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Coyote
Commentary from Four Bears Segment
From the Desk of Marcus Wells, Jr., "Mo-zah",
Four Bears Council Representative of the Three
Affiliated Tribes
Senator
Kent Conrad and the Senate Oversight Hearing
of the PL-102-575, Equitable Compensation Act,
Held on August 30, 2001
The
Three Affiliated Tribes were afforded an opportune
time to come into a public meeting and make our
request for the unfulfilled promises for adequate
compensation for the Garrison Dam.
The Hearing was oversight on the use of the JTAC
Funds for the areas of Economic Development, Education,
Social Services and Other Tribal Government Programs.
As was determined by the Public Law 102-575, Signed
by former President Bush in October 1992 for the
amount of $149.2 Million for economic loss due
to the Garrison Dam.
The Tribal Chairman and the Tribal Business Council
were afforded the opportunity to make the Proposal
for a JTAC II legislation. (The potential is there
for an amount similar to the amount to be received
by the Cheyenne River Reservation wherein they
will receive almost double to what our Tribe received
in the amount of $149,200,000.)
Thereafter the North Dakota Senator inquired on
the expenditure of current funds expended on the
areas of Economic Development, Education, Social
Welfare and Other Tribal Program. And the Chairman
with the Expenditure Report provided by Mr. Steve
Salveson, Chief Financial Officer answered accordingly.
It was also noted for the record that the Tribe
is paying substantial amounts of money for Federal
Government Programs with JTAC Funds. For instance
the Tribal Roads Department receives every fiscal
year over $300,000 of the General Fund which includes
the JTAC Funding. In addition we purchased all
of the Roads Equipment from the General Fund which
includes JTAC Funding. Therefore as I stated
in previous newsletters, I feel that JTAC Funds
should be used to keep the current level of Services
to the Members. Each year, the General Fund would
need approximately $10,000,000 from the Yearly
JTAC Draw down. -Continued
on Page 11-
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