Speeches

Talking Point for Governor Judy Martz
Tribal State Relations Day - Native American Awareness Day
Helena, Montana
September 28, 2001

Check Against Delivery

Thank you for your attendance and participation in today's State-Tribal Relations Forum. This forum reflects the dedication of my office, and of our state's tribes, to establish effective and efficient strategies to enhance state-tribal relations.

I am committed to establishing a strong foundation for the expansion of government-to-government relationships between Indian Nations and the State of Montana. These relationships will be based on direct consultation with tribes on issues concerning Indian Nations.

I am joined here today by many of my cabinet members, who will be directly involved in building and maintaining this foundation and relationship. Those members will be here throughout these discussions to address concerns and questions.

I recognize the unique legal relationship that exists between the federal government and Indian Tribal governments, as reflected in the Constitution of the United States, treaties, federal statues, Executive Orders and numerous court decisions. As domestic dependent nations, Indian Tribes exercise inherent sovereign powers over their members and territory.

The Federal government has an historic trust relationship with Tribes, which requires the federal government to adhere to certain standards in its dealings with Indian Tribes. In this regard, I recognize that the federal government has a longstanding policy of promoting tribal self-sufficiency and economic development as embodied in the various federal statutes.

The proclamation I issued in June of this year also affirms that Montana's Indian Nations and the State of Montana have historical relationships and unique rights shaped by these federal and state constitutions, statutes, and treaties with the State of Montana and the United States of America.

It is critical that we respect those relationships and rights, and to build on them for the betterment of all of our citizens.

I had the incredible opportunity to visit with seven of the eight tribal governments last summer. These visits provided me with the chance to learn about your issues - your opportunities - as we work to build and expand state-tribal relations.

Today's forum represents our continuing efforts to build and expand the government-to-government consultation process.

These efforts have been highlighted by recent visits to two reservations by the Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Health and Human Services, and the State Tribal Relations Committee.

As I visited our state's tribes, I attended community forums on each reservation to discuss issues affecting the delivery of services to tribes through state agencies and departments.

Upon completion of those visits this past summer, I asked members of my cabinet to prepare reports for me that detail their perspective on issues raised with Montana's First Nations Tribal Governments.

I also requested that they provide areas with opportunities to build and expand on our relationship, and to provide success stories regarding those opportunities.

We consistently talk about concerns, problems, and issues to improve state-tribal relations. Today, I would like to start by sharing with you some of the success stories as a result of cooperative state-tribal projects. These examples of progress are the reason that we must remain resolute in solving communication issues.

Our Department of Transportation has worked with all of the Tribes to provide safe and efficient transportation systems. As a part of that process, a Memorandum of Understanding is negotiated up front with each tribal government. The MOU outlines issues including employment, fees, natural resources, legal technicalities and contracts, and how they will be addressed for each project. This process has greatly improved communications regarding tribal highway projects. An outstanding example is the Highway 93 project. Efforts like that could not move forward without open, honest discussions.

Our Department of Commerce has provided training and technical assistance in accessing and using Census Data for research, administration, and planning.

In addition, both our Department of Commerce and Department of Agriculture have provided funding for projects on Indian Reservations including development of food processing centers, tourism projects, museum projects and numerous other economic development opportunities.

These projects are unique because they are requests - either from tribal governments or tribal members - to undertake entrepreneurial activities that fit with the economic goals of tribal members. These projects are truly grassroots efforts to improve the quality of life for citizens living on tribal lands.

Through the Agricultural Sciences Division of the Department of Agriculture, weed prevention and eradication grants are provided from the Noxious Weed Trust Fund to tribes.

Our Department of Military Affairs through the Montana National Guard's counter-drug office conducted Drug Awareness classes on the Crow reservation. On the Blackfeet Nation they are working to improve planning and cooperation between the Tribes, local governments, and the State in overall emergency management.

The state's Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks has developed a successful partnership at Plenty Coups State Park with Pryor School system for summer and after school.

The department's Region 6 personnel have cooperated with tribes on wetland habitat projects, waterfowl hunting, and license quotas. Region 5 staff have worked with the Crow Tribe and the local trout unlimited chapter to install a fish ladder on Soap Creek, tributary on the upper Big Horn river.

The Northwest Power Planning Council supports a sub-basin plan in the Flathead to be developed by the Salish and Kootenai tribe. The plan is being funded through the Council's Fish and Wildlife program. This plan will be used as a guideline for projects that will protect, mitigate and enhance fish and wildlife in the area.

The Department of Corrections is training its officers to become more aware of Native American issues, cultures, and the difference between cultures. The Department has also submitted a grant to finance re-entry options including the funding on a pre-release center on a reservation yet to be named.

The Department of Health and Human Services has a Native American Advisory Council that consists of representatives from all of the Tribes in the state, several urban centers, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Indian Health Service. This council works to provide input and advice to move tribal health issues forward.

In addition to these success stories, our departments have also brought forward a number of opportunities to improve communication and coordination regarding state-tribal relations.

These range from taxation issues and concerns to clarification of matching funds requirements for federal projects and from natural resource development to the permitting process.

Although we must address these issues, the very fact that they are on the table from both the tribal and state perspectives shows that our lines of communication are open.

We have started down the right path, and with continued discussions, we have an opportunity to become an example across the United States for effective state-tribal communications.

I am glad to have Bruce Meyers as my Indian Affairs Coordinator. It is critical that these issues and opportunities maintain a high profile in state government. Bruce is committed to working toward expanded tribal relations, including development of communications strategies that all of our agencies can follow.

The reports we have received from state agencies and tribal governments will provide Bruce and the Office of Indian Affairs with specific issues to address as we move forward. We are committed to resolving issues and concerns, and we hope to add to the success stories over the coming years.

Our greatest challenges continue to be in the areas of education and communication for both state agencies and tribes. State officials, department heads, and program directors must work together to gain a clearer understanding of how tribal sovereignty affects the consultation process, Indian self-determination initiatives, and Indian preference in hiring for tribal positions on and off the reservations.

Our office will continue to research federal match requirements for highway projects, workforce training, and other federally funded programs. We must have a clear understanding of federal requirements for both states and tribes.

We will also promote the hiring of more American Indian employees wherever possible. Bruce will be working to develop approaches that will help my administration accomplish this task.

It is critical that we have the assistance of tribal governments in highlighting highway safety needs. Often, tribal projects go uncorrected due to the need for accident data. With this much needed data, these projects can better be identified in a cost-benefit analysis. Without the data, potential highway projects just cannot compete for safety funds.

Our Department of Public Health and Human Services is continually seeking opportunities to adequately address health prevention issues. We have an opportunity to utilize Tribal Community Health Representatives to ensure that we collect the information necessary to assess tribal health needs in a more accurate manner, and we must work to take advantage of that opportunity.

Beyond health issues, there are needs in tribal communities to recruit more Indian foster care families to meet Indian Child Welfare Act requirements. We will continue to work to address those needs.

We need to ensure that tribes are included as reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program continues.

Kathryn Larin from the U.S. General Accounting Office Washington, DC will be in Helena on October 22 of this year to evaluate the impact of this program on Native American Economic conditions and assess how this program has fared under tribal and state cooperative agreements. Montana has been selected as one of five states to serve as an evaluation state. The evaluation team will also visit the Confederated Salish and Kootenai, Fort Peck, and Blackfeet tribes as part of the Montana evaluation. This evaluation is again part of a concerted effort aimed at improving tribal state relations.

All of our departments are seeking input regarding challenges that will face both departments and tribes as we move forward in discussions. These challenges range from natural resource development to permitting.

I know we can develop solutions for the greater benefit of both our state's tribes and the state of Montana. It is by pulling our chairs up to the table and taking responsibility for our actions that we can move forward.

The more we know about each other, the better we will be able to communicate our wants and needs.

It is key that we have a defined protocol for state-tribal discussions. As we work to develop that protocol, we need input from all state agencies, tribal governments, and other individuals who have a stake in this process.

At the state level, every state agency that deals with Indian tribes should know what other issues state agencies are working on with the same tribes at the same time. I have taken the initiative to visit with the tribes personally, and will urge our state agencies to do the same. (pause)

As you continue in today's discussions, you'll note on your agenda that economic development is a separate discussion from this afternoon's general forum. I have designed this specifically, as economic development is a major priority for this administration.

Education is also a key priority, and for that reason, we will address and discuss Indian Education issues at the Indian Education Conference that will be held in Billings at the end of next month.

Thank you for making this historic day possible. I am confident that this will be the first of many future tribal state relations events.

I wish you all the best in your discussions. Thank you for being here, and God bless.

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