Secretary of Interior Meeting with Native American Tribal Leaders

(Original Caption) Smashing traditions of ignoring Indian Tribal Government, secretary of the Interior, Harold Ickes signed and handed to delegates of the Confederated Tribes of the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana, the first Constitution and By-Laws to be issued under the Indian Reorganization Act, passed by the last Congress. The document had been ratified by the Indians at a popular referendum by a vote of 550 to 122. It is the first North American Indian Tribe Constitution ever adopted and the first such Constitution to be approved by the Government in the history of the United States. Left to right here are" Victor Vandenburg, (Chief Bear Track); Martin Charlo (Chief Three eagles); secretary Ickes; John Collier, Indian commissioner, (rear); Joe Blodgett; Chief Koostata; Roy Courville and David Coutere, at Washington, D.C.