Juras Talks Bison With TEB
Schools Included In Vaccination Plan
The Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board heard from Indian Health Service director Dennis Fourbear during the April 12 meeting. The total number of Moderna COVID vaccines administered is 2,375.
The director hopes to boost that number by working with the local schools. Fort Peck’s Health Promotion Disease Prevention enlisted most of the schools on the reservation to hold clinics, except for the Wolf Point schools. HPDP will focus on vaccinating high school students, Wolf Point students will be asked to go to the community hall where anyone can still come in for their shot.
During the travel log, council members Jestin Dupree, Frank Gourneau and Kaci Wallette went to Helena to testify against House Bill 481 and Senate Bill 214. HB 481 would increase penalties for individuals who vandalize critical infrastructure and SB 214 would revise tax exemption for tribal property.
Wallette then spoke about meeting with Montana Lieutenant Governor Kristen Juras about the tribal buffalo herd. Currently, there are three pens where the buffalo are kept with construction of a fourth underway and a fifth being planned. Fort Peck can hold up to 600 buffalo and works with other tribal nations to move bison onto their lands. Tribes are trying to increase their holding capacities as the Yellowstone National Park officials prepare to capture and slaughter up to 1,000 buffalo. In committee resolutions, debate sparked over a resolution for a burn ban on the reservation. Controversy came with the inclusion of fireworks sales and bringing fireworks onto tribal lands. Councilman Terry Rattling Thunder was disappointed how the resolution and similar acts by the board affect tribal members.
“I don’t like this because everything we do is so one-sided,” said Rattling Thunder. “Look at the mask mandate or at gaming. It’s hurting our own people,” Rattling Thunder said.
At the end of discussions, the board passed the resolution six for and four opposed.
