Montana voters on Tuesday rejected a ballot initiative that would have restarted a mining practice opposed by the Fort Belknap Indian Community.

With almost all results posted, voters rejected Initiative 147 by a vote of 126,464 to 125,223. Poll watchers had predicted the measure's defeat late Tuesday.

The Assiniboine and Gros Ventre tribes on the Fort Belknap Reservation opposed the initiative. They said resumption of open-pit cyanide leach mining would destroy the environment. They pointed to abandoned mines near the reservation that polluted water and destroyed a sacred site.

Voters on the reservation county of Blaine rejected the measure nearly 2 to 1. Results from Phillips County were not posted.

In other election news, Democrat Brian Schweitzer easily won the governor's race over Republican Bob Brown. Schweitzer is the first Democrat to win the state's top office in 20 years. He will replace Republican Judy Martz, who decided not to seek re-election after one term. She had a lukewarm relationship with tribes after visiting every reservation early on in her term.

Get the Story:
Montanans reject plan for cyanide mining (The Billings Gazette 11/3)
Voters reject mining initiative (AP 11/3)
Schweitzer victorious (The Great Falls Tribune 11/3)
Schweitzer takes decisive victory (The Billings Gazette 11/3)

Montana Election 2004:
2004 Unofficial Non-Legislative General Election Results

Relevant Links:
Fort Belknap Indian Community - http://www.fortbelknapnations-nsn.gov

Related Stories:
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Judge won't resolve tribal claims in gold mine case (07/02)
Montana tribes take battle over gold mines to court (05/04)
Fort Belknap Tribes sue over abandoned gold mines (01/30)
Mont. tribes fight to clean up old gold mines (11/18)
Mont. tribes sue over cleanup of mines near reservation (10/29)
Mont. mine cleanup bill killed for losing teeth (03/28)
Mont. mine cleanup bill clears one hurdle (3/27)
Mont. tribal members want mines cleaned up (03/19)
Mont. tribes offer mine tours (05/30)
Tribes plan to challenge mine plan (5/6)
Mont. tribes want mine cleanup (5/3)
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Fort Belknap tribes push mine cleanup (10/1)
Mont. tribes lose mining auction (9/5)