“The Little Shell deserve federal recognition,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.  “I know it. The state of Montana knows it. It seems the only ones that don’t know it are the bureaucrats at the Interior Department. It’s time we take a different route and move my bill through the legislative process. I’m hopeful the Chairman and Ranking Member will agree the foot dragging has gone on too long.”

            The Little Shell Tribe is made up of approximately 4,300 members, mostly in the Great Falls area.  In 2000, the same year the tribe was recognized by the state of Montana, the Department of Interior issued a positive finding for the tribe making them eligible for recognition.  Since then, little progress has been made due to bureaucratic obstacles.  Rehberg’s bill expedites recognition through the legislative process.  

            “This year marks the 30^th consecutive year the Little Shell Tribe has pursued federal recognition through the Department of Interior’s Office of Federal Acknowledgement (OFA) process,” said Rehberg in the letter.  “I strongly urge you to schedule a hearing on H.R. 1301 before another generation of the Little Shell Tribe members goes unrecognized.”

Letter:

February 13, 2008

Dear Chairman Rahall and Ranking Member Young,

As the second session of the 110^th Congress begins, I would like to renew my request for a House Natural Resources Committee hearing on my bill, H.R. 1301, to federally recognize the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana.

This year marks the 30^th consecutive year the Little Shell Tribe has pursued federal recognition through the Department of Interior’s Office of Federal Acknowledgement (OFA) process.  While the House Natural Resources Committee held several hearings in 2007 on federal recognition bills and the broken OFA process, the Little Shell Tribe was unable to share with the Committee its unique history and struggle with the recognition process. 

Last year, I was pleased to support legislation federally recognizing the Lumbee Tribe, the Chickahominy Tribe, the Chickahominy Indian Tribe – Eastern Division, the Upper Mattaponi Tribe, the Rappahannock Tribe, the Monacan Indian Tribe, and the Nansemond Indian Tribe.  The Little Shell Tribe is just as deserving of recognition and it remains essential for the establishment of a tribal land base, preservation of sovereignty and culture, as well as access to vital services and benefits for tribal members.   

I strongly urge you to schedule a hearing on H.R. 1301 before another generation of the Little Shell Tribe members goes unrecognized. 

Please contact myself or Heather Stefanik of my staff at 225-3211 for further details.  Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Denny Rehberg

Member of Congress