Post by Okwes on Jun 3, 2007 15:28:05 GMT -5
Little Shell Chippewa Tribe may secure land for the first time in 100 years
By CHELSI MOY
Tribune Capitol Bureau
Feb. 14, 2007
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(http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070214/NEWS01/7)
02140304/1002/021
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HELENA - Plans are under way to give the landless, federally-unrecogniHELE
Little Shell Chippewa Tribe something it hasn't had in more than a century
-- a
home.
Negotiations are under way between state and tribal leaders to have the
Little Shell take responsibility for renovations of the Morony Dam townsite
northeast of Great Falls and perform routine maintenance to the nearby
walking
trail for the next decade.
In return, the state promises to consider donating the land to the tribe at
the end of the contract. "It's something we've not had since 1892: a
homeland, a place to conduct our tribal affairs," said Little Shell Vice
Chairman
James Parker Shield.
Although the availability of land is good news to some, it doesn't resonate
well with all tribal members.
Future negotiations will move forward without Shield's participation.
Shield, the tribe's primary spokesman, submitted his letter of resignation
Monday
following a disagreement with the tribal chairman over whether the tribe
could
financially commit to long-term maintenance of the state park.
"We've had a falling out over a difference of opinions," said Tribal
President John Sinclair, who indicated that it wasn't until "way late in the
game"
that he learned of Shield's negotiations with the state.
Shield, whose resignation is effective as of Saturday, disagrees. "I thought
this was discussed and decided that we would go for it," he said.
Regardless, Gov. Brian Schweitzer's Chief Policy Advisor, Hal Harper, is
excited to move forward and calls the proposed land exchange a win-win
situation.
Not only would the tribe acquire land, but the state wouldn't have to
continue to pay for maintenance of the building in the townsite in the face
of
increased vandalism, FWP Director Jeff Hagener said.
Estimates to repair the damages to the rickety brick building range anywhere
from a $500,000 to $1 million, Hagener said.
"It's hard to be out there all the time," Hagener said. "We don't have the
money to put into it. (Morony) is not a high priority for us."
The Little Shell tribe is headquartered out of a shopping mall in Great
Falls. Negotiating a land deal at Morony Dam was "one of my pet projects,"
said
Shield, who envisioned moving the tribe's headquarters there.
"It needs water and septic improvements,"It needs water and septic imp
collapsing on one corner. Other than that, it's a good building."
The tribe would also be responsible for about 30 acres of land, which
includes the historical Sacagawea Springs.
The Legislature tabled a bill that would hand the Little Shell $500,000 and
the rights to use and maintain the Morony townsite.
Hagener put the brakes on the bill, saying FWP doesn't have that kind of
money. He instead offered $10,000 to the tribe to use to pay a grant writer
to
find financing for the project through grants, foundations, corporations or
donations.
Sinclair said he needs to weigh the cost-benefit of maintaining the land
before he can determine whether to move forward.
"We are not desperate to have the site," Sinclair said. "Our financial
situation is not good. If it became a huge financial burden to us, the value
would
disappear."
Shield said he would be disappointed if the land agreement fails. He would
hate to see a good opportunity fall to the wayside because of friction among
tribal leaders, he added.
"You can only have one leader," Shield said. "It was becoming awkward for
him (Sinclair) that I was getting a lot of public notice. Sometimes that can
turn into friction."
Sinclair said he intends to appoint Ronald Doney as a temporary replacement
for Shield.
Rep. Shannon Augare, D-Browning, is sponsoring the bill that would allow the
land lease agreement to take place.
Although the bill is tabled in the House Fish, Wildlife & Parks Committee,
Augare plans to insert new language into the bill in the next week that
reflects the negotiations of the contract reached between tribal leaders and
the
governor's office. The committee, chaired by Rep. Mike Milburn, R-Cascade,
will
then likely vote on the bill again.
By CHELSI MOY
Tribune Capitol Bureau
Feb. 14, 2007
__http://www.greatfalhttp://wwwhttp://wwhttp://wwhttp:
//www.ghttp://wwwhttp://w_
(http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070214/NEWS01/7)
02140304/1002/021
(_http://www.greatfalhttp://wwwhttp://wwhttp://wwhttp://www.ghttp://wwwhttp://
http://www.greathttp:/_
(http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070214/NEWS01/702140304/1002/) )
HELENA - Plans are under way to give the landless, federally-unrecogniHELE
Little Shell Chippewa Tribe something it hasn't had in more than a century
-- a
home.
Negotiations are under way between state and tribal leaders to have the
Little Shell take responsibility for renovations of the Morony Dam townsite
northeast of Great Falls and perform routine maintenance to the nearby
walking
trail for the next decade.
In return, the state promises to consider donating the land to the tribe at
the end of the contract. "It's something we've not had since 1892: a
homeland, a place to conduct our tribal affairs," said Little Shell Vice
Chairman
James Parker Shield.
Although the availability of land is good news to some, it doesn't resonate
well with all tribal members.
Future negotiations will move forward without Shield's participation.
Shield, the tribe's primary spokesman, submitted his letter of resignation
Monday
following a disagreement with the tribal chairman over whether the tribe
could
financially commit to long-term maintenance of the state park.
"We've had a falling out over a difference of opinions," said Tribal
President John Sinclair, who indicated that it wasn't until "way late in the
game"
that he learned of Shield's negotiations with the state.
Shield, whose resignation is effective as of Saturday, disagrees. "I thought
this was discussed and decided that we would go for it," he said.
Regardless, Gov. Brian Schweitzer's Chief Policy Advisor, Hal Harper, is
excited to move forward and calls the proposed land exchange a win-win
situation.
Not only would the tribe acquire land, but the state wouldn't have to
continue to pay for maintenance of the building in the townsite in the face
of
increased vandalism, FWP Director Jeff Hagener said.
Estimates to repair the damages to the rickety brick building range anywhere
from a $500,000 to $1 million, Hagener said.
"It's hard to be out there all the time," Hagener said. "We don't have the
money to put into it. (Morony) is not a high priority for us."
The Little Shell tribe is headquartered out of a shopping mall in Great
Falls. Negotiating a land deal at Morony Dam was "one of my pet projects,"
said
Shield, who envisioned moving the tribe's headquarters there.
"It needs water and septic improvements,"It needs water and septic imp
collapsing on one corner. Other than that, it's a good building."
The tribe would also be responsible for about 30 acres of land, which
includes the historical Sacagawea Springs.
The Legislature tabled a bill that would hand the Little Shell $500,000 and
the rights to use and maintain the Morony townsite.
Hagener put the brakes on the bill, saying FWP doesn't have that kind of
money. He instead offered $10,000 to the tribe to use to pay a grant writer
to
find financing for the project through grants, foundations, corporations or
donations.
Sinclair said he needs to weigh the cost-benefit of maintaining the land
before he can determine whether to move forward.
"We are not desperate to have the site," Sinclair said. "Our financial
situation is not good. If it became a huge financial burden to us, the value
would
disappear."
Shield said he would be disappointed if the land agreement fails. He would
hate to see a good opportunity fall to the wayside because of friction among
tribal leaders, he added.
"You can only have one leader," Shield said. "It was becoming awkward for
him (Sinclair) that I was getting a lot of public notice. Sometimes that can
turn into friction."
Sinclair said he intends to appoint Ronald Doney as a temporary replacement
for Shield.
Rep. Shannon Augare, D-Browning, is sponsoring the bill that would allow the
land lease agreement to take place.
Although the bill is tabled in the House Fish, Wildlife & Parks Committee,
Augare plans to insert new language into the bill in the next week that
reflects the negotiations of the contract reached between tribal leaders and
the
governor's office. The committee, chaired by Rep. Mike Milburn, R-Cascade,
will
then likely vote on the bill again.