The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Montana will manage parts of the National Bison Range under an agreement reached with the Bush administration.

The tribes have been seeking a greater role in the range, which is located entirely within reservation boundaries. Tribal leaders have been negotiating an agreement for more than two years.

Details of the arrangement could be released as early as today. They could follow a similar agreement made with Alaska Native tribes for the management of a wildlife refuge.

Non-Indians and some conservation groups have opposed tribal involvement. They claim the tribes will discriminate against non-Indians, eliminate jobs and make other changes not possible under federal management.

Get the Story:
Bison Range agreement reached (The Missoulian 7/1)

Relevant Links:
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes - http://www.cskt.org
National Bison Range - http://bisonrange.fws.gov
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility - http://www.peer.org

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