Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana), the chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, at a May 21, 2014, hearing. Photo from Flickr

Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana), the chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, held a listening session on Thursday to discuss human trafficking in Indian Country.

The energy boom in the Bakken energy region has contributed to a rise in sexual violence, domestic violence and other crimes, participants said. Problems have been seen in Montana and North Dakota, where much of the development occurs, but also in South Dakota.

“Because of our proximity to the Bakken oil field ... we are already seeing the negative effects of oil and gas development without any financial benefits,” Chairman Rusty Stafne of the Fort Peck Tribes in Montana, said during the listening session, the Associated Press reported.

“Washington has been quick to promote the exploitation of natural resources, but slow to provide the necessary funding for the increased demand on our services and infrastructure,” he added, the AP said.

U.S. Attorney Mike Cotter of Montana said sex traffickers are targeting Native girls. In South Dakota, he said half of the victims have been Native girls.

The listening session was held at the Fort Peck Community College.

Get the Story:
Officials: Spike in crime, human trafficking related to Bakken drilling (AP 8/29)
Tester gets earful on human trafficking in the Bakken (MTN News 8/28)
Federal grants to aid victims of violence in Bakken region (The Bismarck Tribune 8/28)

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DOJ awards grants to address violence in Bakken energy region (8/27)
Sen. Jon Tester to hold session on trafficking in Indian Country (8/26)