Last week, a bill was introduced in Congress that would require Native American tribes to be included in the management of grizzly bears. The legislation, called the Tribal Heritage and Grizzly Bear Protection Act, would permanently place grizzly bears under federal protection much like the bald eagle.
The legislation, introduced by committee chairman Rajl Grijalva (D-AZ), is being considered by the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife before it may be sent to the house or senate.
Two Wyoming Public Radio reporters spoke to opposite camps on the subject. Melodie Edwards sat down with Northern Arapaho-Standing Rock Lakota member Lynette Grey Bull who testified in support of the bill on behalf of the Northern Arapaho Tribal Elder Society. Kamila Kudelska spoke with the director of Wyoming Game and Fish, Brian Nesvik.