Montana tribe to continue negotiations over role at bison refuge

Thursday, February 10, 2011  

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Montana will start negotiations for a new self-governance agreement at the National Bison Range in Montana.

The tribe's annual funding agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was rescinded by a federal judge. The tribe and the Obama administration appealed but decided to drop the case and focus on the future.

"We want to do it right, and the tribe wants to do it right," Dean Rundle, the bison range manager, told The Missoulian. "We don't want another situation where good people are sent home without jobs because people made a mistake."

The range is located entirely within the Flathead Reservation. The bison herd descends from animals that were raised by tribal members.

Get the Story:
Feds drop legal effort to restore tribal management at National Bison Range (The Missoulian 2/10)

District Court Decision:
Reed v. Salazar (September 28, 2010)

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