Permanently Protect the Badger-Two Medicine

Photo Credit: Bear Star Photography

Permanently Protect the Badger-Two Medicine

Days after the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. decision confirming the cancellation of the last oil and gas lease, on June 25, 2020, the Blackfeet Nation released a draft congressional bill to permanently protect the Badger-Two Medicine as a Cultural Heritage Area.

The proposed Badger-Two Medicine Protection Act was drafted in partnership with Blackfeet leaders, non-tribal neighbors, hunters, anglers, conservationists, ranchers, local landowners and many others.

It builds on existing protections, such as the area’s Traditional Cultural District designation, and is modeled on legislation already enacted in other places. If the legislation that Blackfeet proposed to the Montana delegation was passed into law, it would “keep things the way they are” and continue to allow public access for hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, horse packing and other traditional uses. It would also keep grazing rights intact.

Read more about the permanent protection proposal.

Benefits of Permanently Protecting the Badger-Two Medicine

1) It would protect cultural and traditional uses of the area and guarantee Blackfeet’s existing treaty rights will be honored.

2) It would establish a formal Tribal consultation with the U.S. Forest Service, allowing the Blackfeet Nation to contribute to future management decisions.

3) It would provide job opportunities for Blackfeet people to conduct trail maintenance and other contracted forest work.

4) Non-commercial timber harvest would continue for forest health, wildfire response and private property protection.

5) It would add protections for headwater streams that are an important source of clean water for agricultural operations and communities both on and off the reservation.

6) It would establish a diverse citizen advisory group made up of tribal and non-tribal stakeholders, to help the U.S. Forest Service develop long-term management guidelines for the area.

Supporters of Permanent Protection

Legislation to permanently protect the Badger-Two Medicine as a Cultural Heritage Area is supported by hunters, anglers, ranchers, business owners, a former oil lease holder, conservation interests, large private landowners, outfitters and guides, and many others.

It has been endorsed by the Blackfoot Confederacy, the National Congress of American Indians, and the Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council, which represents all the Tribes of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho.

Resources

Map of the area that would be permanently protected under the Badger-Two Medicine Protection Act

Proposed Legislation: Badger-Two Medicine Protection Act

Blackfeet Resolution (No. 385-2019): Supporting efforts by Montana Congressional Delegation to permanently protect Badger-Two Medicine

Blackfeet Resolution (No. 190-2020): Endorsing legislation permanently protecting the Badger-Two Medicine from oil and gas industrialization