Native American tribes fight for clean water, more money — Apsaalooke Nation

John Doyle watches Apsaalooke children play in the Little Bighorn River at Crow Agency, Mont. Despite the summer heat, children have recently been warned not to swim in the river because of virulent strains of E. coli. (Lauren Kaljur/News21)

CROW AGENCY, Mont. – When John Doyle first noticed signs of trouble in the Little Bighorn River, he was still a young member of the Apsaalooke Nation in southeastern Montana. Stagnant water would pool in some areas, filling with algae. It wouldn’t even freeze in the cold of winter. Later, catfish would turn up with quarter-size white sores. Doyle knew something had gone seriously wrong with the river – from which tribal members would drink, swim, and practice religious ceremonies.

He took his observations to officials from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. After several months, he went to them again. And again. Looking back, Doyle, now 68, recognizes he was naive to think the government would take quick action. The tribe’s wastewater was leaching into the river. He now understands that the tests, studies and maze of bureaucratic hurdles to address such water issues take time and money. John Doyle works in his office and shows a sheet of incubated […]

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