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Show I - Of 35916-S? UN? 7 ED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFICE OF !ND»N AFFAIRS FIEUJ SERVICE Uintah & Ooray Agency / August 12, 1937 \ \ f~> Port Du«he,saa, Utah / ^ Comnissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington, D. C. Sir: ' Q Zi ^ *i Z x US --. \ A \ x. I have been asked by the Indians of this reservation, particularly representatives of the Uintah Band, to write the Office concerning the Act of Congress of May 15, 1936, {49 Stat. 1272) which authorized the payment of $161,400 to the Confederated Bands of Ute Indians. In connection with this subject, kindly rsfer to Office letter of June 23, file reference above, which among other things, listed the proportions of this payment which were to be received by the various bands of Confederated Ute Indians. It will be noted that the Uintah Band of Indians does not participate in this payment according to the account which is explained in the above mentioned letter. Please be advised that the Uintahs wish to inform the Office that they do not care to interpose any objections to this proportionment and do not want to stand in the way at any time of the payment to the Uncompahgres and the Tfhlterivers of their shares of these funds. The general impression has prevailed for more than a year that when these oil shale lands are paid for, that the payment would be made on a per capita basis. Hence, the people who are entitled to this payment are disappointed to hear that the funds are to be deposited in the Treasury to their credit and not to be paid out per capita. It is the understanding of this office that a per capita payment cannot be made even though all the members of the Uintah Band are reconciled to non-participation in the payment without authority from Congress in the form of additional legislation. If this understanding is correct, it is the desire of the Uncompahgre and Whiteriver Indians of this reservation that steps be taken to obtain such authority from Congress and thet a per capita payment be made rather than an expenditure of these funds for the purchase of lands or for other tribal land reservation developments. If action on this matter is required by the Tribal Business Committee in order to request a per capita payment of these oil shale land funds, kindly advise step by step the procedure the Tribal Business Committee should follow. Respectfully yours, ~C.yy^ C. C. Wright, CCWtmc Superintendent. |
