Judy Gray named new BIA superintendent at Crow Reservation

FORT BELKNAP AGENCY — Nearly 20 people arose at a luncheon attended by more than 100 others recently to heap praise upon and to thank departing Fort Belknap Agency Bureau of Indian Affairs Superintendent Judy Gray for the good she accomplished during more than 30 years of working at various positions on the reservation.

Deputy Superintendent Myrna Shortman credited Gray with many accomplishments during her years at Fort Belknap, but cited two specific benefits she provided the tribes during her nearly four years as superintendent.

The first was freeing up the largest SDA (special deposit account) in the United States and releasing more than $1 million in lease money owed to tribal members by the federal government.

The second was advancing the oil and gas rights of reservation landholders.

Shortman also characterized Gray, a member of the Salish Tribe of the Flathead Indian Reservation, as a freedom fighter and praised her for her interest and participation in Nakoda (Assiniboine) and White Clay (Gros Ventre) culture and cultural activities.

Among the many others who spoke of Gray’s accomplishments and giving nature and who shared humorous and not-so-humorous stories was Fort Belknap Indian Community Council President Julia Doney.

“It’s a happy day to see one of our community members moving on,” Doney said. “She is a gift to the Crow from our community.”

“Whatever she did, it wasn’t for her own personal interests,” Doney added, “it was for the community. Thank you (Judy) on behalf of the Nakoda and White Clay tribes.”

Gray, who is moving on to become BIA superintendent at Crow Agency (effective April 27), became superintendent at the Fort Belknap Agency in 2005.

Gray’s temporary replacement at Fort Belknap will be Jim Montes, BIA liaison with the Chippewa Cree Tribe on Rocky Boys Reservation.

Gray said she would keep her home near the (Fort Belknap) Agency and was taking none of her furniture. Her husband, Emery, will remain behind, as well, a fact that solicited a tongue-in-cheek call from his brother- and sister-in-law Jack and Dolores Plumage for the community to keep tabs on him for Judy.

All of the praise and gratitude expressed at the luncheon wasn’t just of a professional nature, though.

“Anytime I had a personal crisis, Judy was the one I called,” Doney said. “Eddie (Doney’s husband) and I are very grateful to Emery and Judy for being uncle and aunt to our boys. I want to publicly say thank you from our family and our home and our children.”

Doney said she would continue to seek Gray’s help even though Gray will be at Crow.

“Anytime we need it, I’m sure shell give us her knowledge and expertise,” Doney said.

In presenting Gray with a star quilt on behalf of the tribe and tribal council, Doney said, “Thank you, Judy, and we love you.”

Dolores Plumage, Blaine County commissioner for District I that includes Fort Belknap Reservation, said Gray, her younger sister, was a source of family strength from the earliest age.

One of Gray’s family roles growing up in St. Ignatius, Plumage said, was taking care of family finances. Gray continued that role, Plumage said, when she first became a social worker at Fort Belknap more than 30 years ago.

“She’s my little sister, taking care of families, she’s always had that role, Plumage said. “Now it’s up to all of us to keep an eye on (Emery).”

Plumage and Gray met their husbands, both Fort Belknap tribal members, while attending school at the University of Montana in Missoula.

Gray described her husband, Emery, as “My chosen one because of his ability to laugh and to make me laugh.”

Gray shared the story of her professional career, her ups and downs, her disappointments and the doors that opened as a result of others closing.

“I had to change I didn’t want to be mad, to be bitter,” she said, adding that she often asked God in prayer either to shut the door to her career choices or to make it easy for her to pursue and acquire them.

In closing, Gray shared her mantras with those who had come to honor her. Among those creeds were: God is a loving God; life is beautiful; be good to people; stay true to ourselves; keep your word.

Gray added that when a person has a good relationship with people he or she should preserve it, which is what she said she is doing with the Fort Belknap community.

“Our home will be here; I’m not moving my furniture,” she said. “This is my last lap.”