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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 18 december 2019

Montana tribe's long recognition

struggle clears Congress

By MATTHEW BROWN most speechless that this approved by the House
Associated Press has finally come to fruition last year but later blocked
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — U.S. for us," Little Shell Chair- in the Senate. Tester said
lawmakers granted formal man Gerald Gray said. "Be- a similar measure was the
recognition to the Little sides the dignity part and first piece of legislation he
Shell Tribe of Chippewa us fighting for this for over introduced after being first
Indians on Tuesday and di- 150 years, it's going to pro- elected in 2006. Daines
rected federal officials to vide access to services our and Republican Rep. Greg
acquire land on the tribe's people have never had Gianforte, Montana's sole
behalf, following a de- access to but have always member of the House, also Gerald Gray, chairman of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa
cades-long struggle by its deserved." Providing ser- took up the Little Shell's Indians, speaks during a meeting of the Rocky Mountain Tribal
members scattered across vices to the tribal members cause after taking office.q Leaders Council on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019 in Billings, Montana.
Associated Press
the Northern Plains of the through the Bureau of Indi-
U.S. and Canada. an Affairs and Indian Health
A provision to recognize Service would cost roughly
the tribe and make it eligi- $40 million over five years,
ble for millions of dollars an- or about $8 million a year,
nually in federal assistance the Congressional Budget
was included in a defense Office said in a March re-
bill approved in the Senate port. That figure was based
on a vote of 86 to 8. The on an enrollment of roughly
measure now goes to Presi- 2,600 members, a number
dent Donald Trump to be that Gray said was outdat-
signed into law. ed and too low.
Most of the tribe's more Tribal leaders first petitioned
than 5,000 members are for recognition through
in Montana, descendants the Interior Department in
of Native Americans and 1978. Members trace their
early European settlers. other attempts back to the
They have a headquarters 1860s, when the Pembina
in Great Falls, Montana but Band of Chippewa signed
have been without a rec- a treaty with the U.S. gov-
ognized homeland since ernment.
the late 1800s, when the Recognition was granted
tribe's leader, Chief Little by the state of Montana
Shell, and his followers in in 2000, but denied by the
North Dakota broke off U..S. Interior Department
treaty negotiations with in 2009. Montana U.S. Sen.
the U.S. government. Tribe Jon Tester, a Democrat,
members later settled in said he worked with Mon-
Montana and southern tana Republican Sen. Steve
Canada, but they strug- Daines to convince Senate
gled to stay united be- Majority Leader Mitch Mc-
cause they had no land to Connell to get language
call their own. recognizing the tribe into
Formal government recog- the defense bill.
nition gives cultural valida- "There were no deals cut
tion to a tribe whose mem- here," Tester said moments
bers have long lived on the after Tuesday's vote. "This
fringes of society and were happened because Lead-
sometimes shunned by er McConnell made it a pri-
whites. More practically, it ority."
makes its members, many Daines said the Senate
of them poor, eligible for vote marked a "historic day
government benefits rang- for the state of Montana"
ing from education and and had been one of his
health care to housing main priorities. Legislation
"It's truly amazing. I'm al- recognizing the tribe was