{"id":9608,"date":"2019-12-17T21:04:31","date_gmt":"2019-12-18T02:04:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/congress-approves-little-shell-tribe-recognition\/"},"modified":"2019-12-17T21:04:32","modified_gmt":"2019-12-18T02:04:32","slug":"congress-approves-little-shell-tribe-recognition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/congress-approves-little-shell-tribe-recognition\/","title":{"rendered":"Congress approves Little Shell Tribe recognition"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In this Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, file photo, Gerald Gray, chairman of Montana\u2019s Little Shell Band of Chippewa Indians, poses at the advertising agency where he works in Billings, Mont. The U.S. Senate on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019 approved a measure under which the federal government would formally recognize the tribe following its decades-long struggle for acknowledgement. MATTHEW BROWN, FILE AP PHOTO<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Gerald Gray, tribal chair of Montana\u2019s Little Shell Band of Chippewa Indians, is shown in 2012.
\nThe Little Shell Band of Chippewa Cree Indian\u2019s long fight for federal recognition has ended in Congress and now awaits presidential approval.
\nThe U.S. Senate voted Tuesday to federally recognize the Montana tribe. The House did so last week. The Little Shell have sought federal recognition for more than 70 years.
\nBecause they have never been recognized by the federal government, the Little Shell have never received the basic treaty rights, like health services and tribal sovereignty, offered to other American Indian tribes.
\nThe Congressional action commits the federal government to purchasing 200 acres of Montana land to serve as the Little Shell reservation. Once President Donald Trump signs the NDAA, Little Shell members will quality for health care and education rights granted to other members of federally recognized tribes, as well as federal economic development programs specifically for American Indians.
\nThere are 5,400 known members of the Montana Band of Chippewa Cree Indians.
\n\u201cThis is literally one of the most historical days for the Little Shell Tribe. It\u2019s truly amazing. I\u2019m almost speechless that this has finally come to fruition for us,\u201d said Gerald Gray, Little Shell tribal chairman. \u201cI\u2019d like to thank Senators Tester and Daines, and Congressman Gianforte for their steadfast fight on behalf of the Little Shell Tribe. We wouldn\u2019t be her today without their push for us and we so greatly appreciate that. This is just and unbelievable day right now.\u201d
\nGray, Tester and Daines addressed the Montana press after it became clear tribal recognition was secure. Tribal recognition was tucked away in the must-pass National Defense Reauthorization Act, which sets U.S. defense funding levels and establishes spending priorities like pay raises for the military. The bill had the support of 72 senators at the time of the call.
\nTester thanked Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., for making Little Shell recognition a priority. Proposed amendments to the National Defense Reauthorization Act are many and only a few make the cut. It\u2019s McConnell who most influences what amendments are considered. The request had Daines, a Republican up for reelection in 2020, as its lead author.
\n\u201cThis happened because Leader McConnell made it a priority and was able to put it on a bill that was a must-pass piece of legislation. And through his work through his side, through Sen. Daines, and through our work on my side we\u2019re able to get it done,\u201d Tester said. \u201cThere were no deals cut here. It\u2019s pretty straight up. We didn\u2019t give up anything for this. We didn\u2019t say \u2018you can have this, I\u2019ll vote this way. None of that garbage happened. This is just straight up recognition of the Little Shell Tribe.\u201d
\nDaines recalled how Gray handed the senator a tin can after a previous attempt failed to get the Little Shell recognized. The can had the words \u201cLittle Shell\u201d written on the side. Gray\u2019s message was that Congress needed to quit kicking recognition for the tribe down the road, as it had for multiple sessions. Daines said that can has sat on his desk as a reminder that there was work to be done for the Little Shell.
\n\u201cI told Chairman Gray, \u2018Chairman Gray, we\u2019re going to get this done. And when we do, we\u2019re going to do it the Montana way. We\u2019re going to take that tin can somewhere outside Great Falls. We\u2019re going to put it on a post and we\u2019re going to shoot it.\u2019 \u201d Daines said. \u201cSo Chairman Gray, I look forward to taking that tin can back to Montana and we\u2019ll have a celebratory moment when we destroy that tin can with the recognition that you so richly deserve.\u201d
\nIn the House, Montana\u2019s only U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte, twice secured votes for recognizing the Little Shell, first in a stand-alone bill, which easily passed, second as an amendment to the House version of the National Defense Reauthorization Act.
\n\u201cToday marks an important day for the Little Shell Tribe. They\u2019ve waited for more than eight decades for federal recognition, which is now one step closer to reality,\u201d Gianforte said in a press release Dec. 11 after the House passed the NDAA. \u201cI appreciate the hard work and dedication of Chairman Gray and the Little Shell people who have been strong advocates for their worthy cause. I\u2019m proud to have stood with them and to work in the House to deliver on their long-overdue federal recognition.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Article reprinted with permission of the Billings Gazette)<\/p>\n

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In this Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, file photo, Gerald Gray, chairman of Montana\u2019s Little Shell Band of Chippewa Indians, poses at the advertising agency where he works in Billings, Mont. The U.S. Senate on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019 approved a measure under which the federal government would formally recognize the <\/p>\n

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