CSKT 'rock solid,' McDonald says
Caleb M. Soptelean
Rob McDonald, communications director for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, speaks during the Polson Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Jan. 4.
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POLSON – The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are “rock solid."
That’s the message CSKT communications director Rob McDonald gave at the Polson Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon last week at KwaTaqNuk Resort and Casino.
During the monthly luncheon, McDonald spoke positively about recent goings on with the tribes.
Among the items mentioned were U.S. Sen. Jon Tester introducing the water compact in Congress, the tribes taking over control of the former Kerr Dam (which happened in September 2015), tribal hunters continuing to hunt buffalo in Yellowstone National Park and tribal language teams teaching Salish on the Flathead Indian Reservation.
“Our language teams are creating fluent speakers,” he said. Singing songs in Salish is also happening, which McDonald called “a big deal.”
Other positive things cited include the Gray Wolf Peak Casino and Timbers Restaurant expansion in Evaro, $600,000 invested into the Big Arm shoreline property that will include gasoline for sale in the spring and the “Tiny House” filming in the area. Requests to film on the reservation have increased four- or five-fold, he said, adding that he was interviewed on Finland Network TV.
CSKT is responsible for 1,200 jobs for tribal members and 500 jobs for non-tribal members, McDonald noted.
Other positives include photography students from Two Eagle River School going to New York City last fall and helping produce a 30-minute narrative as part of a film festival; state Rep. Shane Morigeau, D-Missoula, a CSKT tribal member being elected; and a meeting that was held in Pablo in an effort to restore the National Bison Range in Moiese to the tribes.
“Despite the challenges from living here, CSKT is rock solid,” McDonald said.
Life on the reservation is complicated and often not easy, he said, noting there are multiple jurisdictions, including federal, state and tribal.
“It’s not simple here. Many times there is no easy answer,” he said.
However, fighting any mussel infestation in Flathead Lake is a reason for the community to pull together, he said.
