The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are near an agreement to manage some functions at the National Bison Range in Montana.
The tribes have been negotiating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The lead federal negotiator said an annual funding agreement is all but certain.
The tribe was managing some functions at the range but the agreement was abruptly pulled. Concerns were raised about the tribe's performance and relations with federal employees.
The 17,000-acre National Bison Range is located entirely within the Flathead Reservation. Its herd descends from animals that were raised by tribal members.
Get the Story:A look at the talks over management of the National Bison Range (KPAK 2/7)
Tribes, USFWS continue bison range talks (AP 2/7) OIG Report:
National Bison Range (November 2007) 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:
Talks resume for tribal contract at bison range (1/24)
DOI OIG posts report on National Bison Range (12/13)
DOI resumes negotiations over Montana bison range (12/6)
Cason optimistic on tribal contract for bison range (11/09)
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)
