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A historic document between FEMA and the Chippewa Cree Tribe signed earlier this week marked an important step in the recovery efforts on the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation.

The agreement could secure funding for relief efforts after a devastating June flood on the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation.

One of the biggest losses due to the flooding was the reservation's health clinic.

Thanks to the historical agreement the tribe signed on Tuesday with FEMA, the cost to rebuild it will be fully covered by the federal government.

The tribe is the first tribe in the region to sign this type of agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Tribal leaders say it puts them on the same footing as the states when it comes to getting federal disaster recovery funding.

FEMA representatives recently assessed nearly $6 million worth of damage in the area.

CEO of the Chippewa Cree Construction Corporation Tony Belcourt says eligible projects like the health clinic will be fully covered, which will help take the strain off of the tribe.

"With a brand new medical facility cracked in half and sliding down the hill, it's a huge relief off of our shoulders to get that commitment from FEMA," Belcourt said.

The next step in the process is to write up project worksheets on the different projects that are eligible.

Belcourt says the tribe is also requesting money for emergency costs that have been incurred along with road projects and houses that have been affected by mold.

Getting funding will provide much needed cash flow to get repairs started.

Currently the tribe is footing the bill themselves, getting funding through private loans.

The project worksheets are due by September 15th.