BFC ALERTS
MONTANA-WYOMING TRIBAL LEADERS COUNCIL PASSES BUFFALO RESOLUTION
Document calls for viable, wild populations of migratory buffalo and for state and federal governments to uphold Treaty obligations
Contact: Stephany Seay, Buffalo Field Campaign, 406-646-0070, bfc-media@wildrockies.org
April 15, 2013
(DENVER) The Montana-Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council passed a resolution on March 23, 2013, which became available to the public over the weekend. The resolution urges protection of the wild, migratory buffalo in and around Yellowstone National Park and Montana.
This important resolution was brought forth to the Council by Jimmy St. Goddardd, Spiritual Leader of the Blackfeet Confederacy. St. Goddard supports the work of the wild bison advocacy group, Buffalo Field Campaign.
"Everyone that has a legal right to manage the buffalo are doing wrong, and with this resolution, the Tribes have crafted strong legal language to protect and preserve our culture and heritage." Said Jimmy St. Goddard, Spiritual Leader of the Blackfeet Confederacy.
The resolution urges the Governor of Montana, the Montana Legislature, U.S. Department of the Interior, Yellowstone National Park, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Forest Service, to recognize and honor their trust responsibilities and treaty obligations to American Indian Nations with cultural, religious, and treaty rights and affiliations with buffalo. The resolution urges these agencies to provide for viable populations of wild migratory buffalo (or bison) in the wildlife species' native habitat.
St. Goddard said, "This resolution puts the agencies on notice that there has to be legal consultation with the Tribes, and a Buffalo Summit has to happen right now. The Interagency Bison Management Plan needs to be brought back to the table because it is hurting the buffalo instead of helping them."
Download and review the four-page resolution
Buffalo Field Campaign
P.O. Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
406-646-0070
bfc-media@wildrockies.org
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
Bison Gain Ground in Court Ruling
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 7, 2013
Contacts:
Dan Brister, Executive Director, Buffalo Field Campaign,
406-726-5555; bfc@wildrockies.org
Summer Nelson, Montana Director, Western Watersheds Project,
406-830-3099; summer@westernwatersheds.org
Petitioner Intervenors Buffalo Field Campaign and Western Watersheds Project Press Statement on Judge E. Wayne Phillips ruling Park County Stockgrowers Association v. Montana
"Buffalo Field Campaign is heartened that migratory bison will have some room to roam their winter range in Gardiner Basin," says Daniel Brister, Buffalo Field Campaign's executive director. "This case underscores how important local support is for migrating bison. Judge Phillips relied on that local support for bison in his ruling today - an important victory for bison wintering in Gardiner Basin."
"In this case, the plaintiffs represented a very vocal minority of livestock interests who tried to force the court to adopt their extreme position and prevent bison from occupying their native habitat in Montana," says Summer Nelson, Montana Director for Western Watersheds Project and one of the attorneys representing Western Watersheds Project and Buffalo Field Campaign who intervened in the Stockgrowers Association lawsuit. "The court saw through their arguments and wild bison finally prevailed over that narrow interest. This is an important ruling in favor of the majority of Montanans, who value native, wild bison."
More information can be found at http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
Banner Graphic: http://www.firstpeople.us/
Image Courtesy Mary Burrows * All Rights Reserved
