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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2003

Members of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Montana attended a public meeting Tuesday night to defend the tribal takeover of the National Bison Range.

The Department of Interior is preparing to let the tribes manage the range through a government contract. Tribal members questioned whether opposition was based on reality or racism, The Missoulian reported.

Non-Indians voiced objections on various grounds. One said the proposal was "another handout to the Indian people." Another said tribal members "are not accountable for their actions," citing allegations of crimes that have allegedly gone unpunished.

"I am here to show strong support for tribal management," tribal member Joe Dupuis was quoted as saying. "What have we sunk to? Drunken Indians? Handouts? The law isn't what you perceive it to be. We're Americans, too."

Get the Story:
Bison debate heats up (The Missoluian 6/4)

Relevant Links:
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes - http://www.cskt.org
National Bison Range - http://bisonrange.fws.gov

Related Stories:
Group opposes tribal takeover of bison range (6/2)
Tribal takeover of bison range moving forward (05/20)
DOI wants Mont. tribe to manage bison range (5/16)