Candidates discuss tribal sovereignty, Flathead Reservation conflicts and shared resource management

The Missoula forum included a substantive exchange on tribal-state relations, treaty obligations and local conflicts involving the Flathead Reservation.

Leo Yudetz noted there is "a lot to be improved as far as the relationship between the State of Montana and the Native American Tribes of this state," and he said treaties "should be upheld." He urged continued negotiation over disputes including gambling and water rights and said tribes' sovereign rights must be protected.

Alan Mickelson addressed caller concerns about his role in local irrigation and pipeline disputes on the Flathead Reservation. He rejected the characterization that he wants to "do away with the reservation," saying, "I don't treat them any differently than I treat any other neighbor," and adding he has said "tribal governments should control tribal lands, tribal activities." Mickelson described helping local tribal members with a farm shop and said he opposes abolishing reservation governments.

A caller raised specific questions about the Flathead Joint Board of Control and how many irrigation accounts it represents; Mickelson estimated "probably ... about 1,900 or 2,000 irrigation accounts" and, associating families with accounts, suggested "3 to 5,000 people" as a rough figure. He also said that the Board hires litigators for disputes and that his role was administrative/executive rather than as counsel.

The candidates framed the issue as one of negotiation and respect for treaty and tribal governance; no formal policy actions were taken on-air.