MT GOP Candidates Have Let Our Tribal Communities Down

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, August 26, 2022

CONTACT
press@montanademocrats.org

From blocking return of National Bison Range, to voting against Little Shell Tribe Recognition, Zinke and Rosendale are not right for Montana

Helena, MT – Earlier this summer, the National Bison Range was returned to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The CSKT waited over a century for their bison range to be returned to them. One of the biggest reasons it took so long in recent history? Ryan Zinke, then-Secretary of the Interior and current MT01 candidate, refused to give the land back. 

In 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service informed the CSKT that they would support a legislative transfer of the bison range to the tribe. FWS and the tribe had begun drafting a comprehensive plan for the return of the bison range, when Ryan Zinke stepped in, reversed course and blocked the transfer. 

In 2015, during the regular session, Montana made history by being the first state in the lower 48 to support native-language school immersion programs. HB 559 and SB 272 set aside funds for immersion programs in five Montana school systems, as well as continuing to fund tribal language dictionaries, recordings, and teaching materials. The bills received bipartisan support. Notable hold-out? Then-State Senator Matt Rosendale. 

Those weren’t Rosendale’s only votes against Montana Tribal communities. A month earlier he voted against a resolution supporting federal recognition of the Little Shell Tribe, twice.

“Rep. Matt Rosendale and Ryan Zinke have sold out our tribal communities before– and they’ll do it again,” says Sheila Hogan, executive director of the Montana Democratic Party. “In November, voters have the opportunity to send a resounding message, rejecting Zinke and Rosendale and their backwards attitudes. It’s time to vote for candidates like Monica Tranel and Penny Ronning who will advocate for our tribal communities.” 

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