Tribes' role in alleged grievance debated

The media recently gave attention to a released statement by the Washington, D.C. group, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). On Oct. 12, PEER posted a release on its web site that alleged a grievance had been filed by some of the Fish and Wildlife staff at the Bison Range. However, the tribe itself was not the focus of the claim as the media inferred.

Tribal officials have been told of this informal grievance, but have not been told what the exact allegations are. PEER alleges in its press release that several Fish, Wildlife and Game employees filed a claim against the Fish and Wildlife Service for creating a hostile work environment at the Bison Range. The Tribes asked for a copy of the complaints and were denied by the Fish and Wildlife Service. An administrative appeal of the denial under the Freedom of Information Act has been submitted.

In the meantime, tribal officials have informed Fish and Wildlife Service that tribal employees will not be available for questions about the grievance until a copy of the allegations is received.

While details of the complaints have been kept secret, one group seems to have access to information and that's PEER.

PEER is a historic critic of the Tribes' participation at the Bison Range. The PEER press release on the grievance has effectively mobilized the media to report on this information, although, without confirmation of the complaints from the FWS, the accuracy of PEERs' allegations remains questionable.

The CSKT staff at the National Bison Range, however, continues to stay above the fray and get the job done. They recently completed the second successful Annual Bison Round-Up under tribal direction, and are wrapping up the Tribes' second season of work at the Bison Range.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are nearing a new agreement to continue the joint Tribal-Federal management of the National Bison Range. In September, the agreement between the Tribes and the Fish and Wildlife Service expired, but the Tribes have continued to perform duties under an extension of the original agreement, which is authorized under the Tribal Self-Governance Act.