Batt Meets Tribal Members

Members of three Idaho Indian tribes met with Gov. Phil Batt on Thursday in what Coeur d’Alene tribal chairman Ernie Stensgar characterized as a getaquainted meeting.

“Basically, we want to get off on the right foot,” Stensgar said. “This was a `hi, how-are-you.”’

In addition to Coeur d’Alene’s, members of the Nez Perce and Northwestern Shoshone tribes attended Thursday’s half-hour meeting at the Capitol. Several wore traditional Indian garments.

The Coeur d’Alenes butted heads with former Gov. Cecil Andrus three years ago during a legislative battle over gambling on Indian reservations. Idaho’s voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment in November 1992 to outlaw casino-style gambling in Idaho.

During Thursday’s meeting, Batt reiterated his pledge to assign a state Department of Commerce employee to tribal economic development. Tribal members also said they would like assurances the state views them as a sovereign nation, Stensgar said.

“I like what I heard,” he said. “Now I just hope he walks his talk.”