1970s
- U.S. files federal court water rights cases for all Montana tribes
- State of Montana files a competing water rights adjudication in state court
- U.S. and tribes challenge Montana’s jurisdiction over Indian water rights
1980s
- U.S. Supreme Court decides in 1984 that the State of Montana has the right to determine Indian water rights in state court
- Blackfeet continues to challenge state court jurisdiction
- Federal court decides in 1986 that state court has jurisdiction to decide Blackfeet water rights
- Tribe initiates water rights negotiations with the Montana Reserved Water Right Compact Commission
1990s
- Negotiations falter and state files a motion to begin litigation of Blackfeet water rights
- Negotiations begin again in 1992; Montana Water Court issues a stay of litigation
- Numerous public negotiation meetings and technical meetings between the Blackfeet Nation and State of Montana are held
2000s
- Montana Water Court issues annual stays of litigation while negotiations proceed
- A water compact is completed in 2007
- Blackfeet Tribal Business Council authorizes water compact for approvals by the State of Montana, the Congress and by Tribal member vote
- Montana Legislature ratifies the compact in 2009
- Water settlement legislation is introduced in 2010 to ratify the compact and to provide funding for water projects and other purposes
- Water settlement legislation is reintroduced in 2011, 2013 and 2015
- Testimony in support of the settlement bills is provided before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in 2010, 2011 and 2013; the U.S. testifies in opposition to the amount of federal funding and other issues
- Negotiations with the Department of the Interior to reach agreement on funding and other issues proceed through this period
2016
- The Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement is reported out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee; the first settlement in five years to move forward in Congress
- United States Congress approves the Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement Act
- President Obama signs the Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement Act into law