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<br />JUL-II-97 13-,26 FROM,M.B.S.s. 10,970 -247 8827 <br />Native American Klgms runu <br /> <br />PAGE 9/27 <br /> <br />I~ <br />I~ In addition, such settlements avoid the bitterness that virtually always arises when Indian <br /> <br />o tribes assert their legitimate claims to natural resources that have been used for generations by <br /> <br />the non-Indian co=unity. No matter how valid the tribal claims, the displaceroen.t of non- <br /> <br />Indian users always causes strong resentment which is frequently displayed in an ugly fashion. <br /> <br /> <br />In the mid-1980's, the two Colorado .Ute Tribes showed r""'"~\.-able' courage and Skill in <br /> <br />engaging in discussions to resolve their lon~ntl;T1g claims to wa1er from the eleven O>tl~ <br /> <br />that crossed their reservations. The 1986 Settlement Agreement and 1988 Settlement Act were <br /> <br />carefully crafted to meet the tribal needs for a long term 1ol.'ater supply while pennitting non- <br /> <br />Indian uses to continue. As sucb. it was a model for what could be accomplisbed when tribes. <br /> <br />states and non-Indian water users cooperated. to address the issues SUl]'Nm"iT1g tribal water rights. <br /> <br />A partnership was forged that would benefit Inoi""" and non-Indians alike and the Colorado Ute <br /> <br />settlement became a model for the approach taken. by other statti:s and tribes. The fouodation for <br /> <br />that settlement is the storage of water in the Animll....La Plata Project. <br /> <br />Today, the two Ute Tribes and their non-Indian partners in the Project are announciDg <br /> <br />modifications to the Project in an admirable effort to make the Project and the Settlement work. <br /> <br />My undeIstanding is tha1 these modifications will gn:at.I.y reduce the cost of the Project and <br /> <br />eliminate any legitimate con= over its environmental impacts. Others can speak to the details <br /> <br />of the modifications. I want to make sure that you understand the importance of these <br /> <br />modifications and the efforts that the Ute Tn"bes - and their partners - have made to caay out <br /> <br />the spirit of the settlement. These are two Tribes who have played by the rules; they have <br /> <br />negotiated in good faith with the States of Colorado and New Mexico and non-Indian water <br /> <br />users. They made further compromises when the origioal settlement was presen1ed to Congress <br /> <br />Joan Ee801d:wk StattIBcot <br /> <br />hgeZ <br />