Tribes complete dam purchase

The Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes officially took ownership of the Kerr Dam on Sept. 5 and celebrated with a mixture of happiness and sorrow, completing plans that were set in motion 30 years ago.

As people took their seats in the Joe McDonald Health Complex at the Salish Kootenai College, a video was projected with pictures, interviews, and historical footage highlighting the long process of ownership transference. Among the interviews with 1980s Tribal council members, Teresa McDonald spoke of the nature of the dam acquisition. “This is unprecedented in Indian country,” she said. Current tribal council chairman Vernon Finley was also among the interviews shown. “It is a time of great happiness and great sorrow,” Finley said. “We are regaining what we lost…we have a great responsibility.”

Drumbeats sounded as the procession of people— composed of current and former council members, elders, dancers, and dam officials—made their way to the front of the gymnasium, and took their seats.

Above the stage, a huge banner hung with a picture of the Kerr Dam and the words “A people of vision” printed across the top.

The procession ended and the speakers took their places.

CSKT communications director Rob McDonald introduced everyone to the event. “We’re finally here,” he said.

Sophie Pierre came up to the podium and asked everyone to bow his or her heads for the opening prayer.

“We’re proud of what we’ve done,” Pierre said. “We’re proud of our parents.”

Vernon Finley spoke to the crowd and praised the foresight and vision of the 1980s tribal council as well as the elders of years past. Specifically, that money was saved and put aside over the years to purchase the dam. The official price was $18.2 million.

“The money has transferred,” Finley said. “There’s no turning back.”

Finley referred to the historical footage shown of the Kerr Dam’s construction and completion. He expressed that the CSKT’s ownership is more of a reclaiming of a natural resource that is spiritual to the tribes.

Finley specifically pointed to the 1980s tribal council and praised their vision. “They put it in motion for us to be here,” he said. “We owe them everything.”

The dam has now been renamed Salish Kootenai Dam. “We have decided to rename it after the new owners,” Finley said.  

Energy Keepers, Inc. has paid the price of $18.2 million to purchase the Kerr Hydroelectric Project from NorthWestern Energy.

Energy Keepers is the corporation of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes responsible for acquiring the Kerr Project, and subsequently managing operations upon ownership of the hydro facility.

“We paid the conveyance price, and Northwestern accepted,” said Brian Lipscomb, CEO of Energy Keepers. “Under the contract that was negotiated thirty years ago, today we can rest assured that both parties have performed, in good faith, and both Energy Keepers and Northwestern Energy have met their obligations— allowing the Tribes to become owners of Kerr Dam.”

The dam, which sits in the Flathead River just miles from Polson, was built in the 1930s. “The Tribes have remained focused on owning Kerr because our community made great sacrifices for the dam to exist,” Lipscomb said. “Officially, we owned title to the dam on September 5, but already from a practical standpoint, we have entered the marketplace and Energy Keepers has already sold the majority of power expected in Fiscal Year 2016.

“Our work has involved intensive preparations to get to this point.”

have covered our bases, and understand that the world is watching us as the first Tribes in the nation.

We are ready for this. After years of thoughtful planning, decades of preparing, and lifetimes of living near, but yet without access to this important resource, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are managing and operating the Kerr facility.”