Crow Agency, MT

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.

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 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.  

The Apsaalooke Water Authority initiated Phase II of its water and sewer infrastructure improvement project for Crow Agency in March, 2008. Western Municipal Construction was awarded the contract for this project.  Phase II is funded by a variety of agencies such as U.S.D. A . and Mt. Coal Board grant,  to replace and upgrade the entire system. The town of Crow Agency had been utilizing an antequated system that was installed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs around 1905. James Real Bird, John Doyle and Larry Kindness are responsible for chartering the Water Authority and securing funds for this important project. It took this team seven years to get to this point. Although the residents and employees have to deal with detours, dirt, rough roads, and waterless days. It is well worth the inconvenience. When the entire project is completed by the end of 2009, Crow Agency will have a safe and sufficient water and sewer system that will meet all standards.  

Three Steering committee members from the Crow Agency Horizons Project attend the Govenor’s conference on Tourism & Recreation that was held in West Yellowstone, Montana on April 16-17, 2008.  In attendance were Latonna Old Elk, Sharon Peregoy and Jackie Yellowtail. The Montana Department of Commerce and  Montana Tourism Alliance provided conference scholarships which coverrd the cost of lodging and registration costs. The conference provided strategies for communities and entreprenuers on marketing their products and services. A trade show provided us opportunities to network with national vendors. Also, Sharon Peregoy met the personnel of Montana’s International Marketing Program located in China (Mei Mei Wang) & Japanese Market (Mako Sakaguchi) to share information about Geo tourism opportunities on the Crow Reservation.  

On June 11, 2008 the Bridging Cultures and Communities committee was officially formed at a meeting held on the Little Big Horn College campus. The Mission of this steering committee is:Building Bridges of reconciliation and respect between communities and cultures.

The objectives are: 1) To develop continuing, effective communication concerning economic development and other projects of mutual benefit; 2) To promote mutual understanding of and respect for cultural diversity and contributions; 3) to provide opportunities for shared experiences, education and partnership projects. Next meeting has been scheduled for July.

The Crow Environmental Planning and Protection office coordinated a community wide clean up on April 15, 16, 17, 2008. The Horizons Project, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Montana State Crime  Control Board, Montana State C.A.R. E and the Crow Tribal Administration/Executive Branch provided supplies, funding and/or  manpower to ensure that the greater Crow Agency area  looked real spiffy for Spring!!!