Post by Okwes on Feb 23, 2007 22:16:51 GMT -5
Tribe told it can't manage bison range anymore By MATT GOURAS
www.helenair.com/articles/2006/12/12/ap-state-mt/d8lv04301.txt
<http://www.helenair.com/articles/2006/12/12/ap-state-mt/d8lv04301.txt>
HELENA, Mont. - Federal wildlife managers abruptly canceled an interim
plan that has allowed the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes a role
in managing the National Bison Range in northwestern Montana, a tribal
official said Monday.
Tribal spokesman Rob McDonald said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
told the Salish-Kootenai it was revoking the agreement immediately,
citing concerns over tribal ability to do the work. The agency also told
the tribes it would not move forward with negotiations for a permanent
management agreement.
"Apparently it means the tribes are out," McDonald said.
The Fish and Wildlife Service said it is terminating the joint
management plan "effective immediately."
"The performance of the tribes under the annual funding agreement, their
execution of the work for which we are paying them, is insufficient,"
agency spokesman Matt Kales said.
Two years ago, the tribes and the federal agency reached an interim
agreement that allowed the tribes to take on some management
responsibilities at the federal bison range. It lies within the Flathead
Indian Reservation.
<http://adsys.townnews.com/c51690441/creative/helenair.com/+big/58840.gi\
f?r=http://www.bigskyresort.com/> The agreement expired at the end of
September, but the two governments had agreed to continue honoring it
while anticipating negotiations aimed at producing a permanent
management plan.
Last month, the tribes submitted a proposal seeking full management of
the 19,000-acre bison range. The proposal came just months after release
of a performance report that indicated some of the work for which the
tribes were responsible was not done.
The joint management plan has been controversial from the start.
Environmentalists worried tribal management could lead to reduced
stewardship. And earlier this year, employees at the range complained of
mistreatment.
A fax transmitted Monday afternoon told the tribes to "immediately cease
performing all activities" at the bison range and to withdraw all
employees from the site. The fax said the tribes had failed to perform
work properly and had created a hostile and intimidating work
environment.
Kales said he would not comment on specifics of the personnel issues.
The agency's fax cited a "work environment characterized by harassing,
offensive, intimidating, and oppressive behavior on the part of
employees of the (tribes), including obscenity, fighting words, and
threats of violence and retaliation."
Kales said there have been many issues surrounding tribal performance.
The contract was reviewed extensively by agency directors who decided to
terminate it, he said.
"The decision was made by the highest levels of leadership at the Fish
and Wildlife Service," Kales said.
McDonald said indications that the tribes were being forced out led to a
heated exchange last week between Tribal Council Chairman James Steele
Jr. and Steve Kallin, manager of the bison range.
The Fish and Wildlife Service said the confrontation had nothing to do
with terminating the agreement.
McDonald said the tribes are meeting to consider any options for gaining
control over management of the range, which was established in 1908 on
Indian land.
"It was land we watched pulled from our fingertips," McDonald said.
The Salish-Kootenai maintain that they should manage the land to which
they have historical ties, and that they are best prepared to tell
visitors about the bison and American Indians.
www.helenair.com/articles/2006/12/12/ap-state-mt/d8lv04301.txt
<http://www.helenair.com/articles/2006/12/12/ap-state-mt/d8lv04301.txt>
HELENA, Mont. - Federal wildlife managers abruptly canceled an interim
plan that has allowed the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes a role
in managing the National Bison Range in northwestern Montana, a tribal
official said Monday.
Tribal spokesman Rob McDonald said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
told the Salish-Kootenai it was revoking the agreement immediately,
citing concerns over tribal ability to do the work. The agency also told
the tribes it would not move forward with negotiations for a permanent
management agreement.
"Apparently it means the tribes are out," McDonald said.
The Fish and Wildlife Service said it is terminating the joint
management plan "effective immediately."
"The performance of the tribes under the annual funding agreement, their
execution of the work for which we are paying them, is insufficient,"
agency spokesman Matt Kales said.
Two years ago, the tribes and the federal agency reached an interim
agreement that allowed the tribes to take on some management
responsibilities at the federal bison range. It lies within the Flathead
Indian Reservation.
<http://adsys.townnews.com/c51690441/creative/helenair.com/+big/58840.gi\
f?r=http://www.bigskyresort.com/> The agreement expired at the end of
September, but the two governments had agreed to continue honoring it
while anticipating negotiations aimed at producing a permanent
management plan.
Last month, the tribes submitted a proposal seeking full management of
the 19,000-acre bison range. The proposal came just months after release
of a performance report that indicated some of the work for which the
tribes were responsible was not done.
The joint management plan has been controversial from the start.
Environmentalists worried tribal management could lead to reduced
stewardship. And earlier this year, employees at the range complained of
mistreatment.
A fax transmitted Monday afternoon told the tribes to "immediately cease
performing all activities" at the bison range and to withdraw all
employees from the site. The fax said the tribes had failed to perform
work properly and had created a hostile and intimidating work
environment.
Kales said he would not comment on specifics of the personnel issues.
The agency's fax cited a "work environment characterized by harassing,
offensive, intimidating, and oppressive behavior on the part of
employees of the (tribes), including obscenity, fighting words, and
threats of violence and retaliation."
Kales said there have been many issues surrounding tribal performance.
The contract was reviewed extensively by agency directors who decided to
terminate it, he said.
"The decision was made by the highest levels of leadership at the Fish
and Wildlife Service," Kales said.
McDonald said indications that the tribes were being forced out led to a
heated exchange last week between Tribal Council Chairman James Steele
Jr. and Steve Kallin, manager of the bison range.
The Fish and Wildlife Service said the confrontation had nothing to do
with terminating the agreement.
McDonald said the tribes are meeting to consider any options for gaining
control over management of the range, which was established in 1908 on
Indian land.
"It was land we watched pulled from our fingertips," McDonald said.
The Salish-Kootenai maintain that they should manage the land to which
they have historical ties, and that they are best prepared to tell
visitors about the bison and American Indians.