Seasonal Restrictions

Les Bigcrane, Tribal Wildland Recreation Program, announces the following tribal recreation seasonal closures and openings:

• Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness annual trail closures for pack and riding stock are lifted on July 1st.
   
• The Grizzly Bear Management Zone in the Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness is closed from July 15th through October 1st, unless posted otherwise, including the Ashley Lakes Trail. Both Member and Non-Tribal Member Hunting, Fishing and Recreation Regulations have maps with the closure area.
   
• The Mission Dam Recreation Area and North Crow Creek Campground areas are restricted to 10:00 PM curfews for those people not engaged in hiking, camping, boating, horse riding or fishing activities.
   
• Additional lifting of closures include the use of motorized boats on Flathead River and Dog Lake from March 15 to June 30, with the exception of boats powered by electric trolling motors. This closure is for the protection of nesting waterfowl.
   
• All dogs in the Kicking Horse Reservoir area must be on a leash and under the direct and physical control of a person during the period of April 1 through July 15 of each year. The Kicking Horse area is defined as all Tribal lands within a mile radius of the high water line of Kicking Horse Reservoir. The use of electronic collars does not constitute direct or physical control nor does it constitute a leash.
   
• The use of fireworks at the Blue Bay Camp Grounds is prohibited except at the day-use beach area on the Fourth of July.

For more information on the seasonal recreational lands closures and openings contact Les Bigcrane or Germaine White at 883-2888.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Wildlife Management Program announce the availability of the 2010 Ferry Basin elk and Little Money bighorn sheep hunting permit applications.  The permit applications are available at the Natural Resources Department, 301 Main Street and Division of Fish, Wildlife, Recreation and Conservation office at 406 6th Avenue East in Polson and at the Tribal Complex in Pablo.
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Marijuana remains illegal on Rez - Caregivers could commit felony by selling to Indians

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council has ruled to retain their policy that renders the possession or selling of marijuana a criminal offense. As a sovereign Indian Nation, the Salish and Kootenai government has jurisdiction over tribal members and recognized Indians from other tribes who are within the exterior boundaries of the Flathead Indian Reservation.

The Tribal Personnel Department, Tribal Legal Department, and Tribal Law and Order department consulted with official elder committees representing the Salish and Pend d’ Oreilles, and the Kootenai. The result was a consensus from the Elders that marijuana has no cultural significance and that we as a people have other indigenous means to deal with pain.

After consulting with Lake County Officials, it became clear that the Salish-Kootenai policies could potentially impact non-tribal members should non-Indians provide marijuana to Tribal members and federally-recognized Indians. The Lake County Attorney Mitch Young told CSKT officials that if a marijuana provider supplies a Tribal member with medical marijuana they will be subject to Felony prosecution for distribution charges. Young cautions providers to ask about Tribal affiliation before providing Marijuana.

Like other area governments, CSKT officials have wrestled with the complex issue. After much discussion, CSKT does not embrace a system where medical marijuana can be provided by non-medical staffs who have obtained a provider license. Local law enforcement offers have found many instances where consumers are either convicted felons or have been under investigation for drug use and sales. Some recently have been found to have convictions for manufacturing methamphetamine as well as prescription drug violations, and drug distribution charges in other states.