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Native American children make up more than a third of the foster care caseload in Montana, despite representing less than 10% of the state's child population, according to a data analysis by the Montana Free Press. (Adobe Stock)

Racial gaps persist for Montana's Indigenous foster care youth

New research shows Indigenous youth comprise more than a third of the children in Montana's foster care system, despite making up a far smaller …

With the online tool Ballot Builder, advocates are working to make voting easier, more accessible and efficient for Indigenous people living on Montana's seven reservations. (Adobe Stock)

MT goes live with online tool for Indigenous voters

Indigenous leaders in Montana have announced the release of an online tool to help Native voters learn about the issues and candidates on the ballot…

Indigenous people will be discussing tribal identity on and off Montana reservations and learn what it means to be

Indigenous conference to address cultural identity

Billings-based Western Native Voice is holding its annual membership conference in Great Falls starting tomorrow, and members are discussing …

Heart Butte, Mont., population 600, is on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The suicide rate for Montana's Native American youth is more than five times the statewide rate for the same age group, according to the Montana Budget and Policy Center. (Amanda MorningStar)

MT Tribes grapple with crippling suicide rate

By Cheryl Platzman Weinstock for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Big Sky Connection reporting for the KFF Health News/Public News …

Montana has consistently had one of the highest voter turnout rates in the nation, according to the Secretary of State's office. The group Western Native Voice is working to increase the number of Indigenous voters this year. (Adobe Stock)

MT Indigenous group creates app to increase voter turnout

A Native American advocacy group is making a big push to get out the Indigenous vote in this year's elections. It is hiring field organizers across …

The Montana Legal Services Association's Tribal Advocate Incubator Project focuses on legal advocacy, <br />court representation and the basics of how to run your own business. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates boost legal services to MT's native tribes

A new program from the Montana Legal Services Association is boosting legal assistance to people living on the state's tribal land. The Tribal …

Statewide, about 60% of registered voters participated in the last election, but in Montana's four majority-Native American counties, turnout was significantly lower. Advocates for Indigenous Montanans are trying to change that for the upcoming election. (Adobe Stock)

MT advocates party like it's Election Day

Indigenous voting activists are throwing parties around Montana this weekend to encourage citizens to vote, but especially to encourage Native …

Wilderness areas comprise roughly 3.5 million acres of Montana's landmass, or almost 4%. (Adobe Stock)

MT seeks public input on environmental policy

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality wants to know what people think the state's next Environmental Policy Act should include. Critics …

The National Congress of American Indians is working with tribes to help end the opioid epidemic in tribal communities. (Adobe Stock)

$50 million earmarked for Indigenous community development

Native American Bank has been chosen to administer $50 million in grants from the U.S. Treasury Department to bolster low-income Native American …

Native American voters living on rural reservations often use ballot-collection services because of limited access to home mail services and polling places. Montana, home to 12 tribal nations, enacted a law that makes it illegal to pay organizers who collect completed absentee ballots from voters, according to the Brennan Center. (Adobe Stock)

Indigenous Effort Aims to Get Out the Vote

Today is National Voter Registration Day, and in Montana, Indigenous advocates are working to register people and get out the vote. As part of its …

The U.S. Department of the Interior currently manages 11,000 bison in herds across 4.6 million acres of public lands in a dozen states. (Adobe Stock)

Washington Invests $5 Million in Tribal Land Bison Restoration

The U.S. Interior Department has invested $5 million in reintroducing bison to Native American Tribal lands across the country. Montana's iconic …

About 4% of the present population of Montana is indigenous. The major groups include the Assiniboin, Blackfeet, Chippewa-Cree, Crow, Flathead, Grosventres, Kalispel, Kootenai, Little Shell Band of Chippewa, Northern Cheyenne, Piegan, Salish and Spokane. (Adobe Stock)

Western Native Voice Launches Road Tour to Educate Constituents

Indigenous advocates kick off educational listening sessions in rural Montana this month to educate Native Americans about actions the state legislatu…

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports there are about 220,200 openings for nursing assistants and orderlies each year over the course of a decade. (Adobe Stock)

MT Partnership Trains Nursing Assistants to Address Critical Shortage

Facing a critical shortage of front line health care workers, the Montana Department of Labor and Industry has partnered with the Blackfeet Indian …

One key issue in the case is whether Montana is responsible for emissions within the state and downstream emissions from fossil fuels extracted in the state and transported elsewhere, or whether it is responsible only for emissions within its territory. (Lesley Clark/POLITICO's E&E News)

Montana's Youth-Led Climate Case Could Set Precedent

Now in its fifth day, 16 kids are participating in a court trial with a lawsuit accusing Montana state agencies and the governor of compromising the …

About 20% of Americans living in rural areas, or about 6.5 million people, have been diagnosed with some form of mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Address Rural-Urban Mental-Health Care Gap

A new report underscores the challenges of getting mental health treatment when living in rural areas, like much of Montana. The Bipartisan Policy …

In exchange for 25 pro bono hours and 225 reduced rate service hours, the Montana Legal Services Association's RIPL program provides networking, assistance with business and client development, and hands-on legal experience. (Adobe Stock)

Program 'Incubates' New Lawyers and Rural Montanans

The Montana Legal Services Association has started a program to help young attorneys get started on a path to success - becoming community leaders…

HUD's Office of Multifamily Housing Programs administers programs providing housing linked with onsite and community-based supports, including for low-income seniors, people with disabilities, and families with children. (Adobe Stock)

Housing Advocates Push Back on GOP Budget Bill

Advocates for Montana's most vulnerable residents are pushing back on a budget plan passed by the U.S. House, saying it would have disastrous …

Blackfeet Community College is in Browning, Mont. in Glacier County near the Canadian border. (David Adamec/Wikimedia Commons)

Grant Boosts Student Parents at MT Tribal College

A grant is helping student parents at a college in northwestern Montana. The Aspen Institute has announced Blackfeet Community College and seven …

Housing and rental prices have skyrocketed out of many people's reach during the pandemic. (Aisyaqilumar/Adobe Stock)

Native Americans Moving Off the Rez Face Discrimination in MT

Native Americans in Montana face a slew of challenges to finding housing off reservations - including discrimination. A tight housing market in the …

There's a long history of mining across the Canadian province of British Columbia. (davidrh/Adobe Stock)

Tribes Say BC Mine Waste Threatens Water, Way of Life

Tribal representatives from across the Northwest are flying into Washington, D.C. this week to discuss how mine waste in British Columbia is …

After the 2020 Census, Montana added a House seat in the U.S. Congress. Its two seats are up for election on Tuesday. (Iryna/Adobe Stock)

Group Works to 'Get Out the Vote' for Indigenous Montanans

Election Day is almost here, and one organization wants to ensure indigenous folks in Montana know how they can cast their ballots. Ta'jin Perez…

Little Big Horn College in Montana is one of 32 fully accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities in the United States. (Photo courtesy lbc.org)

Native Americans Urged to Vote with Higher Ed in Mind

Montana is home to seven tribal colleges and universities. Higher education leaders for Indigenous populations say they hope to see strong turnout …

With voting booths often located far from home, absentee ballots are a way many Native Americans in Montana vote. (The Toidi/Adobe Stock)

MT Election Laws That Created Barriers for Native Americans Struck Down

A Montana District Court has struck down three election laws which would have created voting barriers weeks before the midterm election. Two of the …

Because of its population increase over the past decade, Montana will have two congressional districts this year instead of one. (Svetlana/Adobe Stock)

MT Native Org Getting Folks Registered to Vote

Today is National Voter Registration Day, and one Native American rights organization in Montana is ensuring people are ready to vote in November…

Artist Stella Nall made this painting of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, located in north central Montana. (Montana Conservation Voters)

'Remember Our History': Artists Paint MT National Monuments

Artists in Montana have recently immortalized the state's national monuments on canvas. At "Pint Night" events put on by the Montana Conservation …

A public meeting on redistricting is scheduled for Aug. 25 at Salish Kootenai College. (Salish Kootenai College/U.S. Department of Education)

MT Redistricting Has Impacts for Native Communities

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

Montana's current legislative map is in place until state-level elections in 2024. (leg.mt.gov)

Montanans Can Follow, Comment on State-Level Redistricting

With congressional districts settled, Montana is now drawing state-level voting maps for its legislative seats. The deadline for members of the …

Western Native Voice is setting up voting kiosks at tribal buildings across Montana. (Western Native Voice)

Group Aims to Boost Native American Turnout After MT Primary

A Native American organization is hoping to increase voter numbers after low turnout during the Montana primary this month. Keaton Sunchild…

Native Americans make up about 6% of Montana's population. (U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Low Homeownership Rates Hurt MT Native Americans

After a history of forcible removal from their land, Native Americans now struggle to own homes. Until recently, indigenous people had little …

The rate of Native Americans voting in Montana has been rising in recent elections. (FranciscoJavier/Adobe Stock)

Native Americans in MT Seek Getting Civically Engaged

It can feel daunting to know where to start for people who want to get involved in their communities, and being civically engagement can mean …

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes were involved in creating a wildlife crossing over U.S. Highway 93 in Montana. (Montana Department of Transportation)

Tribes Could Get Boost to Protect Wildlife Migration Routes

Migration routes for wildlife across the country are in peril, but tribes could get more support from Congress to protect these corridors. The …

About 7,000 people live on the Crow Nation reservation in southern Montana. (Montanabw/Adobe Stock)

Project to Train People to Represent Montanans in Tribal Courts

A program is looking for Montanans to represent people in courts on tribal reservations, who often lack access to legal assistance when they need it…

Some Native Americans living on Montana reservations travel more than 100 miles to polling locations. (Western Native Voice)

After Historic Struggle, Barriers Remain for Native American Voters

The road to voting rights for Native Americans has been long, but advocates for indigenous people hope to build on the momentum they've seen in …

There are seven reservations in Montana spread out across the state. (Census.gov/Wikimedia Commons)

Push for Indigenous Representation as MT Redistricting Enters Next Phase

HELENA, Mont. -- Redistricting in Montana has moved on to a new phase, with the state's commission now tasked with drawing lines at the state level…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed endangered-species protections for gray wolves in 2020. (Dennis Donohue/Adobe Stock)

Conservation Groups: Tribal Nations Should be Partners in Wolf Management

HELENA, Mont. -- To honor the Biden administration's steps toward greater ties with tribal nations, conservation groups are calling on it to list the …

Montana's redistricting commission has chosen a congressional map, with the possibility of small tweaks before it is finalized. (Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission)

Opposition from Tribes as MT Chooses Congressional Voting Map

HELENA, Mont. - Tribal nations and organizations say they're frustrated with the congressional map Montana's redistricting commission has chosen…

Ballot collection for absentee voters can be an important service in Montana because weather can be hard to navigate at election time. (Darylann Elmi/Adobe Stock)

Ballot Collection Law Could Affect Older Montanans' Ability to Vote

HELENA, Mont. -- A new law in Montana, which its backers said was designed to cut down on fraud, could instead make it more difficult for some …

Since Native Americans protested the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016, multiple states have passed laws restricting protests. (Hrag Vartanian/Adobe Stock)

Anti-Protest Laws Could Jeopardize Native American Religious Rights

HELENA, Mont. - State legislatures across the country have passed laws criminalizing an essential part of civic participation in a democracy - …

Native Americans living on reservations sometimes have to drive hours to get to a polling location. (Nathaniel Gonzales/Adobe Stock)

Bill in Congress Could Reshape Native American Voting Access

HELENA Mont. - A measure introduced in Congress could lower barriers to voting for Native Americans across the country. The Native American Voting …

Montana allows voters to track their ballots online. (The Toidi/Adobe Stock)

High Marks for MT Vote-By-Mail, Early Voting – Obstacles Remain

HELENA, Mont. - Montana earns points in a new report for providing access to early voting and vote-by-mail, but the achievements come with a major …

The Blackfeet Reservation is one of seven tribal reservations in Montana. (Kushnirov Avraham/Adobe Stock)

DIY Estate Planning Essential for MT Tribal Members

HELENA, Mont. - COVID-19 is underscoring the importance of ensuring that people's estates are in order, but estate planning can be be tricky for …

There are more than 1,100 wolves in Montana, according to recent state estimates. (gatito33/Adobe Stock)

Film on Indigenous People's Connection to Wolf Calls for Endangered Listing

HELENA, Mont. - With the gray wolf imperiled across the country, a new film explores the cultural connection between indigenous people and wolves…

About 52,000 children were living in households with high housing cost burdens in 2019. (melissadoar/Adobe Stock)

Discouraging Trends for MT Children Leading into Pandemic, Data Shows

HELENA, Mont. -- Troubling trends in Montana may have made the pandemic harder for children, a new report shows. The latest Annie E. Casey's KIDS …

Groups want to honor the native people of Montana by renaming three geographic features. (Djembayz/Wikimedia Commons)

Petition Proposes Change for MT Sites Named after Confederate Leader

HELENA, Mont. -- Groups in Montana are petitioning to change the names of three geographic features that now bear the name of Jefferson Davis…

Republicans made big gains in the Montana Legislature in the 2020 election. (pabrady63/Adobe Stock)

Unproven Election Fraud Claims Propel MT Voting-Restriction Bills

HELENA, Mont. -- Critics are pushing back on measures in Montana they say would restrict voting access. Bills introduced this session would end …

Rep. Deb Haaland, D-NM, has championed conservation legislation while serving in Congress. (AFGE/Flickr)

In Divided Times, Supporters Say Haaland Can Unite at Interior

HELENA, Mont. - New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland's nomination to lead the U.S. Interior Department is historic for Native Americans. As a tribal citizen …

Montana has allowed same-day voter registration since 2005. (jccain/Adobe Stock)

MT Measure Would Halt Same-Day Voter Registration

HELENA, Mont. -- A bill in the Montana Legislature could build barriers to voting, opponents of the measure contended. House Bill 176 would end same-…

The Keystone XL pipeline was slated to carry 800,000 gallons of tar sands per day through northeastern Montana. (Alex/Adobe Stock)

Keystone XL Pipeline Axed; Win for MT Tribes, Environment

HELENA, Mont. - President Joe Biden made the Keystone XL Pipeline one of his top priorities on his first day in office, issuing an executive order to …

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