In a shift from nearly every prior administration, the Bureau of Indian Affairs won't oppose a bill to recognize the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana, a top official said on Thursday.

The tribe was denied recognition through the BIA's regulatory process. But George Skibine, a deputy assistant secretary, said the agency "won't oppose" S. 546, the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act.

"Under the United States Constitution, Congress has the authority to recognize American Indian groups as Indian tribes with a government-to-government relationship with the United States," Skibine told the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

Prior administrations have almost always opposed efforts to recognize tribes through an act of Congress, especially those that already went through the BIA process.

Get the Story:
D.C. hearing 'big step' for Little Shell recognition (The Great Falls Tribune 4/15)
Montana's Little Shell seeks recognition from Congress amid a political split at home (AP 4/14)

Committee Hearing:
HEARING on S. 636, A bill to provide the Quileute Indian Tribe Tsunami and Flood Protection, and for other purposes; S. 703, the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership Act of 201l; and S. 546, the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2011 (April 14, 2011)

Related Stories:
Rival Little Shell Chippewa leaders want to testify at hearing (4/13)
Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing on bills on Thursday (4/11)