Ernest "Bud" Moran retires after a lifetime of service

By Alyssa Kelly

Ernest "Bud" Moran

PABLO — It was a bittersweet day for Bud Moran as he sat in his office chair, packing the only belongings that had connected him to his home while he worked day to day, Monday through Friday. He couldn't help but remember his trials and triumphs of his forty-three year career and wonder where he will go from here. Although the thought had brought a little fear, joy overcame him as he thought of the possibilities. The opportunities his job had once restricted. He could return to the places he used to love as a boy. He could now go back into the woods and live life at it's fullest, as he had once imagined long ago.

"Since my dad was in forestry, I always assumed that's what I would be doing. I liked being in the woods and all of that. I never imagined I would be in an office position. Our people have a real connection to nature that's unexplainable. At some point your job becomes a part of you and that's what people begin to ask you about when they see you. Then you forget to give yourself a little time to go out there. That's a big thing that's lacking in our people these day," says Bud.

"My sixteen years with the tribe has been great. Council, the people on staff, and the people of the community have been great. It's been happy times. I'm happy that I was able to be a part of some of the great success the tribe has been experiencing," says Ernest "Bud" Moran on his recent decision to retire after ten year's with the Confederated Salish-Kootenai's Bureau of Indian Affairs department.

Bud has seen the Salish-Kootenai tribes rise from the beginning. "I remember long before the tribe was really organized and times were tough. There were the families and everything but we weren't really successful in the modern world. At times, there was question of were we going to eat? Survival was a lot harder in those days," he says.

Bud's father worked for the forestry department under the B.I.A when he was a child. "I didn't really pay attention to my dad's profession because as kids, we weren't allowed in adult discussions."

Bud's forty-three year career began in 1958 when he joined the Marine Corp. "It was a good experience but it was scary. I suppose it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be though. I guess every place is only what you make it," he says. After nine years and six months in the service and being honored as a Vietnam veteran, Bud was discharged in 1967. He returned home to the Flathead Reservation.

"I didn't even know about the B.I.A until after I got out of the service. I came back home and I learned all about it though. I found out that the B.I.A was managing all of the Indian affairs and being a baby-boomer, we wanted things to change. I realized that the only way to make a change is to get into the system," says Bud.

Through networking and hard work, Bud became the first credit manager for the Salish-Kootenai tribes. He continued his wok in credit from 1967 through 1972. "The major change in my time with credit was the economic development. Before members were awarded substance (home) loans that worked through the people's per-caps. Council said: 'Let's help the tribes' by building homes for the people.' We had very few loans to offer in those days but I would say we did good." Before his time was finished in credit, the department, which began with little to nothing, had risen to a couple million. "Now they're doing a great job over there."

Following his work in credit, Bud joined the campaign for Montana Governor Judges. "I traveled with him to all reservations and it was interesting," says Bud. He served as a Native American representative for the campaign and helped in communication with the tribes.

Bud began his career in the B.I.A department on the Northern Cheyenne reservation where he worked with their tribal government in credit and business development. He then traveled to the Apache reservation in Nevada to assist in different projects. "I helped the tribes get government ordinance and helped them get in the right direction towards their goals in improving," says Bud.

Bud traveled to California in 1978 and served as a superintendent fuel rights representative in a controversial debate involving the Klamath Yurok tribe. "My main goal was to help alleviate disputes and protect the rights of the tribe," he says. Following his work in California, he served as superintendent of the B.I.A on the Northern Cheyenne reservation, the Lapwai reservation, Crow Agency, and in Parker Arizona.

"I was really lucky to have traveled to different reservations and learn from other tribes. Although we are all one people, there are differences that we could learn from each other. I was able to learn how different tribes lived and where they were from. I used that to help them out in that area. You can learn something new everyday. Keep the idea of learning everyday. You just need to keep your ears and eyes open to it," Bud says.

In 1991 Bud returned home to the Flathead reservation and continued his work with the B.I.A department. Although he has been here since, the time has come for him to move on with his life. "I'm going to kick back for a while and go fishing. I love the mountains and I want to go out and enjoy what the Flathead is really all about, freedom and not having to work," he says.

"You know in your heart when the time is right to retire. A lot of baby boomers are retiring and it's ok because the tribe has changed to the way it should be. The leadership of the tribe has to move generation-to-generation-to-generation and it's time for me to make room. We're a proud people and I know that the next generation will continue on just fine. When a staff of people gets discouraged, I tell them: 'the only reason we're here is because there's tribal members out there and we're here to help them," says Bud.

On July 28, there was a tribute held for Bud Moran in honor of his work with the tribes as well as his retirement. The tribute was held in the council chambers and it was a joyous event complete with his family, friends, co-workers and council. Everyone did his or her part in making the event special. The people had baked an abundance of deserts to offer and Bud had received several gifts including a beautiful Pendleton vest. "I want to thank my family for sticking by me all these years and I want to thank council because they have a tremendous staff of people," he says.

Lloyd Irvine, Carole Lankford, Rueben Mathias, Mike Kenmille, Joe Durglo, Ron Trahan and Sonny Morigeau joined Bud's retirement honoring (Alyssa Kelly photo).