Workshops cover better relationships with tribes

Montana Rural Development Partners Inc. is sponsoring two tribal relations workshops titled "Developing Effective Working Relationships with Indian Tribes and Organizations."

The three-day workshops are scheduled for May 7-9 at the University of Great Falls and May 15-17 at the Cottonwood Inn in Glasgow. The workshop is designed for federal, state and local government officials and business leaders who have a need or are required to work with Indian tribes.

The Great Falls workshop will emphasize working with the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation, Blackfeet Nation and Little Shell Tribe. The Glasgow workshop will emphasize the Assiniboine and Gros Ventre tribes of the Fort Belknap Community and the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation.

The workshops will be presented by LDK Associates of Sheridan, Wyo. The workshop has been presented in Wyoming, Utah, Arizona and Montana.

Other sponsors of the workshops are the tribes involved, plus First Interstate BancSystem Foundation, the state Office of Indian Affairs, Montana Association of Reservation Counties, the Great Falls and Havre branches of US Bank, Bison Engineering, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.

For more information or to register, contact Gloria O'Rourke at the Montana Rural Development Partners Inc. at (406) 563-5259 or visit http://www.ldkassociates.com.