The Colville Indian Reservation boasts bountiful natural resources - standing timber, streams, rivers, lakes, minerals, varied terrain, native plants and wildlife - along with friendly people and a number of tourist attractions.
     The Colville Confederated Tribes is a sovereign nation and a recognized American Indian tribe.
     Around 8,700 descendants of 12 aboriginal bands of Indians are enrolled in the tribe, though not all live on the reservation. The reservation was established by presidential executive order in 1872 and originally was twice its present size.
     Colville Indian Reservation's land base covers 1.4 million acres or 2,100 square miles. The reservation straddles Okanogan and Ferry counties.
     The reservation consists of tribally owned lands held in federal trust status for the tribes, land owned by individual Colville tribal members - most of those lands are held in federal trust status - and land owned by others and described as "fee" property. Fee property is taxable by counties and the state.
     The tribe and the reservation are governed by the Colville Business Council, a group of 14 tribal members who are elected to two-year terms. Half of the council is up for election each year.
     Officers and committee chairs are elected from within the council by council members during the annual reorganization in July. Newly elected council members are seated during the reorganization meeting.
     The reservation is divided into four districts: Inchelium, Keller, Nespelem and Omak, each with representation on the council.
     Council members oversee a diverse, multi-million dollar administration that employs 900-1,200 individuals in permanent, part-time and seasonal positions.
     The tribe operates on a yearly budget financed primarily from revenues generated from the sale of tribal timber products, gaming, recreation and other enterprises, and from federal, state and private contributions.
     A business arm, the Colville Tribal Enterprise Corp., oversees several divisions including a gaming arm overseeing three casinos, recreational enterprise, stores, wood products companies and other businesses.
     More information: www.colvilletribes.com.