Daines' Northern Cheyenne Lands Act Receives First Congressional Hearing

Press Release

Representative Steve Daines' Northern Cheyenne Lands Act (H.R. 4530) today received its first Congressional hearing. Northern Cheyenne Tribe President Llevando "Cowboy" Fisher was on hand to testify during today's Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs hearing about the importance of this legislation to the Northern Cheyenne people.

During this afternoon's hearing, Daines and Fisher spoke of the importance of providing the Northern Cheyenne people with a long-overdue resolution that strengthens sovereignty for the Tribe and provides the Tribe with greater control to manage its land base, including subsurface minerals, economic development and social services, and trust fund.

"Unemployment rates on the Northern Cheyenne reservation are around 60 percent. The Northern Cheyenne Tribe has called the Lame Deer area home for thousands of years, but lacks the freedom to control their own future. The Northern Cheyenne Lands Act is necessary to address these concerns," Daines stated during today's hearing."Simply stated, the Northern Cheyenne Lands Act upholds the federal government's relationship with the leadership of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. I think President Fisher will agree, the Northern Cheyenne Lands Act is critical to providing the Tribe the freedom it needs to help resurrect themselves from poverty and improve the future of younger generations."

"I want to thank Rep. Daines for introducing H.R. 4530 and thank the Committee for holding this hearing," President Fisher stated in his opening testimony. "If H.R. 4350 is enacted, several long-standing paramount issues for the Northern Cheyenne will finally be resolved and the Tribe's ability to control its land, mineral resources, and trust funds will be greatly enhanced. This will improve the Tribe's ability to self-govern and control its own destiny and will provide sorely needed economic development opportunities."

Fisher's full written testimony is available here. The written testimony also includes documents of support from Montana's Board of Land Commissioners, the Montana and Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council, and the National Congress of American Indians, along with historical documents supporting the Northern Cheyenne Tribe's years of work to find a resolution.

During today's hearing, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Director Michael Black also indicated the Department of Interior's commitment to working with Daines and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe to find a resolution.

"The Northern Cheyenne's relationship to these lands is without dispute," Black stated during today's hearing. "The Department strongly supports efforts to find a fair and equitable solution to the long-standing issues facing the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and is committed to continuing to work cooperatively towards this end."

The Northern Cheyenne Lands Act works to provide the Northern Cheyenne Tribe with a resolution to long-fought land and mineral resource claims against the United States. Daines' bill allows the Northern Cheyenne Tribe more control over their lands and mineral resources, strengthening tribal sovereignty for the Tribe and increasing the Tribe's ability to serve their people.

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