Havre, Montana (AP)

The Chippewa Cree Rocky Boys council wants to form an energy company to drill for natural gas in an effort to earn more money than they do by leasing the land to gas companies and charging royalties.

Tribal attorney Dan Belcourt said the tribe wants to exert more authority over its resources.

“We want to be the company, the developer, the whole nine yards,” Belcourt said.

He said the company, Chippewa Cree Tribal Energy, is still in the planning stage.

Tony Belcourt, director of Chippewa Cree Tribal Energy and former tribal council member, said tribal leaders want to provide natural gas to an ethanol plant planned by the tribe.

Dan Belcourt said the tribe has met with state officials about a possible revenue-sharing agreement on gas and oil taxes similar to the tobacco tax revenue-sharing formula reached this year.

Information from: Havre Daily News

www.havredailynews.com