GREAT FALLS (AP) -- The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council has rescinded a decision to pay former chairman Earl Old Person $100,000 to be the tribe's ambassador.

Council member Rodney ''Fish'' Gervais said the council unanimously reversed course Thursday. The decision to pay Old Person was made during an impromptu council meeting in July by some outgoing and current council members at the tribal offices in Browning.

Old Person, who did not return calls seeking comment Friday, was defeated by Henry Butterfly in the tribal elections June 24.

Gervais said council members who originally supported the move agreed to rescind it in hopes of renegotiating the deal or at least discussing it again.

''When the tribe will do that, I'm not sure,'' he said, adding that the tribe may discuss hiring Old Person as an ambassador and paying him per trip rather than a lump sum.

''He's still the chief of the tribe. He's still respected,'' said Gervais, who introduced the original resolution.

Gervais has previously defended the decision -- calling it smart business and noting that Old Person was successful for years at lobbying politicians in Washington, D.C., for money for the tribe.

Information from: Great Falls Tribune, http://www.greatfallstribune.com