Ex-Governor Brian Schweitzer offers lesson in Tribal-State relations at United South and Eastern Tribes Impact Week

One of the most well received speakers at this year’s gathering of the United South and Eastern Tribes (USET) in Washington, D.C. during the organization’s annual Impact Week in early February wasn’t even Indian. It was the affable Montana Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who left office due to term limits in January, but who seems to be keeping Indians and their issues close to his heart—probably a very good place to be if he seeks higher office, which he is said to be considering.

Schweitzer recalled during a speech to the assembled tribal leaders and citizens that at his inauguration in 2005, he invited several tribal citizens to play drums at the ceremony, but he was told by some state officials at the Montana state capitol that he couldn’t have the drums there because perhaps their sounds would break the historic windows of the building.

“I said, if they did break, maybe some of the evil spirits would escape that building—yes, we made some changes,” Schweitzer said to laughter and applause, noting that the drums did play on that day.