Daines: Montana Tribes' Voices Must Be Heard in the Implementation of the Cobell Settlement

Press Release

Representative Steve Daines is working to ensure Montanan tribes are treated fairly and have their voices heard as the Department of Interior implements the Land Buy Back Program for Tribal Nations authorized as part of the landmark Cobell Settlement.

At Daines' request, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs today held a hearing entitled "Implementing the Cobell Settlement: Missed Opportunities and Lessons Learned."

During today's hearing, Daines called for the Department of Interior to cooperatively work with Montana tribes and address the systemic problems that have led to delays and persistent challenges during the implementation of the Land Buy Back Program.

"Fractionation makes economic development and access to essential services extremely challenging. Navigating federal government bureaucracy becomes even more complex. The Land Buy Back Program has provided Indian Country with a means to improve their future," Daines stated during today's hearing. "However, as we have heard today, the program is not working and the hope in Indian country is turning into frustration. When I toured several of the reservations in Montana at the beginning of this year, implementation of the Land Buy Back Program was the highest issue of concern for most tribes. When every tribe is experiencing similar challenges, we know the problems must be systemic."

Daines also welcomed two Montana tribal leaders to today's hearing, who testified at Daines' invitation about the challenges Montana tribes have experienced during the implementation of the Land Buy Back Program.

Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribal Councilman Grant Stafne and Fort Belknap Tribal Council President Mark L. Azure spoke to the economic impact of the Land Buy Back Program and the frustrations that have developed due to the lack of transparency and delays in the program's implementation.

"The settlement of the Cobell litigation presents the United States with the opportunity to accomplish great good: provide redress for Indian land owners who were victims of the Interior Department's failure to provide an accounting of IIM accounts and for some mismanagement of Indian trust resources, reduce fractionated Indian land ownership, and attempt to redress the negative results of the General Allotment Act through restoration of tribal land bases that will promote Indian self-determination, strengthen and advance the economic security of tribal communities, and fulfill the United States' trust responsibility to Indians," Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribal Councilman Grant Stafne stated in his testimony. "Unfortunately, the Cobell Settlement was developed without Tribal consultation or input despite the significant impact the settlement would have on Tribal lands."

Fort Belknap Tribal Council President Mark L. Azure described the detrimental impact that delays in the implementation of the Land Buy Back Program have already had on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation.

"If we could administer the purchase program, local jobs will be created. The services needed to support these administrative efforts will support local businesses. Purchase funds will go to individuals who often are unemployed otherwise. Their families and extended families will all benefit, as will local businesses. Tribal government will benefit from the lease and use of lands purchased," President Azure stated."But none of this is happening now, as the process the DOI is implementing is uncommunicative and ignores Tribal input."

Daines also commended Subcommittee Chairman Don Young for committing to fix the problems that exist within the Land Buy Back Program implementation, whether through working directly with the Department of Interior or by moving forward legislation.

In February, Daines requested an oversight hearing to fully examine the land buy back program implementation process and urge the U.S. Department of Interior to conduct the plan in a just and fair manner. Daines called for oversight and transparency as the U.S. Department of Interior works with Montana's tribes to implement the program.

The Cobell Settlement provided for the resolution of individual Indian claims to land and funds held in trust. This settlement called for a one-time payment of $1.9 billion to fund an Interior Department program to consolidate highly fractionated interests of Indian lands into tribal ownership.

Highly fractionated trust land is difficult and costly for individual Indian land owners and the Department of the Interior to manage, holding back potential opportunities for Tribes to make effective land-use decisions and manage land for economic development and resource development. In Montana, large amounts of highly fractionated Indian lands are in mineral-rich areas like the Bakken oil formation or Powder River Coal Basin.

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