Blackfeet Members Invited to Tribal Constitutional

Reform Workshop October 17^th in Seattle

Browning, MT and Seattle, WA —October 12^th,2009— The Blackfeet Constitutional Reform Committee (BCRC) http://www.blackfeetvoice.org/ invites all Blackfeet Tribal and Community members to a presentation and workshop to discuss changes to the Tribal Constitution.

The meeting is Saturday, October 17^th, 2009 at The Java Stop, 8914 Aurora Ave. North Seattle, Washington, 98103 from noon - 6pm. Food will be provided.

“This is part of our ongoing effort to include as many Blackfeet Tribal members as possible in the process of restructuring our Tribal government,” said Greg Gilham, Chairman of the BCRC. “Our Tribal Constitution has been problematic for nearly 75 years and in 2008 the electorate overwhelming said it is time to fix it. We need all the input we can get from Tribal members to get it right this time.”

“For the Blackfeet, there is no more important issue on the table than Constitutional reform,” added Councilman Rodney “Fish” Gervais. “We have a proud past, and to make the bright future we want for our children we must have a governmental structure that protects individual rights while enabling and fostering rapid and durable progress.”

The mission of The Blackfeet Constitution Reform Committee is to identify the concerns, views, inputs, and suggested solutions of the Blackfeet People in order to develop an effective Blackfeet Constitution that will contribute and enhance the success and lives of the people of the Blackfeet Tribe.

Specific BCRC goals are:

• To educate the Blackfeet public about the Constitution and how it relates to them.
• To encourage the Blackfeet public to form ideas, views, and concepts of how they would like the Constitution changed.
• To provide the Blackfeet public with outlets to express views, ideas, and concepts.
• To encourage the Blackfeet public to participate in community meetings and forums.
• To develop a new Constitution or Amendments in accordance with the will of the Blackfeet public.
• To hold a secretarial election so the Blackfeet public may vote on proposed changes to the Constitution.

About the Blackfeet. With 16,000 enrolled members, we are the largest Indian tribe in Montana and one of the largest tribes in the United States.  Our rugged, picturesque 1.5 million acre (3,000 square mile) reservation in Montana has a population of about 10,000, including 8,500 enrolled Blackfeet and several hundred Blackfeet descendents.   The other 7,500 Tribal members are scattered all over the world. Our largest town and seat of government is Browning (population 3,500, including surrounding areas).  Other towns include Heart Butte, Blackfoot, Starr School, Babb, Saint Mary, Kiowa, and East Glacier. Visit our website at www.blackfeetnation.com