BBER PUBLICATIONS SEARCH RESULTS

Bob Gauthier's resume runs the gamut, from beer truck driver to tribal jailer to presidential appointee. While he may have taken an unusual path to success, his heritage, experience, and entrepreneurial spirit make Gauthier uniquely qualified as one of the only independent economic development consultants for Montana's Indian reservations.

American Indian infants in the Rocky Mountains and on the Northern Plains die more frequently than white infants in the region, making infant death one of the major health problems facing tribes and urban Indians in the area. Health statistics are readily available in practically every area for whites in the region but are lacking within the American Indian community. Without this data, existing disparities cannot be addressed.

Montana's American Indian tribes contributed over $1 billion to the state's economy in fiscal year 2003. Researcher Eleanor YellowRobe uncovered this and other never before collected data regarding the economic contributions of Montana's seven reservations and the Little Shell Tribe, with no reservation, after reviewing audited financial statements and government documents. Activities associated with the Flathead Reservation accounted for the largest share at about $317 million, or 30.9 percent of the total. The Fort Belknap Reservation was the smallest, with about $76 million, or 7.4 percent. This summary of tribal monetary contributions, presented by reservation area plus the Little Shell Tribe, is the first step toward quantifying the impact of Montana's American Indian tribes.