I must respond to the article, “Back on the
range?” (HCN, 7/7/03). The Confederated Salish and Kootenai
Tribes were paid TWICE for the land that became the National Bison
Range: Once at $1.56 per acre in the early 1900s, and again in
1971, when the tribal government successfully sued the federal
government and won something in the range of $22 million to $26
million for the Bison Range and other property. Both reimbursements
were fair market value at the time. All taxpayers paid for the
National Bison Range.
The public hearing mentioned in the
story attracted scientists, authors and wildlife conservationists
who spoke at great length and with sincere conviction that to
privatize and localize NATIONAL wildlife refuges and NATIONAL parks
would be a detriment to wildlife and its fragile habitat.
In 1982, the Tribal Council voted to end their attempt to manage
their own wild bison range on 2,500 acres, and sold the bison by
sealed bid, according to a local newspaper. Now, the tribe wants to
take over the National Bison Range, and tribal members have
proposed a new and expanded entrance to the National Bison Range
with an extensive parking lot, visitors center, Native American
museum and retail complex. This is in a place where millions of
migratory birds nest and where bison, elk, deer and pronghorn live
and birth their young.
For something as serious as
turning over of the management of our water, wildlife and natural
wonder treasures, all American citizens must demand extensive and
public debate.
Susan Campbell Reneau
Missoula,
Montana
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Don’t give bison range back to tribes.
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