Proposal To Ban Alcohol On Reservation Set Aside But Topic A Likely Item For Colvilles’ Fall Meeting

Tribal leaders have tabled a proposal to ban alcohol sales on the Colville Indian Reservation.

The tribal business council on Thursday listened to a recommendation from councilwoman Doll Watt supporting an alcohol ban, but took no action, tribal spokeswoman Sheila Whitelaw said.

The council likely will take the subject up again during its fall general membership meeting, Whitelaw said. No date for the meeting has been set.

Watt brought the idea to the council after a presentation earlier this week by tribal members Lou Stone and Butch Stanger.

After the presentation, six of the business council’s 14 members - all of those present - signed a recommendation that a 1950s resolution allowing alcohol on the reservation be rescinded.

That would prohibit the sale of alcohol by businesses located within reservation boundaries.

Whitelaw said there was no discussion on whether the ban would make the reservation completely dry, or if home consumption of alcohol would be allowed.

Stone said the tribe is not trying to hurt alcohol vendors, but needed to do what was best for its members.

The cultural deterioration of Indians can be traced directly to the introduction of alcohol, Stone said.

“We’re not going to spend time blaming the non-Indians,” Stone said. “We’re going to spend our time strengthening our own cultural integrity.”