Bison and Tribes left in
the cold
Fish and Wildlife Service terminates negotiations
By Kim Swaney
MOIESE - Negotiations for the Fiscal Year 2007
Annual Funding Agreement with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and
the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes for the National Bison
Range Complex were terminated Monday, December 11, along with the
FY2006 AFA extension that was approved by FWS on September 5, 2006.
In an unanticipated letter received by CSKT late
Monday afternoon from the FWS Prairie Mountain's regional director
Mitch King, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes were ordered to
vacate the premise by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, return all FWS property and to
withdrawal all tribal employees, contractors and volunteers acting on
behalf of the Tribes.
The Service's decision to terminate negotiations
as described in the regional office letter, were based upon the FWS'
allegations of the Tribes' initial and extended performance
deficiencies - deficiencies that CSKT Natural Resource's department
head Clayton Matt said were either remedied or could have been
resolved, had it been communicated to the Tribes.
"We've always known that the Fish and Wildlife
Service didn't want us there," said Clayton Matt. "We were never given
any opportunity to rectify problems."
FWS cited that CSKT employees and volunteers
failed to comply with FWS' bison management standards, in addition,
that CSKT employees created a work environment characterized by
harassment, offensiveness, intimidation and oppression.
"Those [allegations] are being handled by the EEO
department because they involve civil rights," said Matt Kales, public
relations for FWS. When Char-Koosta News asked about the working
conditions at the NBR, Kales concluded that he was not at liberty to
discuss those issues.
"We've had birthday parties and everyone had cake
and ice cream. We talked and laughed together every day. We talked
about kids, cats, family things - that's not harassment," said a
disheartened Sheila Matt, the tribal coordinator at the National Bison
Range.
Tribal officials and tribal bison range employees
attempted to console one another on Tuesday morning after hearing media
reports regarding the termination of the AFA.
"I am amazed that everything being said in the
media is so one-sided," said T.J. Haynes, a tribal maintenance worker
at the NBR. "Monday morning when I took the USA Today people up to the
corral, [FWS] they had padlocked the gate with a combination lock,"
Haynes said. Last Friday, there had only been a padlock in which Haynes
had a key because he and a 22-year veteran FWS contract employee had
been feeding the corralled bison since October. But, CSKT was
relinquished of that duty (bison feeding) last Thursday in a separate
letter from deputy regional director Jay Slack, citing the Tribes
inability to care and feed bison as instructed.
A sometime tearful Sheila Matt told members of the
press, "I asked my people to come back to work - every one of them
wanted to quit at least once, but they came back every day." Matt who
has managed other programs within the tribe and in the northwestern
region, including 11 years of management with natural resource
conservation said, "Everything that happened to my staff and myself
went against everything I've been taught. When we had one of our tribal
holidays, in our staff meeting, [a FWS employee] asked, 'What Chief
died now?'" Matt said FWS often referred to them as "You people."
On Friday, Dec. 8th, Tribal Chairman James Steele,
Jr., made an unannounced visit to the National Bison Range to view the
64 corralled and "starving" bison that FWS alleges went underfed from
November 22 - November 29. Chairman Steele repeatedly attempted to
address NBR Project Leader Steve Kallin regarding the mediocrities. A
disgruntled chairman left the corrals after approximately 10 minutes.
"It is just maddening to me to see how you guys
put up with this," Steele told the tribal NBR staff on Tuesday. "I am
proud of you and your accomplishments."
It's not over yet however, as tribal officials
vowed to appeal the FWS' actions. "This is one more chapter in the
National Bison Range," stated Brian Upton, Tribal Attorney. Tribal
officials questioned whether the FWS' actions follow federal policy
afforded to the Tribes by the Indian Self-Governance Act. The Tribes
have a right to contract for services at the bison range because of the
cultural, geographical and historical significance the NBR and the
bison have with the Tribes.
"What department in the country can over-turn
federal law? We have a right to contract," said Lloyd Irvine, Pablo
District Tribal Council Representative during Tuesday's Tribal Council
meeting.
Meanwhile back on the range, 64 bison are still
waiting to be taken to other refuges in North Dakota and Iowa. This
fall, prior to the annual round up, NBR officials opted to relocate the
excess bison rather than to utilize the traditional bid letting usually
done late summer. However, according to Matt Kales, the two refuges
that will eventually be utilized needed infrastructure improvements,
including adequate fencing and water.
The tribal staff was told by the biologist last
year that they don't want to feed the bison in close proximity because
it's a vector for disease transmissions. In the meantime, the bison are
still being fed in a corral full of feces and urine with no indication
from FWS officials of when a move will take place.
The Tribal Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to
retain the tribal displaced NBR staff and to make an effort to place
the employees in other vacant positions within the tribal organization.
Words of praise from the Tribal Council members
provided little relief to the devastated tribal team. "The irony is our
ancestors put that herd there. We're not done, it's not the end, it's
only the beginning," said St. Ignatius Tribal Council Representative
Ron Trahan. Most of the Tribal Council reiterated the same sentiment.
"I haven't seen the Tribal Council this galvanized
on an issue...my blessings and thanks to you," offered Polson Tribal
Council Representative Steve Lozar.
Dixon Tribal Council Representative E. "Sonny"
Morigeau, told the tribal staff he was a different kind of person, he
wouldn't have put up with it.
After the Tribal Council meeting, the tribal team
of six met with reporters for more questions and comments. During the
summer months, there are up to 16 tribal employees at the NBR. During
the winter months, there are only five employees.
"I learned a lot in 21 months; learning about the
bison and what they do. The Round up was the ultimate joy," lamented
Haynes.
Shannon Clairmont, a tribal wildlife biologist
praised Haynes and the rest of the maintenance crew for helping the
biologist's program. "I respect these guys. They did a ton of work. And
during the Round up, yeah, it's the highlight. My experience, politics
aside, was the greatest experience in the world," Clairmont said.
Sherry Clairmont, who is the most seasoned worker,
grew up on a ranch near Ronan, rode horses and helped raised beef. "I
loved my job. Working with the bison was a great opportunity to be as
one with them, to walk with them, it's an experience you never forget.
The kindness and strength the buffalo have - their abilities - I felt
proud to stand there with them. I know they came with our ancestors and
they'll be there tomorrow," expressed Sherry.
Telephone calls to Steve Kallin and the Prairie
Mountain Regional office in Denver were not returned as of press time
Tuesday.
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