Several agencies are helping put economic stimulus dollars to work on the Rocky Boy's Reservation, and The News Station's Tim McGonigal reports on how the groups are working together to build a bridge - for now and the future.

The Henry Bridge over Sage Creek on the Rocky Boy's Reservation may not be the biggest, but it's huge when it comes to relations between the Chippewa Cree Tribe, Hill County and the state of Montana.

Raymond "Jake" Parker, Jr., Chippewa Cree Tribal Chairman said, "We've done a collaborative effort with the state and the county to address this issue and it came about in a good way."

Washouts seemed to happen every spring, but thanks to money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in the amount of $2.3-million dollars, the bridge is now stable, and roads throughout the reservation are safer.

Representatives from the tribe, the state, the county and the federal government were on hand for a special dedication on Wednesday that included a blessing and ribbon cutting.

Besides fixing the bridge, the economic stimulus dollars helped pave the way for more than 24 miles worth of road improvements here on the reservation. And when the tribe found out that they got the money, they wasted little time in putting it to work.

Ed Parisian, Bureau of Indian Affairs Regional Director, said, "We're proud that Rocky Boy was actually the first tribe in the nation to sign a contract to start work work for those ARRA dollars. We've employed well over 50 people that make approximately $18 to $19 dollars an hour."

Parker is hoping the bridge and road work and the collaboration between agencies is just the beginning of a strong partnership. Parker noted, "We don't need to be so distant from each other. You know I think those days are over. We all need to figure out ways to benefit all, not just one or the other."

The cost for the bridge repair was about $550,000. Most of the work was done by tribal members, with the state and Hill County providing engineering support.

WEB EXTRA: more about the Box Elder area from the Visit MT website:

Box Elder was named for the creek, which in turn was named for the box elder trees that line its banks. The town serves as headquarters for the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation. The Rocky Boys are often called "the landless Indians;" they came from Canada in the 1870s and lived first around the Assiniboine and the Bear Paw foothills. Later they scattered over other parts of Montana. These Indians, also called Metis, come from a northern tribe of Chippewa-Cree. The townsite for Box Elder was laid of by Jonas Breemer, leader of forty Ohio families that were brought in by the railroad company to settle.