with gerald lunak. lame bull treaty of 1855 history of the blackfeet water compact from the lame...
TRANSCRIPT
Gathering Background Information and the Role of
Technicians for the Blackfeet Water Compact
With Gerald Lunak
Lame Bull Treaty of 1855
History of the Blackfeet Water CompactFrom the Lame Bull Treaty of 1855 to the current status of the
compact, there have been treaties and laws passed which have brought us to where the Blackfeet Water Compact now stands
Highlights Treaty of 1855The Winters Doctrine 1908The McCarren Amendment 1952Establishment of the Montana Reserved Water Rights
Commission 1979The Blackfeet Tribal Council approval of the Blackfeet Water
Compact 2007 Approval of the Blackfeet Water Compact by the Montana State
Legislature 2009Compact is currently working its way through House and Senate
Who gathers background information?Tribal DepartmentsTribal Legal TeamTribal Engineering ConsultantsOther Entities
Studies by groups Historical documentsFederal and State Agencies
The Blackfeet Water Compact has been an ongoing effort since 1979.
Information and Data gathering is a moving target depending on Priorities of the Blackfeet Tribe (Council)Priorities of other partners within the Upper
Missouri BasinAvailability of Funds (Studies, Federal Funds,
and so forth)Face to Face Negotiations (brings out
differences)
What is the basic information needed to negotiate a compact?WaterHow much is there?LakesStreamsGroundwaterHow much water is needed to fulfill the purposes of the
reservationLand What is the land base for the claim?Land Use-Irrigated, dryland crop, range Etc.Other Purposes: stock, fisheries, habitat, MR&I,
etc.
Role of Technicians in Negotiations Blackfeet Water Compact technicians are
vital for the negotiations to move forward Who have been the technicians for the
Blackfeet Water CompactTribal DepartmentsFederal TeamTribal Council (varies)Tribal ContractorsTribal Lobbyist
Responsibilities of the Technicians The tasks of technicians can vary depending on
the issue to be resolvedIt really does take a village to energize a water
compact negotiationThe ability to move the process forward is
totally dependent on the technician’s ability to resolve outstanding issuesNegotiatorMediatorProblem SolverFacilitator
Blackfeet Country 2010….they were here!
Role of Technicians in Negotiating the Blackfeet Compact with the Department of InteriorWater Settlement ProjectsResolution of claims against the federal
governmentDEC reviews (design, engineering,
construction)
Blackfeet FootprintThe technicians and tribe are critical to
keeping a Blackfeet footprint on the compactA core group of tribal technicians must be
able to articulate political, personnel, community, and financial issues relevant to the Blackfeet Compact
In spite of the best technical efforts, the final outcome is decided by a vote of the Blackfeet Tribal Membership