Tribes continue to work toward restoration of Bison Range
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News from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
PABLO. — On Jan. 18 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published its notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan for the National Bison Range, accompanied by an environmental impact statement. In its notice, the federal agency states that the EIS will also look at different management models for the Bison Range, including the Service’s preferred option of congressional legislation that would restore the National Bison Range to federal trust ownership for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes with requirements of continued bison and wildlife conservation, as well as public access.
The Tribes welcome this step, and are pleased that the Service has selected restoration of the Bison Range, and subsequent Tribal management of the bison and other natural resources, as its preferred choice in this evaluation of management alternatives. The Tribes look forward to cooperating with the Service with respect to both the CCP and the EIS.
“We look forward to cooperating with the Service in its preparation of a comprehensive conservation plan, including evaluation of Bison Range restoration,” said Tribal Chairman Vernon S. Finley. “We have received a great deal of positive feedback from the public on our draft legislation to restore the National Bison Range to federal trust ownership for the Tribes. The Tribes look forward to the day when we can extend our record of natural resources management to the Bison Range, including its bison that descend from the herd managed by Tribal members a century ago.”
The Tribes’ draft Bison Range restoration legislation has been supported by numerous conservation organizations, including: National Wildlife Federation; Sierra Club; Natural Resources Defense Council; Montana Conservation Voters; Headwaters Montana; and the Mission Mountain, Flathead, and Five Valleys Audubon chapters.
While pleased with FWS’ announcement, the Tribes expect to continue our independent efforts to advance our draft Bison Range restoration legislation after the public meeting and comment period we held last summer. Our revised draft legislation, copies of all of the public comments, and Tribal responses to comments, can all be found at http://
