By TRISTAN SCOTT
The Missoulian
August 7, 2011
BROWNING – A dramatic expanse of snow-marbled mountains runs like a borderline along the Blackfeet Indian Reservation’s western edge, where a sea of rolling foothills intersects the rugged Rocky Mountain Front.
The wild landscape is striking for its beauty, but it is also symbolic. (snip)
But with virtually all of the Blackfeet Reservation’s 1.5 million acres leased for oil and gas exploration, and renewed interest in development on a tract of land directly adjacent to Glacier National Park’s eastern border, conservationists are actively working to protect the region from energy exploration.
Although the deal could be a financial windfall for a tribe badly in need of resources, some stakeholders are raising questions about what safeguards are in place to protect the land’s natural resources and cultural significance.
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