The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes hope to negotiate a new agreement to share management of the National Bison Range in Montana.

The tribes were handling some functions at the rage under an annual funding agreement. But the Interior Department unexpectedly suspended the agreement last month amid questions about tribal performance and alleged hostility towards non-Indians.

But top Interior officials, including associate deputy secretary Jim Cason, reversed the decision a couple of weeks later. Tribal leaders are confident they can reach a new agreement.

Get the Story:
Tribes confident of a new bison management deal (The Missoulian 1/3)

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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