Crow Agency, MT

Apsaalooke Tours officially open its doors for the 2008 summer season on May 25th. 

Little Big Horn College’s Extension Office operates this seasonal tourism business that trains and employs 12 Crow Tribal members annually.  This year a total of 17 Crow Tribal members participated in the two week training offered for credit by Little Big Horn College. Tour guides  are selected from the individuals who successfully complete the initial training or refresher course.

The college obtained a 5 year contract with the National Park Service at Little Big Horn Battlefield to exclusively provide interpretive tours on site. Tours are provided daily from 10 am to 4:00 pm.

Also, Apsaalooke Tours in conjuction with Little Big Horn College staff offers special programs presented by Crow Indian cultural consultants for tour groups visiting Crow Agency. Special tours or programs can include catered Native American cuisine upon request.  Ms. Jackie Yellowtail is the manager for Apsaalooke Tours.

The Crow Tribal Secretary’s Office in the Executive Branch of Crow Tribal government has been entrusted by law to implement the provisions of the act. The first five LLC’s were filed on July 1, 2007. Currently, twenty-nine LLC’s have been organized and registered through the Secretary’s office by Crow Tribal members. So far, one Tribally-controlled company has been organized.

To begin the filing process, applicants (Crow Tribal members or businesses organized under other government entities) can stop by the Crow Tribal Administration building on Bacheeitche Avenue in Crow Agency and obtain a LLC packet. The Crow Tribal Secretary’s Office and the Economic Developement Department are prepared to offer guidance to Crow Tribal members on the registration process and setting up their companies. Also, Little Big Horn College’s Extension Office has a business resource and reference library to assist individuals wishing to develop a business.

The Apsaalooke Limited Liability Company Act, bill number CLB07-06,  was passed by the Crow Tribal Legislature on March 19, 2007.

According to Apsaalooke Limited Liability Company Act, Part 1, General Provisions, Section 18-5-101. Short Title, Authority and Purposes. Suppart (c) states,” The purposes of this chapter are to provide for the economic development for the Crow Tribe and its members, to raise the standard of living and education for all Tribal members, and to obtain the highest value possible for the Tribe’s natural resources by: 1) provides the legal framework for organizing individually-owned business entities under Tribal law in order to expand the private business sector on the Crow reservation, and

(2) authorizing the formation of Tribally-owned business entities for managing the Tribe’s business activities separate from the affairs of Tribal government, with the ability to enter into legally-binding contracts and commerical relationships without the need for formal Tribal Government action”.

A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a popular form of business entity combining the best features of corporations and partnerships.

The Apsaalooke LLC Act is patterned after the Revised Uniform LLC Act of 2006, and the Crow Tribe is the first jurisdiction in the world to adopt it.  

The Apsaalooke Nation (Crow Tribe) and the State of Montana entered into a historical compact on February 6, 2008. Leaders from the Crow Tribe , the state of Montana and the federal government gathered in the U.S. Capitol for the signing of the Universal Commerical Code System Compact. This agreement, the first of its kind in the United States between a tribal and state government, standardizes the means by which banks file liens.

Traditionally when a bank makes a loan, it requires collateral property secured by a lien. Because of the sovereign nature of American Indian reservations, transactions could not be secured by a lien resulting in a severe lack of acess to capitol and higher interest rates. 

This historic agreement between the two governments, allows Crow tribal members  to use personal property as collateral for loans, including bank loans for business startups, auto loan financing and revolving lines of credit. In accordance with the compact, a bank’s claim on collateral is filed as a lien with the Montana Secretary of State’s office which serves as the central filing office.

In the event of default, the Crow Tribal Court will handle all claims. The compact allows the bank’s lien on collateral to be in full force and affect on the Crow Reservation.

This agreement serves as a model for healthy government to government relations, while reinforcing the concept of self-determination in Indian country. Because of the compact, there is a greater opportunity for new jobs and new businesses to be created within the exterior boundaries of the Crow Reservation.

The Apsaalooke legislature adopted this Act during its  April 2007  legislative session. Shawn Real Bird, Director of the Crow Tribe’s Economic Development office sought assistance from the Uniform Law Commision and the Federal Reserve.  The act was drafted by the Uniform Law Commission whose membership is comprised of more than 350 lawyers, judges and law professors from across the United States. It took the Commission four years to develop the Model Tribal Secured Transaction Act. This model legislation provides the opportunity for Apsaalooke individuals and entreprenuers to obtain loans using personal property as collateral. This act provides the Apsaalooke people a legal framework to aid economic development on the Crow Indian Reservation.

In the 1990’s, Crow Native Days was founded by Carl Venne as an event to entertain the Crow Youth. He was assigned a project by the Crow Tribe to look for alternatives to combat drug and alcohol abuse by the Crow youth and adults. This is an event that instills pride in the Crow Culture and provides historical value and insight. Events such as the  Men’s and Women”s Ultimate Warrior Challenge, Arrow Throwing tournament, Powwow, Rodeo and Horse Racing, local cusine, arts and crafts, art show, concerts, fireworks show, parade, fun runs and walks, horse shoe tournaments,  provide activities for young and old. This event is a close second to the Annual Crow Fair and Rodeo which is held in August each year.

A flurry of activity occurred around Crow Agency as residents and Crow Tribal Administration began preparations for Crow Native Days which is scheduled for June 24 through June 29, 2008.  Another community clean-up was sponsored by the Office of Environmental Planning and Protection to ensure that the town looked presentable to all of the visitors. In addition, the Crow Agency Chamber of Commerce was refurbished with an arbor and ampitheater for summer presentations and activities. This area will host local artisan Market on Saturday and Sunday of Crow Native Days. 

Three local youth leaders attend the First People’s Youth Camp held on the Great Falls University campus the week of June 16-21, 2008. Vanessa Yarlott, Shakira Glenn and Timothy McCleary, Jr. were selected to represent the Crow Reservation and Billings Area. Each student had to submit an essay on how they would utilize the Entreprenuerial knowledge and skills obtain at the camp.  The camp is a culmination of a five month planning effort to train Native American youth in Montana. The camp was funded by a grant from Rural Dynamics, First Interstate Bank, Community Development Section,  and University of Great Falls. The university gave each student who completed the camp a four year scholarship.

 A one day workshop was held for entrepreneurs on the Crow reservation on May 2, 2008. The workshop was co-sponsored by the Entrepreneur development program, Mt. State Department of Commerce and the Extension Office at Little Big Horn College. The workshop provided a step by step review of the Finance Tool Kit to assist individuals in development  of a solid and fundable business plan.  Each participant receive a free Finance Tool Kit to take home and use. A total of 20 individuals participated in the workshop.

A ride to commerate the sacrifice of Crow Warriors during the 1850’s smallpox epidemic that almost wipedout the Apsaalooke nation took place in the Four Dances Recreational area on June 24, 2008. The Messengers for Men’s Health group spear headed by Mr. James Real Bird and William Eggers planned this historical event. A total of 1oo riders in Apsaalooke apparel rode to the edge of the southern cliff and looked down upon the City of Billings. Representatives from the Bridging Cultures and Communities steering committee pariticipated in the ride. A pipe ceremony was held for the healing of the generations from historical truama and a prayer for reconciliation of the races was offered. This is the beginning of many cross-cultural activities between the City of Billings and Crow Agency.