Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D) hailed the selection of Donald "Del" Laverdure, a member of the Crow Tribe, as the principal deputy assistant secretary for Indian affairs. "As Governor, I have had the opportunity to work with Del Laverdure in his role as chief legal counsel to the Crow Nation," Schweitzer said. "He will be sorely missed in Crow Country and all across Montana." Laverdure helped the tribe finalize a water rights settlement with the state and worked with the state to promote the tribe's coal energy project. He'll now be working in Washington, D.C., as the top deputy to Larry EchoHawk, the head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. "Although in his new mission in the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Del will bring strong legal expertise in tribal governance and Indian law to the table that can help advance federal Indian policy and further federal-tribal relations across America," Schweitzer said. "The Obama administration is very fortunate to have him on board." Related Stories:
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