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Article published Jan 6, 2007

Lawmaker's remarks draw peer criticism, prompt floor apology

By GWEN FLORIO
Tribune Capitol Bureau

HELENA — State Rep. Ed Butcher, R-Winifred, publicly apologized Friday to
his Democratic colleague Jonathan Windy Boy of Box Elder for calling him
"chief" and asking on Thursdaywhether an outsize gavel "would qualify as a
war club."

"I meant it as a compliment," said Butcher, who has a history of
intemperate remarks. Butcher directed his apology, made on the floor of the
state House of Representatives, toward an empty chair. Windy Boy was
attending a meeting of the Chippewa-Cree Business Council, of which he's a
member.

Windy Boy said in a telephone interview that Butcher's comments hadn't
particularly bothered him. "I've known Ed for a long time, and I don't
expect anything different. ... You can't teach an old dog new tricks," he
said.

Besides, Windy Boy said, "growing up in the '60s near Havre, where you'd
see the signs in the (store) windows saying 'No dogs or Indians allowed,'
you just get used to it."

For his part, Butcher said he found the entire matter "absurd."

"It sure as hell wasn't anything racist," said Butcher, adding that his
adopted daughter is from the Rocky Boy's Reservation, and that he's an
honorary member of the Metis. "The whole thing is politics. ... The
Democrats like taking cheap shots at me."

The comments that resulted in the apology came Thursday while members of
the House Agriculture Committee, which Butcher chairs, were waiting to
begin their first meeting. Among them was Rep. Shannon Augare, a freshman
Democrat from Browning.

He said Butcher's comments shook him.

"My constituents, Montana's first citizens, like all other citizens of Big
Sky Country, ask to be treated with respect," said Augare, who is
Blackfeet.

Augare consulted with members of the Democratic leadership, among them
Margarett Campbell of Poplar, who is minority whip.

Campell, who is Assiniboine, said she wasn't surprised.

"Historically, Ed has worn his foot in his mouth," she said of Butcher, who
referred to Indian reservations as "ghettos" during the 2001 legislative
session, and called developmentally disabled people "vegetables" in 2004

"But I thought maybe he'd learned something," she said.

Addressing her House colleagues, Campbell said that "many people will never
experience the racist comments that have a tendency to burn into your
memory and soul forever. ... The words of Rep. Butcher were very hurtful
and extremely inappropriate."

Butcher kept his apology brief. After the House adjourned for the day, he
said he called Windy Boy "chief" because of his position on the business
council.

"I always thought the chief was the main man. I have a lot of very positive
feelings for Windy Boy," he said. "Of all the Native members of the
Legislature, I felt the most respect for him. He's one of the sharpest of
the Native representatives."

In his response to Butcher's apology, House Minority Leader John Parker,
D-Great Falls, said that "the Indian legislators of Montana deserve to walk
through the halls of this Capitol and be treated with dignity and respect.
The Indian children of Montana deserve to grow up in a world where they are
free from abuse and scorn."

Parker said he didn't believe Butcher's comments reflected the views of the
House Republicans. "I hope that having this apology means that this is
never going to happen again," he said.

Campbell said she was glad the incident was dealt with on a Friday.

"We tried to keep it from becoming a food fight on the floor," she said.
"We've got Saturday and Sunday to heal, and on Monday, we can get back to
business."