Indian leaders, advocates rally for bison

HELENA (AP) — Indian leaders, wildlife advocates and sportsmen's groups are advocating for increased tolerance of bison and are opposing anti-bison bills now making their way through the Montana Legislature

The Great Falls Tribune reports (http://gftrib.com/12PoNuS ) the groups participated in a demonstration Tuesday at the state Capitol.

Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribal Council member Thomas Christian says they want to help people understand the significance of the buffalo in Indian culture.

So far this legislative session, lawmakers have introduced 10 bills dealing with bison. They range from giving counties the ability to veto bison restoration plans to creating a zero-tolerance policy for free-roaming bison in the state.

Republican Sen. John Brenden of Scobey is the sponsor of the zero-tolerance bill. He says there is no place for free-roaming bison in modern society.

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