Kootenai Tribe Moves Toward Self-Sufficiency

The tiny Kootenai Tribe has just had its first member graduate from college, and tribal leaders say the tribe is on track to achieve its biggest wish: selfsufficiency.

Ron Abraham, a tribal council member, told the governor’s Native American Issues Summit on Monday that the key to the 118-member tribe’s comeback has been its recognition that it must govern itself, not rely on the federal government or anyone else.

Part of the tribe’s push for economic selfsufficiency has included its development of the Kootenai River Inn near Bonners Ferry. In recent years, the tribe has encountered local opposition to its bid for a sales tax exemption to enable it to buy and operate a grocery store.

Abraham chose not to bring that up Monday. An interim legislative committee plans meetings with the tribe and local officials on the issue this summer.

“We’ll wait until the committee is seated and talk to them at the appropriate time,” he said.

Abraham said the chance to share the tribe’s story with the governor and state department heads was important.

“I think the feeling from both sides is that communications are opening,” he said.

“Now that it’s open, let’s keep it open and kind of nurture it. It’s going to take some nurturing to make it work for all the tribes and the state.”

“We’ve got a lot to learn from each other,” he said.

“It’s something that should have been done a long time ago.”