Top DOI officials visit Bison Range in Montana

Wednesday, January 24, 2007  

Four top Interior Department officials are at the National Bison Range in Montana to discuss management issues between the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and federal employees.

Associate deputy secretary Jim Cason, Bureau of Indian Affairs director Pat Ragsdale and two other officials met with tribal and federal employees to discuss the working environment at the range. Ever since the tribes signed a contract to handle some duties, there have been tensions between the two parties.

The federal employees have accused tribal employees of creating a hostile working environment and of not fulfilling their duties. That led the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to abruptly end the tribal agreement.

A couple of weeks later, Cason reversed the decision. Interior is talking with tribal officials in hopes of resolving the situation.

Get the Story:
Federal officials arrive at National Bison Range (The Missoulian 1/23)

Evaluation Report:
Implementation of the Annual Funding Agreement (May 2006)

Relevant Links:
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes - http://www.cskt.org
National Bison Range - http://bisonrange.fws.gov
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility - http://www.peer.org

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