With new voting maps for Montana's Legislature to be revealed soon, Native American communities are being encouraged to watch the process closely.

Billings-based Western Native Voice wants the Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission to respect tribal sovereignty in the process. One of the commission's goals is to keep communities of interest, such as tribes, intact.

Ta'jin Perez, deputy director of Western Native Voice, said keeping communities whole is important, as is ensuring representation in the Legislature.

"Candidates of choice are from your community and that these communities should be able to have the opportunity to elect someone that shares their values and shares who they are and the unique history and the unique cultures of these tribal areas," Perez outlined.

The commission has scheduled nine public meetings in August and September, so Montanans can comment on the maps, including three meetings online: Aug. 30 for the western region, Sep. 9 for the central region, and Sep. 19 for the eastern region.

Perez pointed out Montana has an independent redistricting commission, and contended it has done a good job of ensuring the Legislature is proportionally representative of the population of Native Americans in the state. He noted the independent setup of the commission has many upsides, including it is not beholden to the governor or lawmakers.

"An entire Legislature, their voice is intended to be just as loud as that of the public because of this independent commission that we have," Perez explained. "Other states don't enjoy this kind of thing."

Perez added voters should be engaged in the process.

"Representation that reflects communities as they are is important, and the only way that a body like the redistricting commission can do that is through public comment," Perez concluded.

The deadline for the redistricting plan is the 10th day of the 2023 legislative session.

Only 17% of Native Americans are able to continue their education after high school.

Tribal colleges hope their efforts to help these students thrive will lead to improved outcomes. The approach is being highlighted in a Wisconsin school's milestone. This fall, the College of Menominee Nation kicked off a yearlong celebration as it observes its 30th anniversary.

Christopher Caldwell, president of the school, said it is important to display how much of an asset the campus is to the community. He noted part of it plays out in welcoming Indigenous students who did not have a good experience in trying out a mainstream college or university.

"And so, they come back home," Caldwell observed. "They might not have their degree, or they come back with debt."

Caldwell pointed out schools like his work closely with students in those situations, and he hopes their welcoming environment rubs off on mainstream campuses. He added tribal colleges are also important because they can educate the community about a local tribe's history. This year's celebration coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Menominee Restoration Act of 1973.

The policy reversed an earlier decision by Congress to terminate Menominee's status as a federally-recognized tribe. Caldwell argued it is an important story to keep telling.

"We really as an academic institution represent the intent of that act in all of the efforts of what our tribal nations look to do, which is to assert their sovereignty [and] their self-determination," Caldwell emphasized.

He stressed they are working to revitalize traditional aspects of the Menominee language and culture, which coincides with similar efforts around the country to prevent Indigenous languages from going extinct as a number of tribes lose their elders.

Caldwell stated it is a key example of the role an institution like his can play, and something other colleges can learn from.

A totem pole from the Lummi Nation in northwest Washington is traveling across the country as part of a bid to call for clean energy and environmental justice.

The pole left the Lummi Reservation in mid-September and has made stops along the way, including in Seattle, George Floyd Plaza in Minneapolis, and in Pittsburgh - which hosted a ministerial meeting on clean energy last week.

Douglas James is a member of the Lummi Nation's House of Tears Carvers - which crafted the 14-foot totem pole - and he is traveling with it across the country.

"We're just standing up for those that don't have a voice," said James, "like the birds, the frogs, the salmon, the orcas."

The totem pole is scheduled to reach Washington, D.C. this week.

James said the Lummi Nation first dedicated a totem pole to the victims of September 11th, two decades ago.

Wes Gillingham, the associate director of Catskill Mountainkeeper in New York, is traveling with the totem pole as well.

He said he's critical of some alternative fuel sources being proposed - such as what's known as "green hydrogen," which has a reduced carbon footprint but still produces emissions.

He said indigenous people should be at the forefront in the transition to clean energy.

"Listen to the voices of indigenous leaders and communities that have been impacted historically," said Gillingham. "They are working on finding some of their own solutions; organic or sustainable agriculture to help reduce the emissions from the agricultural industry and industrialization of agriculture that's taken place over the last 50 years."

James said he believes it will take a monumental effort to beat climate change and ensure clean air and water for the next generation.

"It's going to take every one of us," said James, "everybody that's living and breathing upon this planet, to try and do the best that we can to stand and make a difference."

The economy is usually a big topic during elections. With the midterms near, recent inflation woes are especially felt in tribal areas, and Indigenous leaders in North Dakota hope it spurs turnout.

A recent national poll found 63% of Indigenous voters were experiencing serious financial problems.

Douglas Yankton, chairman of the Spirit Lake Nation, said inflation has affected programs providing an array of services on his reservation. Even though some of the pressure has eased, the ripple effect is still there.

"A lot of those services don't go as far as they used to," Yankton explained. "Let's say transportation for instance, with the prices of gas and oil and everything, we have to figure out new routes to accommodate for that full week."

He added COVID is still a concern. Cases were disproportionately felt by Native populations, and Yankton pointed out local businesses are hurting with some residents worried about close contact, limiting their ability to work or shop. Despite long-standing voting barriers for Natives, he encouraged them to make their voices heard on these issues by seeking out election resources to make it easier.

Rep. Ruth Buffalo, D-Fargo, a member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, said inflation impacts Native voters in urban settings, too. Buffalo emphasized there is a lack of a commerce hub in Fargo to secure traditional Native food staples and other items. And, she said, the economic pressure made it harder to get those items from other parts of the region.

"Like when we go to Minneapolis, we can stop at Native owned businesses where wild rice might be sold, or different types of coffee, and of course jewelry," Buffalo observed.

She suggested the lack of a local hub makes it harder for local Native entrepreneurs to sell their products. Buffalo added over the past couple of years, they have seen an influx of Indigenous women and children come to Fargo in search of services. She noted it has revealed gaps in various systems. On a broader scale, Buffalo stressed there's another key issue Indigenous voters are watching.

"We know that for decades many people have been working behind the scenes to get rid of tribal sovereignty for their own benefit," Buffalo asserted. "We really need to get to the ballot boxes to protect tribal sovereignty."

Buffalo is the first female Native American Democrat elected to North Dakota's Legislature and is seeking reelection. Her opponents did not respond to a request for comment before deadline. One of her opponents, Republican Joshua Christy, has said he supports tribal sovereignty.