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Secretary Salazar Testifies Before Senate Indian Affairs Committee, Calls Indian Water Rights Settlements a "High Priority"

February 12, 2009 --

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar testified before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in Washington, D.C. this morning in an oversight hearing.  Watch Video of the Hearing

When questioned by Montana Senator Jon Tester on the pending Indian water rights settlement acts that are awaiting Congressional approval, Secretary Salazar said that he was aware of the settlements, that they were a "high priority", and that he would likely seek to employ a special counsel to assist him in working with Congress on the settlements.

In response to a question from Senator Tester on the future role of tribal colleges in developing reservation economies, Secretary Salazar called tribal colleges very important in developing tribal workforces and that poor economic conditions is a root-cause of a multitude of societal problems on reservations.

The Crow Water Rights Settlement Act, S. 375, has been reintroduced in the 111th Congress.

Solon Moccasin runs for chairman, pledges to address economy

Solon Moccasin graduated from Hardin High School in 1986 and received his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration from Montana State University-Billings in 1993.

He is running for Chairman of the Crow Tribe.

Solon is a third generation rancher residing 10 miles southwest of Lodge Grass. He has worked at the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Crow Agency as an irrigation accountant. While working there, he was able to resolve irrigation issues with land owners and maintain an accurate budget.

He worked with youth when he was the director of the Boys and Girls club of the Crow Nation, and he worked with college students as the Adult Vocational Training Coordinator of the Crow Nation.

Solon is running for the office because he believes that he can change the economic situation of the Crow Tribe through education and good government management. 

Read more about Solon's platform after the jump...

Primary Election Recap: County Dems Go for Obama, Turn Out in Record Numbers

Sharon Peregoy-Stewart, pictured center in the red, elk-tooth dress, waves a sign during Barack Obama's visit to the reservation last month. Peregoy won the Democratic primary race for state Senate District 21. Obama took 78 percent of the vote in Big Horn County (Crow News/Casey Kills Pretty Enemy).

Mary Hudetz
CrowNews.Net

When he visited the reservation last month, Sen. Barack Obama was adopted into the tribe, given a Crow name and ended a speech he gave on Indian policy by saying he wouldn't forget his "own brothers and own sisters."

When Crows went to the polls last week, they voted for Obama in numbers that suggest many tribal members really do consider him one of their own.

Obama, now the presumptive Democratic nominee, took 90 percent of the vote among the reservation's Democrats. Hillary Clinton won nine percent of the vote.