Betty N. Cooper, a member of the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council, said she recently attended a summit in Canada where Indian leaders discussed creating a First Nations identification card that would serve in place of a passport. "It would be really wonderful if the Montana tribes hosted a summit in Montana to address the border issues," Cooper said.

Storyteller: Betty Cooper, Chairwoman, Blackfeet Nation, Montana

Betty Cooper, Heart Butte. Qualification: public representative. Cooper has served on the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council, Pondera Medical Center and the Intertribal Monitoring Association. She has an associate degree in mental health/community service.

Blackfeet Tribal Council member Betty N. Cooper is the delegate from Blackfeet country, representing Chairman Allen Talks About, at the event.She explained the Association, which is sponsored by the US Department of Interior, held listening conferences throughout the region in 2004, but this year decided to do tribal-specific conferences with four tribes.Cooper put in an application for the Blackfeet Tribe, and next week the panel convenes at BCC."It's not just for trust issues, but also for the tribal government to look at its relationship with the federal government to work for solutions," Cooper said.The Intertribal group listens to testimony from tribal members about the federal government's trust relationship with the tribe, gathering evidence from those most affected by the fed's stance toward Indian nations.