only spin, trickery, threats of litigation and promises of certainty.

Have you heard of the Golden Rule? The Golden Rule is he who has the gold makes the rules. So, who has all the gold? Could it be the federal government run amok? Isn’t Bonneville Power a federal agency? Isn’t the Environmental Protection Agency a federal agency? Isn’t the Bureau of Indian Affairs a federal agency?

Who benefits if this compact passes? Of course, the federal government, the United States of America (corporation).  The U.S. is named as the owner of all the water defined in the Compact. Future users, none. Forever contract, oh what a dream. The federal encroachment and overreach across America is evident to most citizens.

Please support the individual Native Americans who oppose the compact. Please support Montana’s sovereignty and the brave Legislators that speak the truth. Please support Montana Land and Water Alliance. Support sovereignty under God. Do you remember the Golden Rule? All lies are the result of ignorance or money. Are Montanans ignorant? I don’t think so.

— David Passieri, St. Ignatius