Montana Governor Releases 2007 Tribal Relations Report

9/27/2007 -- (HELENA) – Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer today released the 2007 Tribal Relations Report to commemorate "American Indian Day." "American Indian Day" has been designated in Montana and across the Nation as the fourth Friday of September. The full text of the Report is available online at http://gain.mt.gov/reports.asp. The Report showcases the accomplishments of the State of Montana and Indian Nations in working together during the course of the 2007 state fiscal year (July 2006 – June 2007). There were nearly 500 cooperative agreements and programs in effect between the State and Tribal governments during the fiscal year, covering every aspect of governmental operations, including economic development; the delivery of human services; environmental stewardship; cooperation on finance and justice issues; and education.

These accomplishments include:

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• the appropriation of $1.6 million in grants for Indian economic development;
• the recommendation by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council for the disbursement of $18 million in funding to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to purchase land and conservation easements in the Flathead Basin;
• the employment of nearly 600 tribal members, with over $3.4 million in wages going into reservation economies, for road construction and repair projects;
• the signing of a groundbreaking Medicaid Agreement between the State and the Chippewa Cree Nation, the first of its kind in the country;
• the signing of the first Class III gaming compact between the State and the Fort Belknap Indian Community Council;
• the appropriation of fifteen million dollars by the State as part of the overall water rights compact settlement with the Blackfeet Nation; and
• 119 Indian appointments to State boards and commissions contributing their voice to state governance.

"I am honored to celebrate American Indian Day with the release of the 2007 Tribal Relations Report. The Report makes clear that we have moved into a new era with the First Montanans, based on strong government-to-government relationships," said Governor Schweitzer.

Source: Montana Governor