fort peck assiniboine & sioux tribes

Floyd G. Azure, Tribal Chairman
Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes

fazure@fortpecktribes.org

December 15, 2011

Hello to all of the enrolled members of the Fort Peck Tribes, I am Chairman Floyd G. Azure with an update on your government actions for this week. We got all of the paper work done so that we can move forward with our precapita payment of $225.00 for this year, so it is going to happen on schedule on the 13th of December.

My week at the office was cut short and I was only in the office for three days this week. I had to travel to Helena Montana starting Thursday morning because I had a meeting with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks on Friday morning, so Thursday was a travel day. While I was at the meeting there were alot of people that were there to speak for and against the moving of the Yellowstone Bison to the Fort Peck and Fort Belknap Reservations.

There were more people for moving of the Bison to the reservations then against the move. I thought the meeting on the Bison was going to be first thing in the morning but it seems that most of the people that attended were more worried about what was going to happen with the elk hunting season because that took the entire morning. The issue with the bison only lasted about forty five minutes.

When it started the chairman asked for a motion for the action and a motion was made by our previous Chairman of the Fort Peck Tribes Rusty Stafne for the move. Rusty Stafne was appointed to the commission by Govenor Brian Schweitzer during Rusty's previous administration. The motion was seconded by Director Joe Mauier. When the Commissioner Chairman asked for discussion I asked him if it was alright if he allowed me to speak last so that I would be able to answer any questions. I was given permission to speak last which was a great advantage for me to do it this way. Most of the discussion was about how the Fort Belknap Tribe was not being responsible for their present herd of bison.

No one was there to speak directly against the Fort Peck Tribes but the feeling in the room was that these people that were speaking against the move were against it going to either tribe. I felt that they were saying that if they went to either of the tribes that there would be no control what so ever of the bison. When everyone was done I got to make my presentation and I told them how we have prepared for the bison, with all the work we had done to a range unit that was previously for cattle and how we had upgraded it so that it would be adequate for the bison herd. I also made my case for the bison with how much these animals had played a part in our survival, our religion, our culture, and our history. I also stated that we are willing to care for the bison by making sure that they will survive into the future for our children and our tribal members to utilize as our ancestors did.

I used Stoney Anketel's statement because I liked it and it is exactly how I feel "these majestic animals have sustained our people for thousands of years and it is time for us to pay them back." When I was done with my presentation I asked if there were any questions and the only question was who was responsible for damages it the bison got out and I stated that as long as I am Chairman we the Fort Peck Tribes are responsible for the bison. The commissioners had some more discussion on the way the agreement would be and that before it was implemented that they would have the chance to review the agreement and make sure it is what they want. The chairman then asked for the vote and it passed unanimously, so it looks like my trip was not in vain. We are going to get our bison soon, I have to thank Chairman Rusty Stafne for the part that he played in us getting this passed at the state level, he did a great job in helping this move forward. Thank you Rusty, and thanks to all the enrolled members for letting me represent you for this historic event.

Thank you from Chairman Floyd G. Azure.