Bison Range agreement reinstated

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced last Friday their intention to re-establish a working relationship with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes over management of the National Bison Range, reversing an earlier termination of the agreement between the two groups last month.

Under the agreement, the FWS would continue to manage the range while the Tribes would undertake field and maintenance work, animal care and related duties, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Interior.

Although a formal agreement has not been signed yet, the intention to create a new relationship envisions an Annual Funding Agreement for Fiscal Year 2007 that contains essentially the same terms as last year's agreement.

CSKT Chairman James Steele said the Tribes feel vindicated in the matter, after last month's sudden decision on the part of the FWS to abruptly terminate all Tribal management activities.

"For us this is a good thing. We believe our side of the story was considered in the making of this decision," he said.

While the Tribes aren't completely satisfied with the conditions of the agreement, Steele said he was pleased to see FWS "reversing a bad decision."

"That decision on Dec. 11 was supported by baseless allegations against the Tribes," he said. "From our point of view, it's quite telling that we feel vindicated."

Last Friday's announcement came as a surprise to CSKT officials, said Tribal Communications Director Rob McDonald, adding that they didn't hear anything about it until a reporter from Washington D.C. contacted him.

The Tribes had sought eventually to phase in complete control of the Range over the next couple of years, but negotiations for full tribal management of the range have been suspended at this time, according to the FWS press release.

However, Tribal officials were happy that they

"This represents a positive step forward for the partnership, which the Tribes have long endeavored to create," states a press release from the CSKT. "Today, we are pleased to see that the Service's arbitrary action to terminate our negotiations and agreement have been reconsidered. The Tribes would like to thank all of those in our local community, as well as those around the country, who have expressed their support for our presence at the Bison Range."

A spokesperson from the Department of Interior said that the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Dale Hall will be at the Range to discuss the issue further with the Tribes, but a date had not been set as of presstime.