Jim Cason, the associate deputy secretary at the Interior Department, is optimistic the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes can reach an agreement to manage some functions at the National Bison Range in Montana. The tribe is currently negotiating a new agreement at the range. But a tribal spokesperson said Interior has made some offers that don't respect self-governance. "We're talking about a law that has us manage ourselves and run programs that are suited to the land, the culture, the people and the needs of the refuge," spokesperson Rob McDonald told the Associated Press. "All they're offering to do is hire a couple of Indians." Cason said both sides should be able to reach an agreement so long as they knock the "chips off their shoulders." However, he testified against a bill that would expand the self-governance program at a House Natural Resources Committee hearing yesterday. The tribe's management of some functions the range has been controversial. A conservation group and some Interior employees say the tribe hasn't been doing a good job. Get the Story:
'Fertile Ground' at Bison Range (AP 11/9) Committee Notice:
Full Committee Legislative Hearing: H.R. 3994 (November 8, 2007) Get the Bill:
Department of the Interior Tribal Self-Governance Act (H.R.3994) 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 Related Stories:
House Resources hearing on self-governance bill (11/8)
DOI cutting herd, staff at National Bison Range (4/12)
NPR: Tribal management at bison range in Montana (03/05)
Tribe's role at bison range faces numerous probes (02/13)
Top DOI officials visit Bison Range in Montana (1/24)
Montana tribe hopes for new bison agreement (01/03)
Montana tribe to fight for bison range contract (12/13)
DOI cancels tribe's contract for National Bison Range (12/12)
Montana tribe seeks full control of bison range (11/22)
Bison Range employees complain about tribe (10/19)
Report looks at tribal bison range management (07/31)
Hearing planned on tribe's bison range agreement (03/17)
Bison range agreement affects six federal employees (02/09)
Tribal refuge agreement hailed as positive step (12/16)
Montana tribe to sign wildlife refuge agreement (12/15)
Burns holds 'veto' over bison range agreement (12/15)
Changes proposed in tribe's role at bison range (12/06)
Senator seeks delay to tribe's bison range contract (11/01)
Editorial: Let tribes control their own destinies (10/26)
Tribe's management at bison range protested (10/19)
Tribe's management at bison range will save money (10/14)
Montana tribe takes questions on role at bison range (09/16)
Some still question tribal role at National Bison Range (09/10)
Montana tribe to manage some duties at bison range (9/8)
Group doesn't want tribe to manage bison refuge (07/21)
Agreement reached on bison range management (07/01)
Campbell warns BIA's Anderson of 'Washington' attitude (05/13)
Alaska tribes sign agreement for refuge services (05/03)
Campbell says agencies afraid of helping tribes (04/30)
Campbell bill to address contract support costs (4/28)
Tribal bison range talks continue (10/9)
Talks on tribal takeover of bison range continue (09/08)
New York Times: Tribes can manage bison range (9/3)
Opposition attacks tribal takeover of bison range (9/2)
Tribal agreement on bison range not ready yet (08/04)
Report: Don't let tribes manage bison range (07/17)
Tribal takeover of bison range draws attention (07/08)
Talks on tribal takeover of bison range to continue (07/03)
DOI tribal contracting policy in dispute (6/16)
Group opposing tribal control of park units (6/10)
Tribal members defend takeover of bison range (6/4)
Group opposes tribal takeover of bison range (6/2)
Tribal takeover of bison range moving forward (05/20)
DOI wants Mont. tribe to manage bison range (5/16)
