(DENVER) The Montana-Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council passed a resolution on March 23, 2013, which became available to the public over the weekend. The resolution urges protection of the wild, migratory buffalo in and around Yellowstone National Park and Montana.

This important resolution was brought forth to the Council by Jimmy St. Goddardd, Spiritual Leader of the Blackfeet Confederacy. St. Goddard supports the work of the wild bison advocacy group, Buffalo Field Campaign.

“Everyone that has a legal right to manage the buffalo are doing wrong, and with this resolution, the Tribes have crafted strong legal language to protect and preserve our culture and heritage.” Said Jimmy St. Goddard, Spiritual Leader of the Blackfeet Confederacy.

The resolution urges the Governor of Montana, the Montana Legislature, U.S. Department of the Interior, Yellowstone National Park, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Forest Service, to recognize and honor their trust responsibilities and treaty obligations to American Indian Nations with cultural, religious, and treaty rights and affiliations with buffalo. The resolution urges these agencies to provide for viable populations of wild migratory buffalo (or bison) in the wildlife species’ native habitat.

St. Goddard said, “This resolution puts the agencies on notice that there has to be legal consultation with the Tribes, and a Buffalo Summit has to happen right now. The Interagency Bison Management Plan needs to be brought back to the table because it is hurting the buffalo instead of helping them.”

Download and review the four-page resolution