Thursday, November 16, 2006
From Alan Rowland in 1977 "We're In a Bad Habit of Breathing Fresh Air"
NORTHERN CHEYENNES AND CLASS ONE AIR
TRIBAL CHAIRMAN ALAN ROWLAND. 1976
In August of 1976 Northern Cheyennes again were in the headlines for challenging the construction of two additional 700 million watt coal fired generating plants at Colstrip 15 miles from the reservation., where the pollution from two such plants already in operation is clearly evident.
On August 23 the Great Falls Tribune reported that the Cheyennes might hold the trump card in this increasingly complicated fight, via their petition to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) for redesignation of the air quality standard from the existing Class II to Class I, an unheard of prerogative.
“The petition means,” said Tribal Chairman Allen Rowland, “that we’re in a bad habit of breathing fresh air and we want to continue to do so.” Billings Gazette, Aug 22 1976.
“My own personal feeling is that I don’t think Congress should say, “Your air should be like this -- this number two. Everyone should be able to choose the kind of air they have to breathe.” (High Country News, July 16, 1976.)
The Cheyenne petition is the first of its kind in the country. At this time it appears the petition will be approved despite strong opposition from the mining interests, and from the Crows who wish to see mining development proceed (Environment Reporter, April 29 and May 6, 1977) although effective enforcement of its provisions will entail a grim and continuing battle (cf. Conoway1973; Gold 1974; Jospehy 1973; Smith 1975; and Northern Cheyenne Research Project 1976 and 1977.)
Rowland has also, to the utter amazement of the Cheyennes’ Montana naighbors, offered to purchase in the name of the tribe the nearly community of Decker (along with Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, which was in the spring of 1977 talking about secession from its own state government. )
“We would like to buy Decker and incorporate it into the Northern Cheyenne Reservation,” he said, pointing out various benefits which might accrue to Decker from such an action.
“For instance we could conceivably extend our proposed Class One air designation to your area.”
Decker need no longer be “a resource colony of the State of Montana.” The tribe could reactivate time tested procedures long utlilzed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Indians by issuing Certificates of Competency to all eligible Deckerites:
“Those unable to meet this test will be under our utmost supervision in all financial matters, to insure their continual well-being.” Full tribal membership for Decker residents would not be possible, but a schedule whereby some might attain full voting rights could be considered.
In closing, he extended the purchase offer to the secession-minded residents of Martha’s Vineyard of Massachusetts.
“We believe our special stutus is flexible enough to offer the same protection to that beleagured island” (Billings Gazette, April 6, 1977.)
from Margot Liberty 1980 The Symbolic Value of the Little Big Horn in the Northern Plains
pp. 121-136 in Ernest L Schusky ed., Political Organization of Native North Americans Washington, University Press of America
TRIBAL CHAIRMAN ALAN ROWLAND. 1976
In August of 1976 Northern Cheyennes again were in the headlines for challenging the construction of two additional 700 million watt coal fired generating plants at Colstrip 15 miles from the reservation., where the pollution from two such plants already in operation is clearly evident.
On August 23 the Great Falls Tribune reported that the Cheyennes might hold the trump card in this increasingly complicated fight, via their petition to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) for redesignation of the air quality standard from the existing Class II to Class I, an unheard of prerogative.
“The petition means,” said Tribal Chairman Allen Rowland, “that we’re in a bad habit of breathing fresh air and we want to continue to do so.” Billings Gazette, Aug 22 1976.
“My own personal feeling is that I don’t think Congress should say, “Your air should be like this -- this number two. Everyone should be able to choose the kind of air they have to breathe.” (High Country News, July 16, 1976.)
The Cheyenne petition is the first of its kind in the country. At this time it appears the petition will be approved despite strong opposition from the mining interests, and from the Crows who wish to see mining development proceed (Environment Reporter, April 29 and May 6, 1977) although effective enforcement of its provisions will entail a grim and continuing battle (cf. Conoway1973; Gold 1974; Jospehy 1973; Smith 1975; and Northern Cheyenne Research Project 1976 and 1977.)
Rowland has also, to the utter amazement of the Cheyennes’ Montana naighbors, offered to purchase in the name of the tribe the nearly community of Decker (along with Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, which was in the spring of 1977 talking about secession from its own state government. )
“We would like to buy Decker and incorporate it into the Northern Cheyenne Reservation,” he said, pointing out various benefits which might accrue to Decker from such an action.
“For instance we could conceivably extend our proposed Class One air designation to your area.”
Decker need no longer be “a resource colony of the State of Montana.” The tribe could reactivate time tested procedures long utlilzed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Indians by issuing Certificates of Competency to all eligible Deckerites:
“Those unable to meet this test will be under our utmost supervision in all financial matters, to insure their continual well-being.” Full tribal membership for Decker residents would not be possible, but a schedule whereby some might attain full voting rights could be considered.
In closing, he extended the purchase offer to the secession-minded residents of Martha’s Vineyard of Massachusetts.
“We believe our special stutus is flexible enough to offer the same protection to that beleagured island” (Billings Gazette, April 6, 1977.)
from Margot Liberty 1980 The Symbolic Value of the Little Big Horn in the Northern Plains
pp. 121-136 in Ernest L Schusky ed., Political Organization of Native North Americans Washington, University Press of America
