Council Dispatch #166     May 25, 2023

 

Glacier National Park Conservation

 

  • Representatives from the GNPC met with council for a meet and greet. The group will be going on field trips today. Tribal members do not need to make vehicle reservations to visit Glacier National Park. Chairman McDonald asked the board to keep in mind the Bison Range and the effects of recreation on tribal lands. The Tribes plan to build a new Visitor Center at the top of Ravalli Hill, which would provide a great opportunity to educate visitors. Tom asked the board to consider any partnerships with the CSKT. The council was invited to join in the field trips this afternoon and dinner tonight at 6:00 p.m.

 

Natural Resources Department

 

  • There was discussion about options for the 2023 bison culling operations and the possibility of selling bison to other tribes. The Nez Perce Tribe would like to start a bison herd. Chairman McDonald’s priority is to bring in enough revenue to offset costs to be sustainable, and he suggested having a separate subsistence herd. Shannon Clairmont will work with the Tribal Lands Department and Economic Development Office on the process for establishing a separate herd.

 

Division of Fire

 

  • Council was briefed on phase 1 of the White Swan project, which is the work on the ground with the non-Indian landowners on Rocky Point. Council reached consensus to proceed with phase 2.


Financial Management

 

  • Council approved by resolution modification 12 to the fiscal year 2023 Total Allocations Budget. Carole Lankford requested a report on where the Tiwahe funds were allocated.  Greg will follow up and report back.

 

Food Sovereignty

 

  • Council took action to approve the letter for the chairman’s signature.

 

Shoreline Protection Board

 

  • Council conducted interviews and took action to accept the results of the ballots and appoint Mark MacDonald to fill the nonmember position and Jule Brueggeman to fill the tribal member position.

 

S&K Mission Management

 

  • Council approved a modification to Task Order 11 with SKMM for the Arlee Powwow Grounds project, to add an additional $288,320.25 due to revised pricing, for a total contract amount of $369,084.67.

 

  • Len TwoTeeth requested an update on the Elmo Powwow Grounds. Len would like to purchase a storage shed for a first-aid station. Kyle Felsman will be following up on the project to include the modifications.  The initial paving project will move forward.

 

Indian Preference Office

 

  • Council approved a project specific agreement with the Montana Department of Transportation for the Bridge Underwater Inspection Term Contracts 2022-2024 project. The Sloan, Mission Creek, and Perma bridges are included in the project.

 

         

Natural Resources Department

 

  • Council approved by resolution the Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance and Emergency Response Plan. The draft plan was provided to both Culture Committees. Comments were received by the Kootenai Culture Committee, but the staff did not receive a response from the Salish Pend d’Oreille Culture Committee.  The draft plan went out for public comment and no comments were received.

 

  • Council approved the 2023-2024 Tribal Member Little Money Bighorn Sheep Regulations. The draft regulations went out for public comment and no comments were received.

 

  • Council approved the 2023-2024 Tribal Member Ferry Basin Elk Harvest Seasons and Regulations, with corrections.

 

  • Council approved the 2023-2024 Tribal Member Moose Harvest Seasons and Regulations.

 

  • Council approved the 2023-2024 Tribal Member Gray Wolf Trapping and Harvest Regulations.

 

  • Council granted a collection permit to the University of Montana and W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation to investigate the effect of co-infection on the disease dynamics of Sin Nombre Hantavirus in wild deer mouse populations. Nontribal members will be required to purchase a recreation permit. The staff will continue providing updates/results of the studies.

 

  • Council took action to go with the staff recommended quotas of 30 bull elk, and the bighorn sheep at 6 rams and 3 ewes.

 

  • Council took action to authorize the department to apply for a grant from APHIS in the amount of $93,000. The funding will be used to pay a portion of the staff time for the Seasonal Technicians and Biologist to respond to degradation and Chronic Wasting Disease.

 

DKC Public Relations Agency

 

  • PBS will be having a screening event on June 8 for the Ken Burns film The American Buffalo documentary that was shot on location at the Bison Range. The Tribal Council was invited to attend the screening.  The film will premiere in October.

 

 

NOTE:  The official Council Minutes will contain more complete details about lengthy discussions and should be considered the official record of Council. Dispatches are written from notes taken live and may occasionally contain partial information, over-simplified characterizations or an occasional error. Council reviews and corrects the draft minutes before approving as the official record.  Comments (both affirmations and concerns) are part of change and are expected and encouraged. Along with any specific comments, please also share what you would like to hear more about in upcoming communications. The email address for comments is: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..