ketchikan indian corporation constitution official:1979 signed in 1981

8/7/2019 Ketchikan Indian Corporation Constitution OFFICIAL:1979 signed in 1981

1/10

CONSTITUTIONOF THE

KETCHIKAN INDIAN CORPORATION

PREAMBLE

/ - ; } - : ) -? , I

We, the Alaska Natives having a common bond o f res idence inKe t ch ikan, Gateway Borough, Sta te of Alaska, do orda in andes tab l i sh t h i s amended Cons t i tu t ion and the accompanying amendedBy-laws in accordance with , and by au thor i ty o f , Sect ion 16 o fth e Act of Congress of June 18, 1934 (48 Sta t . 984, 25 U.S.C. 476) , and Sect ion 1 of the Act o f Congress of May 1, 1936 (49S t a t . 1250, 25 U.S.C. 473a).

ARTICLE INAME

The name of t h i s Corporat ion i s the Ketchikan Indian Corporat ion ,herea f t e r re fe r red to in t h i s Cons t i tu t ion and the By-laws as theCorporat ion.

ARTICLE I IMEMBERSHIP

The members o f t h i s Corporat ion s ha l l be Alaska Natives andpersons who qua l i fy as an "Ind ian" under 19 of th e Act o fCongress of June 18, 1934 (48 St a t . 988, 25 U.S . C. 479), or anysuccessor s t a tu t e t h e re t o , o r who a re recognized as a member ofan "Indian Tribe" o r "Indian organ iza t ion" by the government oft he Unite d S ta t es of Amer i ca r e s id in g in th e Ke tch i r:a n Ga t ewayBorough. Add i t i o n a l requirements fo r acqu i s i t i on and r e te n t io nof mem bership ma y be se t fo r t h in the By - laws .


2/10

Sect ion 1 . Number a nd Term.

ARTICLE I I ICOUNCIL

The governing body of t h i s corpora t ion s ha l l be a Counci lcomposed o f not l e s s than f ive nor more than f i f t e e n membersof the Corporat ion. The number of Counci l members and t h e i rterms of o f f i c e s h a l l be presc r ibed in the By - l aws. The Bylaws may also provide fo r the e l e c t i on of Counci l members inc las ses of no t le ss than three members fo r terms of no t morethan f ive yea r s .

Sect ion 2. Trans i t iona l Rule .

Un til otherwise provided in the By-laws, th e Counci l s ha l lbe composed of e igh t members. F ive Counci l members s ha l l bee lec ted a t the annual meet ing a t which t h i s amended Const i tu t ion i s approved, to replace th e t h re e members whose termsa re then exp i r ing . The th ree whose terms are not expi r ing

2

s ha l l serve u n t i l the nex t annual meet ing. Of the f iveelected as provided above, the one with the fewest votess ha l l serve a one-year term and the o ther four s h a l l servetwo-year terms. At each annual meet ing t he rea f t e r , u n t i lchanged by t he By-laws, four Counci l members s h a l l be e lec tedeach fo r the two-year term.

Sect ion 3. Elec t ions and Vacancies .

Counci l membe r s s h a l l be e lec ted by t he membership of th eC o r p o ~ a t i o n except the By -law s ma y pe rm i t the Counci l tof i l l 'acancies occu r r ing by reason of incapac i ty , d eath10 " - JS : i . : _ ( _ ,..... . ~ : . _ ' . c _ ,_by a s o n cf an Inc re ase ln the number 0- CODnc i l members,or removal by the membershlp , sha l l be f i l l ed by vote o i themembership a t a r eg u l a r or spec ia l meeting.


3/10

Sect ion 4 . Off ice r s .

The Council s h a l l e l e c t from among i t s members a Pres iden tand a Secretary , and may e l e c t such o ther o f f i c e r s , who neednot be members of the Council , as may be ca l led fo r in theBy-laws. The Pres iden t s ha l l be th e ch ie f execut ive o f f i c e rof the Corpora t ion .

Sec t ion 5. Meetings; Action Without Meeting.

The Council s ha l l meet a t such t imes and p lace s , and withsuch n o t i ce , as are provided in the By-laws. The By-lawsmay permit meet ings to be held by simultaneous te lephone o rradio communication, and they may also permi t act ion to betaken by wri t t en consent of a l l Council members withoutmeet ing .

Sect ion 6. Quorum.

A major i ty of the number o f Council members f ixed by theBy-laws s h a l l cons t i tu te a quorum for the t ransac t ion ofbus iness . The a c t of a major i ty of th e Counci l memberspresen t a t a meeting a t which a quorum i s p r e s en t s h a l l bethe ac t of the Council .

Sect ion 7 . Removal.

Council members may be removed by the Council only fo rnonat tendance a t three or more r egu la r Counci l me e t ings Inany six-month per iod . A counci l member ma y be removed from

3

off i ce by th E membe r s h io o f the t i o ~ w it h or witho u tc c. E: C: J c. - I ( ~ ~ _ 2-.. ; . ' I \. : ., .::


4/10

)

Sec t io n 8. By- laws.

The Counci l may adopt , amend, and revoke By-laws fo r th egovernance of the Corpora t ion in m a t t e r s n o t covered by t h i sC o n s t i t u t i o n . No change in th e By- laws s h a l l be e f f e c t i v e

4

if it i s i n c o n s i s t e n t wi th t h i s Co n s t i t u t i o n o r u n t i l it hasbeen app roved by th e S e c r e t a r y of th e I n t e r i o r o r h is d es ig n ee .

Se c t i on 1 . Annua l .

ARTICLE IVCORPORAT ION MEETI NGS

An annua l meet ing of the members o f th e Corpora t ion s h a l l beheld a t a t ime a nd p lace s p e c i f i e d in th e By-laws fo r thepurpose o f e l e c t i n g the app rop r i a t e number o f Counci l member sand t r a n s a c t i n g such o t h e r b u s in es s as ma y prope r ly COffiebe f o r e th e meet ing .

Se c t i on 2. Sp ec i a l .

Sp ec ia l meet ings o f th e membership may be c a l l e d by r e s o l u -t ion o f the C o u n c i l o r by p e t i t i o n o f a t l e a s t 5 p e r c e n t o fth e members o f record o f t h e Co rp o ra t io n , to be he ld a t at ime and p l a c e and fo r t h e purpose s p e c i f i e d in th e r e s o l u -t ion o r p e t i t i o n .

Se c t i on 3. Not i c e .

Wr i t t e n n o t i ce s t a t i n g th e d a t e , p lac e , a n d time o fme e ti ng s h a l l be d e l i v e red o r mai led n o t l e s s t ha n 10 n ormo r e than 50 day s be fo r e t he d a te o f th e meet ing to each

the n o t i c e s h a l l 21so s t a t e th e p u ~ p o s p or purposes fo rwhich th e meet ing i s c a l l e d .


5/10

J

Sect ion 4. Members of Record.

Only members of record of the Corpora t ion are en t i t l ed tonot ice of and to vote a t any annual or spec i a l meet ing . Amember of record i s a member who has a t t a ined the age ofmajor i ty under the laws of the St a t e o f Alaska and whosename and cur ren t address are on f i l e with the Secre ta ry ofthe Council . I t i s the r e s pons ib i l i t y of each new member toinform the Secre ta ry in wri t ing o f h is or her name andcur ren t address , and of each ex i s t ing member to keep theSecre ta ry informed of h is o r her cu r r en t address . It i s therespons ib i l i ty of the Sec re t a ry to mainta in a list of a l lmembers of record , which s ha l l be open to inspect ion by anymember a t any reasonable t ime. The By-laws may e s t a b l i s hadd i t iona l vot ing requirements fo r members of record .

Sec t ion 5. Quorum

5

The presence of a t l e a s t 10 percen t of the members of recordof the Corporat ion s ha l l be necessary and s u f f i c i e n t fo r thet r ansac t ion of bus iness . A member o f record s h a l l be cons idered to be presen t a t the meet ing if the member a t tendedin person , o r by proxy if the By-laws so provide , or if themember voted by the absentee b a l l o t on any mat te r comingbefore the meet ing . I f a quorum i s n ot presen t when themeeting i s scheduled to begin , the Pres iden t may postponethe meeting to any l a t e r t ime by o r a l announcement to thosepresen t . The ac t of a major i ty of the Corporat ion memberspresen t a t a meeting a t which a quorum i s presen t s ha l l beth e a c t of the membership.


6/10

)

Sect ion 6. Voting.

Absentee vot ing and vot ing by proxy are permi t t ed only ifand as provided in the By-laws. Each corpora t ion member ofrecord sha l l be en t i t l ed to one vote on each mat te r comingbefore the meet ing, excep t t h a t in the e lec t ion of Counci lmembers each corpora t ion member of record s ha l l be en t i t l edto c a s t as many votes as the re are Counci l members to bee l ec t ed , and may d i s t r i bu t e such votes among an y o n e or morenominees.

ARTICLE VPOWERS

The Corporat ion i s a sovere ign Alaska Native t r i b a l organ iza t ion ,recognized and es tab l i shed pursuan t to the laws of the UnitedS t a t e s , and as such possesses imuni ty from a l l su i t s and ac t ionsin law and equi ty . The Corporat ion s ha l l have the fo l lowingpowers, which s ha l l be exerc i sed exc lus ive ly by the Counci l :

6

a) To ac t as the rep resen ta t ive of i t s members in a l lnego t ia t ions , c on t r a c t s , and o ther dea l ings with anyf edera l , s t a t e , o r l oc a l government o r governmentalagency which per t a in to Indian t r i bes o r Indian r ese rva-t ions o r which otherwise a f f e c t the members o f the Corpora t ion;

b ) To purchas e , ta ke , rec e ive , l e ase , or o t herwise acqu i re ,own, hold , improve, use , and otherwise dea l in and with ,r e a l or pe rs o na l p ro p e r t y , or a ny i n t e r es t t her e in ,\7hece".:E'Y t ' }a tE 'd r ~ 2,],"- ] , ~ ' : - : = u J r::.'J 1T ' )se ;


7/10

c) To s e l l , convey, mortgage, pledge , l ease , exchange,t r a ns f e r o r otherwise d i spose of a l l or any p a r t of i t sproperty and asse t s sub jec t to any l imi t a t ions whichmay be imposed by l aw, provided th e same i s donevo lun ta r i ly with th e a pprova l of th e counc i l and, inthe case of a d i s pos i t i on o f a l l o r s ubs t a n t i a l l y a l lof the Corpora t ion ' s asse t s , with th e consent of amajor i ty of th e mem be rs o f records of the Corpora t ionpresen t and vot in g in an e lec t ion a t an annual meetingor a s p ec i a l meetin g ca l l ed fo r t h a t purpose;

d) To preven t the s a l e , l e a se , encumb rance , at tachm en t , oro the r d i spos i t ion of or execut ion upon th e l a nds ,i n t e re s t s in lands , o r o ther asse t s o f the Corpora t ionwithout the consent of the Counci l ;

e) To c u l t i va t e the a r t s , c r a f t s , and cu l tu re of the Cor-pora t ion and i t s members and the Nat ive peop le ofAlaska;

f) To advance and promote the educa t ion , h e a l t h , andgenera l welfa re of i t s members;

g) To employ l ega l counse l , the choice of counse l andf ix ing of fees to be sub jec t to th e approval o f theSecre ta ry of the I n t e r i o r o r h is des ignee ;

h ) To o rgan iz e a n d t o charte r as s ocia t 2- on s of i t s membe r sfo r economic purp os e s a nd to regu l a t e the same;

7


8/10

)

j ) To levy on i t s members dues , f ees , and assessments fo rcorpora t ion purposes , and f ines fo r v io la t ions of i t sru les and regula t ions , to assess charges on non-membersfo r the use of proper ty of the Corporat ion, and toprovide fo r the co l l ec t ion the reo f ;

k) To advise the Secre ta ry of th e I n t e r i o r with regard toa l l appropr ia t ion es t imates fo r f edera l pro jec t s fo rthe b e n e f i t of the Corporat ion pr io r to the submissionof such es t imates to budgetary a u thor i t i e s and toCongress;

1) To p ro t e c t and preserve the proper ty and na tu ra lresources of the Corpora t ion;

m) To d i s t r i bu t e any o r a l l proper ty of the Corporat ionequa l ly to a l l members or members of record of thecorpora t ion ; and

n) To exercise such o th e r powers as may be delega ted tothe Corporat ion by i t s members or by the United Sta teso r the Sta te of Alaska or any agency the reof .

Sect ion 1 . Equa l i ty .

ARTICLE VIINDIVIDUAL RIGHTS

8

The Council sha l l n ot r e s t r i c t or in any way abr idge t her i gh t s of i t s members under the Cons t i t u t i o n s of the U n i ~ ~Sta tes or the Sta te of Alaska. AJ l membcrE of r e c o r ~ of ~ h e p a r t i c i p a t e lrJ a n ( ~ enjo:" t.h e c-r:: : - r l ' T c - e ~ ' : : - c " r ~ - t . y . ar.o e r . e ~ j t so f t h i s Corpora t ion .


9/10

".

Sect ion 2 . Nont rans fe rab i l i ty .

The r i g h t of a Corporat ion member to par t i c i pa t e in andenjoy the resources , proper ty and b e n e f i t s of t h i s Corporat ion s ha l l not be subject to a l i e na t ion , encumbrance, ort r a ns f e r in any manner.

ARTICLE VIIAMENDMENT

This Cons t i tu t ion may be amended by a major i ty vote of themembers of record of the Corporat ion presen t and vot ing in ane lec t ion a t an annual meeting o r a spec ia l meeting ca l l ed fo rt ha t purpose; provided, however, the t o t a l vote c a s t as suche l ect ion s ha l l n ot be l e s s than 30 pe rcen t o f members en t i t l ed tovote . No amendment s ha l l become e f f e c t ive u n t i l it has beenapproved by the Secre ta ry of th e I n t e r i o r o r h is des ignee .

CERTIFICATION OF ADOPTION AND APPROVAL

We, the undersigned, do hereby ce r t i fy as fo l lows:

9

1. The above-wri t ten Cons t i tu t ion i s a va l id and e f fec t iveCons t i tu t ion adopted and amended pursuant to Sect ion 16o f the Act of Congress of June IS , 1934, and Sect ion 1of the Act o f Congress of May 1 , 1936. I t conta insamendments to th e Cons t i tu t ion and By-laws of theKetchikan Indian Corpora t ion . The Cons t i tu t ion ana Bylaws o f Ketchikan Indian Corpora t ion were i n i t i a l l yapproved by Oscar L. Chapman , Ass i s t an t Secre ta ry ofthe I n t e r i o r , on Dece .ber 20, J939 , s rd w ~ r e p t e ~ bv


10/10

4,.. . . ,. , j10

2. This Cons t i tu t ion , as amended, was adopted by a major i tyvo te of the q u a l i f i ed vote r s o f th e Ketchikan Ind ianCorpora t ion vot ing a t an e l ec t i o n ca l l ed fo r t h a tpurpose by th e Juneau Area Direc to r o f th e Bureau o fInd ian Affa i r s , ac t i n g on beha l f of the Sec re t a ry o fth e In t e r i o r , he Id o n ..::J:..;a""n:..:...:::uc:::.::r:....Yl--..:::l:..;6'--________19 79 , a t which e l e c t i o n a t l e a s t 30 p e r c e n t of thosee n t i t l e d to vote did vo te . The vote a t such e l ec t i o nwas in favor o f , and ag a in s t , th eadopt ion of th e Cons t i tu t ion as amended.

3. This Cons t i tu t ion , as amended, i s hereby approved onb eh a l f of the Sec re t a ry o f th e I n t e r i o r , to be e f f e c t i v e as o f t he date o f r a t i f i c a t i o n . A ll ru les andregu la t ions promulgated by th e Department o f th eI n t e r i o r o r by the Bureau o f Ind ian A f f a i r s , o r by thep red eces so r o f e i t h e r , so f a r as they may be incompat-i b l e with any of th e prov i s ions o f t h i s amended Const i t u t i o n , are hereby dec lared i n a p p l i c a b l e t o th e KetchikanInd ian Corpora t ion . A ll o f f i c e r s and employees of th eDepar tment o f th e I n t e r i o r a re o rd e red to ab ide by th eprov i s ions o f t h i s C o n s t i t u t i o n .

January 22, 1981Date

i /' - f2 t f -

Date)"-

a D i rec t o rInd ian A ffa i r s

I n E ~ e c t o of r l e c t i o n s

< $ j ~ c . ~ Chairman of the Meeting

ketchikan indian corporation constitution official:1979 signed in 1981

Documents