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Crow tribal members are concerned that their per-capita checks will be reduced because of a deal offered by tribal leaders to Westmoreland Resources.

Opponents of the deal, that continues through 2018, gathered outside the U.S. Department of Interior building in Billings on Thursday, demanding federal officials intervene. The rally took place two days before tribal elections.

At issue is a late-August decision in which the Crow Legislature agreed to cut the tribe’s share of profits from tribal coal mined by Westmoreland. Tribal Legislator Shawn Real Bird said the reduction will put December per-capita payments at $22.10. The previous payment, issued before the cut, was about $210.

“They kept this a secret. They made absolutely sure no one would stop it,” said Real Bird, who was one of three legislators to vote against the cut on Aug. 30.

The coal mined by Westmoreland under lease with the Crow Tribe fuels the Sherburne County Generating Station, or SHERCO plant, in Becker, Minn.

Crow Tribal Chairman Darrin Old Coyote told The Gazette that while Westmoreland did receive a tax cut, per capita payments will be spared, while other government services take a hit.