Constitution and By-Laws of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation

Preamble

We, the people of the Colville Reservation in the State of Washington, in order to form a recognized representative council to handle our Reservation affairs, and in order to improve the economic condition of ourselves and our posterity, do hereby establish this Constitution and By-Laws.

Article I—Purpose

The object and purpose shall be to promote and protect the interests of the Colville Indians and to preserve peaceful and cooperative relations with the Office of Indian Affairs, its officers and appointees.

Article II—Governing Body

Section 1: The governing body of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation shall be a council known as the Colville Business Council.

Section 2: The Business Council shall consist of fourteen (14) Councilmen to be elected from the districts as set forth hereafter.

Section 3: The representation from the districts hereby designated shall be as follows: Inchelium district, four councilmen; Nespelem district, four councilmen; Omak district, four councilmen; Keller district, two councilmen.

Section 4: The Business Council shall have the power to change the districts and the representation from each district based upon community organization or otherwise, as deemed advisable, such change to be made by ordinance, but the total number of councilmen shall not be changed, as provided for in Section 2 of Article II of this Constitution.

Section 5: The Business Council so organized shall elect from within its own number (1) a chairman; (2) a vice-chairman; and from within or without its own membership (3) a secretary; and may appoint such other officers and committees as may be deemed necessary.

Section 6: No person shall be a candidate for membership in the Business Council unless he shall be a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and shall have resided in the district of his candidacy for a period of one year next preceding the election, and be at least twenty-five (25) years of age.

Section 7: The Business Council of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation shall be the sole judge of the qualifications of its members.

Article III—Nominations and Elections

Section 1: The first election of the Business Council under this Constitution shall be called, held and supervised by the Superintendent of the Reservation and the delegates who were selected by the Districts and who prepared this constitution, within sixty days after its ratification and approval.

At the first election, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes in the Incheluim, Nespelem, and Omak districts shall serve two years: the candidate receiving the highest number of votes in the Keller district shall serve two years. The two candidates receiving the next highest number of votes in the Inchelium, Nespelem, and Omak districts shall serve one year; and the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes in the Keller district shall serve one year. Thereafter, elections for the Business Council shall be held every year and shall be called at least sixty days before expiration of the terms of office.

The terms of office of a councilman shall be for a period of two years, unless otherwise provided herein.

(This section amended, see Amendment VI)

Section 2: The Business Council, or an election board appointed by the Council, shall determine rules and regulations governing all elections.

Section 3: Any qualified member of the Confederated Tribes may announce his candidacy for the Business Council within the district of his residence, in accordance with Section 6 of Article II.

Section 4: The Business Council, or a board appointed by the Business Council, assisted by the Superintendent of the Reservation, shall certify to the election of the Business Council members within five (5) days after election returns.

Section 5: Any enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville reservation who is twenty-one (21) years of age or over shall be entitled to vote.

(This section amended, see Amendment VII)

Article IV—Vacancies and Removal from Office

Section 1: If a councilman or official shall die, resign be removed or recalled from office, permanently leave the Reservation or shall be found guilty of a felony or misdemeanor involving dishonesty in any Indian, State, or Federal Court, the Business Council shall declare the position vacant and the district affected shall elect to fill the unexpired term.

(This section amended, see Amendment II)

Section 2: The Business Council may by majority vote expel any member for neglect of duty or gross misconduct. Before any vote for expulsion is taken in the matter, such member or official shall be given a written statement of the charges against him at least five days before the meeting of the Business Council before which he is to appear, and he shall be given an opportunity to answer any and all charges at the designated Council meeting. The decisions of the Business Council shall be final.

Section 3: Upon receipt of a petition signed by one-third (1/3) of the eligible voters in any district calling for the recall of any member of the Council representing said district, it shall be the duty of the Council to call an election on such recall petition.

No members may be recalled in any such election unless at least 40% of the legal voters of the district shall vote in such election.

(This section amended, see Amendment IV)

Article V—Powers and Duties of the Council

Section 1: The Business Council shall have the following powers, subject to any limitations imposed by the Statutes or the Constitution of the United States, and subject to all express restrictions upon such powers contained in this Constitution and attached By-laws:

(a) To confer with the Commissioner of Indian Affairs or his representatives and recommend regarding the uses and disposition of tribal property; to protect and preserve the Tribal property, wildlife and natural resources of the Confederated Tribes, to cultivate Indian arts, crafts, and culture; to administer charity, to protect the health, security, and general welfare of the Confederated Tribes.

(b) To exclude from the restricted lands of the Reservation persons not legally entitled to reside thereon, under ordinances which may also be subject to review by the Secretary of the Interior.

(c) To recommend and help to regulate the inheritance of real and personal property, other than allotted lands, within the Colville Reservation.

(d) To regulate the domestic relations of members of the Confederated Tribes.

(e) To promulgate and enforce ordinances, subject to review by the Secretary of the Interior, which would provide for assessments or license fees upon non-members doing business within the Reservation, or obtaining special rights or privileges, and the same may be applied to members of the Tribes provided such ordinances have been approved by a referendum of the Confederated Tribes.

Article VI—Amendments

This Constitution and By-Laws may be amended by a majority of the qualified voters of the Confederated Tribes voting at an election called for that purpose. Provided, that the Tribal Council shall have adopted the amendment by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, but no amendment shall become effective until it shall have been approved by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Amendment I

Article II Section 1, By-Law; Time and Place of Meetings and Procedure: Regular meetings of the Business Council shall be held on the second Thursday of July, October, January and April, at Nespelem, Washington, at a designated building or hall.

(Adopted by Confederated Tribes, June 15, 1946)
(Approved by Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs, May 8, 1947)

Amendment II

Article IV, Section 1, Vacancies and Removal From Office: If a councilman or official shall die, resign, be removed or recalled from office, permanently leave the reservation, or shall be found guilty of a felony misdemeanor involving dishonesty in any Indian, State or Federal court, the Business Council shall declare the position vacant and appoint a member from the district affected to fill the unexpired term.

(Adopted by Confederated Tribes, June 15, 1946)
(Approved by Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs, May 8, 1947.)

Amendment III

Article VII, Membership of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation: There shall be added a new provision governing membership of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation which shall read as follows:

Section 1: The membership of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation shall consist of the following:

(a) All persons of Indian blood whose names appear as members of the Confederated Tribes on the official census of the Indians of the Colville Reservation as of January 1, 1937, provided that, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior corrections may be made in said roll within two years from the adoption and approval of this amendment.

(b) All children possessing one-fourth or more Indian blood, born after January 1, 1937, to any member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation maintaining a permanent residence on the Colville Indian Reservation.

(c) All children possessing one-fourth (1/4) or more Indian blood, born after January 1, 1937, to any member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation maintaining residence elsewhere in the continental United States, provided that the parent or guardian of the child indicate a willingness to maintain tribal relations and to participate in tribal affairs. To indicate such willingness to maintain tribal affiliation, the parent or guardian shall, within six months after the birth of the child submit a written application to have the child enrolled. The application shall be accompanied by the child's birth certificate together with any other evidence as to the eligibility of the child for enrollment in the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. If the certificate and application are not filed within the designated time, the child will not be enrolled.

Section 2: The Business Council of the Confederated Tribes shall have power to prescribe rules and regulations governing future membership in the tribes, including the adoption of members and loss of membership, provided:

(a) That such rules and regulations shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of Interior.

(b) That no person shall be adopted who possesses Less than one-fourth degree Indian blood.

(c) That any member who takes up permanent residence or is enrolled with a tribe, band or community of foreign Indians shall lose his membership in the Colville Tribes.

Alien Indians may be deleted from the rolls after they have been given an opportunity to be heard in their own behalf. The tribe shall also take appropriate action to correct the existing tribal roll and, if necessary delete from the rolls alien Indians whose names appear on the rolls of the Confederated Tribes and who have abandoned tribal relations. The Colville Confederated Tribes shall not deprive anyone of vested property rights, such as allotments or inherited interests.

(Adopted by Confederated Tribes, May 20, 1949)
(Approved by Commissioner of Indian Affairs, April 14, 1950.)

Amendment IV

That Section 3, of Article IV, Vacancies and Removal From Office, is hereby amended to read:

Section 3: By the eligible voters of any district filing with the Colville Business Council a typewritten or printed petition, signed by at least one-third (1/3) the number of those who were eligible to vote in the last preceding election, charging that a council member representing such district has violated his oath of office or committed an act or acts of malfeasance, or an act or acts of misfeasance while in office, a demand may be made for a recall of such council member provided the act or acts complained of are set forth in concise language and the signature of each petitioner has alongside it those of two witnesses thereto and the petitioner's post office address.

The Council shall, at its next meeting after the filing of such petition, determine whether the petition as filed meets the requirements of this section of the Constitution and if it finds that such requirements have been complied with, shall call a special election on such recall petition, said election to be held not sooner than thirty days after the action of the Council on the petition nor more than sixty days after the date of such Council action.

The ballot to be voted on at such special election shall contain the charging part of the petition hereinabove referred to.

No member may be recalled at any such election unless at least forty percent (40%) of the eligible voters of the district shall have voted at such election and unless a majority of those voting vote in favor of recall.

(Adopted by Confederated Tribes, May 9, 1959)
(Approved by Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs, July 2, 1959.)

Amendment V

There shall be added to Amendment III, Membership of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, a new provision governing membership of the said tribes which shall read as follows:

Section 3: After July 1, 1959, no person shall be admitted to membership in the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation unless such person possesses at least one-fourth (1/4) degree blood of the tribes which constitute the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

(Adopted by the Colville Confederated Tribes, May 9, 1959)
(Approved by the Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs, July 2, 1959)

Amendment VI

Section 1 of Article III, Nominations and Elections shall be amended to read as follows:

Section 1: The first election of the Business Council under this Constitution shall be called, and held and supervised by the Superintendent of the Reservation and the delegates who were selected by the Districts and who prepared this Constitution, within sixty (60) days after its ratification and approval.

At the first election, the two (2) candidates receiving the highest number of votes in the Inchelium, Nespelem, and Omak Districts shall serve two (2) years; the candidate receiving the highest number of votes in the Keller District shall serve two (2) years. The two (2) candidates receiving the next highest number of votes in the Inchelium, Nespelem, and Omak Districts shall serve one (1) year; and the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes in the Keller District shall serve one (1) year. Thereafter, elections for the Business Council shall be held every year and shall be called at least fifteen (15) days before expiration of the term of office.

The term of office of a councilman shall be for a period of two (2) years or until his successor is elected and installed.

(Adopted by the Confederated Tribes, March 4, 1972)
(Approved by the Deputy Commissioner of Indian Affairs, April 3, 1972)

Amendment VII

Section 5 of Article III, Nominations and Elections, shall be amended to read as follows:

Section 5: Any enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation who is eighteen (18) years of age or over shall be entitled to vote in all tribal elections.

(Adopted by the Confederated Tribes, March 4, 1972)
(Approved by the Deputy Commissioner of Indian Affairs, April 3, 1972.)

Amendment VIII

Article VI—Petition for Amendment:

Section 2: The Tribal membership is granted the power to cause to be placed upon the General Election ballot for a vote of the membership amendments to the Tribal Constitution and By-Laws by filing with the Colville Business Council a typewritten petition stating the exact wording of the proposed amendment, signed with valid signature and enrollment number and date of signature by at least one-third (1/3) of the enrolled tribal members who were 18 years or older at the last past General Election. The proposed amendment as contained in the petition shall be placed on the ballot at the next General Election if the Business Council finds that there are sufficient verified signatures on the petition as provided in this section.

The petition shall be received by the Business Council at least 90 days prior to the next scheduled General Election. Any petition submitted less than 90 days before the next General Election shall be void for all purposes. Delivery shall be made within normal business hours to the tribal Chairman at Nespelem, or in the absence of the Chairman to any other business council member or business council staff at Nespelem. Provided, that no signature shall be valid which is dated more than 180 days prior to the submission to the Business Council of a valid petition containing all signatures.

Within 60 days of the adoption and approval of this amendment, the Business Council shall adopt by ordinance procedures necessary for implementation of this amendment, including procedures for verification of signatures and petitions.

(Approved by the Confederated Tribes, July 3, 1984)
(Approved by the Secretary of the Interior, August 8, 1984.)

Amendment IX

Article VII—Membership of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation:

Section 4: All Indian blood identified and stated as being possessed by all persons whose names appear as members of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation on the official census of the Indians of the Colville Reservation of January 1, 1937, shall be considered Indian blood of the Tribes which constitute the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation: (1) Provided, that no tribal members' blood degree will be decreased as a result of this amendment, (2) Further provided, that pursuant to procedures which shall be adopted by the Colville Business Council, any:

(a) Applicant for membership; or

(b) Tribal member who is listed on the official Census of the Indians of the Colville Reservation of January 1, 1937; or

(c) Tribal member descended from a tribal member whose name appears on the official census of the Indians of the Colville Reservation of January 1, 1937; may petition the Tribes, to officially recognize for enrollment purposes that a tribal member whose name appears on the official census of the Indians of the Colville Reservation of January 1, 1937, possesses Indian blood that is not listed on the official census of the Indians of the Colville Reservation of January 1, 1937, and such Indian blood, when properly authenticated by clear and convincing proof, shall be recognized as blood of the Colville Tribes.

(Approved by the Confederated Tribes, March 22, 1988)
(Approved by the Secretary of the Interior, May 19, 1988.)

Amendment X

Article VIII—Judiciary:

Section 1: There shall be established by the Business Council of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation a separate branch of government consisting of the Colville Tribal Court of Appeals, the Colville Tribal Court, and such additional Courts as the Business Council may determine appropriate. It shall be the duty of all Courts established under this section to interpret and enforce the laws of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation as adopted by the governing body of the Tribes.

The Business Council shall determine the scope of the jurisdiction of these courts and the qualifications of the Judges of these Courts by statute.

Section 2—Court of Appeals: The Colville Tribal Court of Appeals shall consist of a panel of individual justices appointed by the Business Council, with the recommendation of the Chief Judge, to terms of six years.

Section 3—Tribal Court: The Colville Tribal Court shall consist of a Chief Judge who shall be appointed by the Business Council for a term of six years, subject to a vote of confidence every three years in conjunction with that year's general election by a majority of the qualified voters of the Confederated Tribes participating in the vote of confidence.

Section 4—Compensation and Term: Except for the terms of the Justices of the Tribal Court of Appeals and the Chief Judge of the Tribal Court, the term of any appointed judge shall be determined by the Business Council. The compensation for the services provided shall be determined by the Business Council and such compensation shall not be diminished during the respective terms of the Justices and Judges unless removed from office as provided in this Article.

Section 5—Vacancies and Removal from Office:

(a) If a Judge or Justice shall die, resign, be removed under subsection (b) or recalled from office under subsection (c), the Business Council shall appoint a replacement to fill the unexpired term.

(b) A Judge may be removed from office prior to the expiration of a term for good cause pursuant to a Bill of Impeachment filed with the Business Council and approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of all of the members of the Business Council. The Business Council shall convene a Special Session to vote on the Bill of Impeachment after allowing the Judge an opportunity to present a defense to the Bill of Impeachment. The decision of the Business Council shall be final.

(c) A Judge may be removed from office for good cause prior to the expiration of a term by a majority of the voters of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation at a special election called for that purpose. A special election under this subsection shall be called by the Colville Business Council within ten (10) days after a Petition of Recall naming the specific Judge, setting forth the specific charge or charges and signed by at least one-third (1/3) the number of those eligible to vote in the last preceding election is filed with the Business Council. The results of any election under this subsection shall be final.

Section 6—Discipline: Upon petition of any Colville Tribal Judge or Justice, or by a majority of the Business Council, presenting specific reasons for imposing discipline on any Justice or Judge of any Court established pursuant to this Article, the Colville Tribal Court of Appeals shall be convened to consider, and where necessary, impose discipline upon the Justice or Judge according to Rules of Judicial Conduct to be adopted by the Tribal Court of Appeals that are not inconsistent with the Constitution of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

Section 7—Implementation This Article shall take effect upon the appointment of the Chief Judge by the Business Council after ratification of this Article by the electorate and its approval by the

Department of Interior as provided in Article VI.

(Approved by the Confederated Tribes October 20, 1990)
(Approved by the Secretary of the Interior April 17, 1991)

BY-LAWS OF THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES

Article I—The Business Council

Section 1—Chairman of the Business Council: The Chairman of the Business Council shall preside over all meetings of the Business Council. He shall perform all duties of the Chairman and exercise authority delegated to him by the Business Council. He shall vote only in the case of a tie.

Section 2—Vice-Chairman of the Business Council: The Vice-Chairman of the Business Council shall assist the Chairman when called upon to do so. In the absence of the Chairman, he shall preside. When so presiding, he shall have the rights, privileges and duties, as well as the responsibilities of the Chairman.

Section 3—Secretary of the Business Council: The Secretary of the Business Council shall conduct all correspondence and keep a complete and accurate record of all matters transacted at Council Meetings. It shall be his duty to submit promptly to the Superintendent of the jurisdiction copies of all minutes of regular and special meetings of the Business Council and the Tribes.

Section 4—Appointive Officers: The duties of all appointive committees and officers appointed by the Colville Business Council shall be clearly defined by resolution of the Business Council at the time of their creation or appointment. Such committees and officers shall report from time to time as required, to the Business Council, and their activities and decisions shall be subject to review by the Business Council upon petition of any person aggrieved.

Article II—Time and Place of Meetings and Procedure

Section 1: Regular meetings of the Business Council shall be held on the second Friday of July, October, January and April, at Nespelem, Washington, at a designated building or hall.

(This section amended, see Amendment I)

Special meetings may be called by written notice signed by the Chairman or by a majority of the Business Council members, and when so called the Business Council shall have power to transact business as in regular meetings.

Section 2—Quorum: No business shall be transacted unless a quorum is present. A quorum shall consist of eight (8) councilmen.

Section 3—Order of Business: The following order of business is established for all meetings:

1. Call to order by the Chairman;

2. Roll call;

3. Ascertainment of a Quorum;

4. Reading of the minutes of the last meeting;

5. Adoption of the minutes by a vote or common consent;

6. Unfinished business;

7. New business;

8. Adjournment.

Section 4—Report of Meetings: It shall be the duty of each member of the Business Council to make reports concerning the proceedings of the Business Council to the members of the district from which he is elected.

Article III—Ratification of Constitution and By-Laws

This Constitution and By-Laws shall be in full force and effect whenever a majority of the adult voters of the Confederated Tribes voting at an election called by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, in which at least thirty percent (30%) of the eligible voters vote, shall have ratified such Constitution and By-Laws and the Commissioner of Indian Affairs shall have approved same.

CERTIFICATION OF ADOPTION

Certification of Adoption

Pursuant to the request of a majority of the Indians of the Colville Reservation to obtain for themselves a representative organization, the Constitution and By-Laws was duly submitted by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to the adult Indians living on the Reservation for ratification and was on February 26, 1938, duly ratified by a vote of 503 for, and 76 against in an election in which over 30% of those entitled to vote cast their ballots.

/Signed/ Harvey K. Meyer
Superintendent, Colville Agency

/Signed/ Gus Whitelaw
Chairman, Constitutional Committee

APPROVAL

This Constitution and By-Laws, having been proposed and duly ratified by the Indians of the Colville Reservation on February 26, 1938, at a referendum called by me, is here with approved.

/Signed/ John Collier
Commissioner of Indian Affairs

Washington, D.C.
April 19, 1938

This is a true and correct copy of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.
Issued: August 1, 1967

/Signed/ Harry Owhi
Executive Director