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Associated Press
31-03-2025
- Associated Press
Frustrated with persistent violence, Fort Peck Reservation community members demand change
Holding signs and wearing red, more than 100 people gathered at Fort Peck Community College on March 22 calling for an end to the violence that has plagued the tribal community. Protestors walked about one-third of a mile from the campus in Wolf Point to an abandoned building that recently burned down. 'A murderer killed my father,' 9-year-old Emadeline 'Maddy' Weeks told the crowd. Her father, Cody Weeks Combs, was shot and killed near his home in Wolf Point in 2020. He was 28 years old. 'All my family members are gone,' she continued. 'No one seems to … care. Violence has to stop!' Located in northeast Montana, the Fort Peck Reservation is home to nearly 10,000 people. The two largest towns on the reservation, Poplar and Wolf Point, are separated by about 20 miles. Frustrated by persistent violence and insufficient law enforcement resources to combat it, community members have held several marches this month to raise awareness and call for change. Some residents have proposed creating a neighborhood watch group, others say they plan to establish new programs to engage youth in positive ways. Four hundred miles away in Helena, members of Montana's American Indian Caucus are pushing for legislation that aims to bolster public safety in Indian Country at both the state and federal level. The awareness campaigns come in response to several recent deaths on the reservation. Stan Moran, Jr., a 48-year-old former addiction counselor and wrestling coach who struggled with homelessness, died in a fire while staying in an abandoned building in September. Fort Peck Tribal Law Enforcement on Feb. 26 found the body of Gifford Standing near that same area. Standing, 47, loved sports, fishing and music and was engaged to be married on March 13, according to an obituary written by his family. Tribal police later announced that four people had been arrested in connection to his death, which they said was a homicide. And two weeks ago, a child was stabbed near the wellness center in Poplar. Videos of the incident circulated social media. Tribal council member Wayne Martell said while violence has been an issue in the community for years, lately, it's become normalized. 'It's so prevalent that we kind of overlook it,' he told Montana Free Press last week. 'It feels like it doesn't really have meaning anymore when it occurs.' Tribes Urge Adequate Funding for Law Enforcement While Native Americans face higher rates of violence than their white peers nationwide, they must often rely on overburdened and underfunded systems of public safety. A consequence of U.S. federal policy, on the Fort Peck Reservation tribal police generally handle misdemeanor crimes committed by tribal members. Federal entities, like the Bureau of Indian Affairs and FBI, handle major crimes. And because of cross deputization agreements between the state and Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board, Montana Highway Patrol and county law enforcement also assist in public safety efforts. Wolf Point police officers also patrol within city limits on the reservation. Despite these partnerships, however, Fort Peck community members say law enforcement services remain inadequate. Wolf Point Police Department Clerk Chris Will said it's not uncommon for the department to have just one officer patrolling the 2,604-person city. With more resources, Will said the city could have two or three officers patrolling at once. 'It would help if we could have a presence,' Will told MTFP last week. 'If people could see us out on the street, we can stop and talk to them instead of just having one officer go from call to call.' Recent awareness campaigns have caught the attention of the Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board. Though the Fort Peck Tribes receive federal funding for various programs, Council member Roxanne Gourneau expressed frustration at a recent council meeting, saying those dollars are often earmarked for specific purposes. She urged the council to bring together law enforcement, criminal investigators, court officials and social service leaders to find solutions. 'We've got all this money, but all this crime,' she told her colleagues at the meeting Monday. 'What can we do? What can we accomplish?' The Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes are not the only ones in Montana to voice frustrations with insufficient law enforcement funding. Devastated by the death of an 8-year-old child last fall, Northern Cheyenne community members in southeast Montana took to the streets to protest violence. The tribe in 2022 sued the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Department of the Interior, alleging the federal government has failed to provide adequate public safety services on the reservation. The Fort Belknap Indian Community, headquartered in north central Montana, in 2022 also sued the United States, saying the lack of funding has prevented them from hiring key positions. Rep. Tyson Running Wolf, D-Browning, has proposed a resolution this legislative session that would urge Congress to fully fund law enforcement on reservations in Montana. Running Wolf on March 25 told the Senate Energy, Technology and Federal Relations Committee that the resolution 'is a call to action.' He argued that adequate funding is necessary for tribes 'to protect their communities.' House Joint Resolution 1 cleared the House and must advance out of the Senate before arriving on the governor's desk. While resolutions cannot create law or force action, they are meant to convey the Legislature's desires and priorities. Another bill brought by Running Wolf to bolster the state's Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force became law. Effective July 1, the new law allows the task force to receive donations, grants and other money for operational expenses. House Bill 545, also brought by Running Wolf, would rename the task force the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Advisory Council and add a homicide investigator to the group. That bill sailed through the House and will move to the Senate for consideration. 'No More Looking the Other Way' At a community meeting after the march last weekend, organizer Lance FourStar, proposed forming a goodwill ambassador program, where respected community members receive training to essentially act as a neighborhood watch. Frances Weeks, who served in tribal and federal law enforcement for 13 years and whose granddaughter spoke at the march earlier this month, would help lead the program. With insufficient policing, Weeks said people feel emboldened to commit crime, knowing it's unlikely they'll be held to account. Those who witness a crime, she added, are therefore less likely to come forward, fearing retaliation. 'It's a Catch-22 for law enforcement, then,' she said in an interview last week. 'They know people see things, but people don't follow through and report it.' The goal of the goodwill ambassador program, Weeks said, is to encourage people to report suspicious incidents to someone they trust. 'A lot of people just don't know what kind of information might be helpful,' she said. 'We want community training for community policing.' Dave Mathison, a retired fire chief who is planning a similar march in Poplar, said young people would benefit from more services and activities. 'You look at these communities and there is absolutely nothing for these kids to do,' he said. 'They're only kids, and we're creating nothing for them.' He is planning a march against violence in Poplar on April 5 that he hopes will include music, bounce houses and games. Mathison said he hopes to implement a program that would incentivize young people to clean up the community and get involved in other safe activities. 'I don't want the people of Poplar to leave,' he said. 'We have good things that can happen on this reservation. There's possibilities galore, but we have to get together as a team. There's no more looking the other way.'
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
American Indian Caucus touts success at Legislature's halfway point
Nora MabieMontana Free Press After a decade of failed attempts, members of Montana's American Indian Caucus were stunned when a bill establishing Indigenous Peoples Day as a legal state holiday flew through the Senate with bipartisan support, clearing the chamber last month. The initial success of the legislation, which faced significant criticism last session, is indicative of a larger pattern. At this legislative session's halfway point, members of the American Indian Caucus say they're generally having more success this year when it comes to advancing their priority bills. The American Indian Caucus is an informal group of about a dozen Native American state lawmakers who work together to advance legislation they say is good for Indian Country, guided by the principle that what's good for Indian Country is good for Montana as a whole. In the Republican-dominated Legislature, the mostly Democratic caucus operates as a minority within a minority. The group, then, must earn bipartisan support to advance priority bills or kill legislation they say is harmful. Caucus leaders say they prioritize relationship building and pride themselves on their ability to work across the aisle. Though tribes are sovereign entities with a unique government-to-government relationship with the United States, state laws have tremendous influence on Indian Country. Sen. Susan Webber, Blackfeet, said while some of her constituents have celebrated the caucus' recent wins, many across Indian Country remain unengaged in state politics. 'We pay more attention to the federal government than we do the state government, but in reality, the federal government has been moving their trust responsibility over to the states,' she said in a recent interview. Responding to criticism from last session, Sen. Shane Morigeau, Salish and Kootenai, revised the Indigenous Peoples Day legislation, this time allowing Montanans to celebrate both Indigenous Peoples Day and Columbus Day. Morigeau also emphasized inclusivity in his remarks to lawmakers, saying the holiday is meant to celebrate all Montanans. Those changes in approach, he told MTFP, likely contributed to the bill's advancement. Senate Bill 311, to enhance lawmakers' understanding of tribal issues, also cleared the Senate. It's another one of Morigeau's bills that failed last session and has made significant progress this year. Bills brought by Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, Chippewa Cree, that would extend the Montana Indian Child Welfare Act, improve accountability in the constitutionally mandated Indian Education for All laws and bolster the Montana Indian Language Preservation program have all advanced out of the Senate. Windy Boy said that House Bill 2, which determines most of the state's budget, includes an increased appropriation for tribal colleges and funding to support repatriation efforts, though that legislation remains under consideration. The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, often called NAGPRA, is a federal law that created a process for tribes to request the return of Native remains and cultural items from institutions. Universities and other institutions in Montana have worked to return those items, but Windy Boy, who also serves as the tribal historic preservation officer for the Chippewa Cree Tribe, said institutions often lack the resources to do so in a timely manner. The proposed appropriation of about $360,000 would cover the salaries and operational costs for a team at the University of Montana working to do just that. Brought by Rep. Tyson Running Wolf, Blackfeet and chair of the American Indian Caucus, House Bill 83 to enhance the Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force was the first of the caucus priority bills to become law, signed by Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte on Feb. 27. Another bill brought by Running Wolf, House Bill 545 to rename the task force the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Advisory Council and add a homicide investigator, has cleared the House. And Senate Bill 107, brought by Webber to provide human trafficking education in schools, advanced out of the Senate. Montana's American Indian Caucus notched another win when House Bill 216, allowing some landowners to hunt on the Flathead Reservation, failed. The legislation drew sharp criticism from tribes, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and other organizations that argued it violated treaty rights and threatened tribal sovereignty. Running Wolf said he was happy to see a bill voted down that would've prohibited state support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs. He was also surprised to see the advancement of a bill continuing Montana's Medicaid expansion. The GOP-sponsored legislation would remove the sunset date on Montana's Medicaid expansion program, which covers health care costs for low-income adults ages 18 to 65. While Medicaid expansion was expected to be contentious this session, House Bill 245 sailed through the House and Senate and awaits Gianforte's signature. 'That gives me hope,' Running Wolf said. Several caucus members said they attribute their initial success to the makeup of the Legislature this year. While Republicans held a supermajority last session, this year margins are slimmer. Republicans now have 32 of 50 seats in the Senate and 58 of 100 seats in the House. Party infighting, caucus members said, has also contributed to some of their early achievements. Chaos has plagued the Senate, with former Senate President Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton, and current Senate President Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, at the center of two scandals. After a dispute regarding committee assignments, a group of nine moderate Republican senators have been voting with Democrats on some issues, at times to the benefit of American Indian Caucus priorities. Where in past years, caucus members may have had to be strategic on when to ask for moderate Republicans' support, Webber said this year the relationship is different. 'Now, we just go up to them and say we need them,' she said. 'And it goes both ways. We're able to help get their bills across the finish line, too.' Republican infighting, Running Wolf said, has meant that more lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have been approaching caucus members for support. While fissures within the Republican caucus have helped advance some American Indian Caucus priority bills, Morigeau said several harmful bills — like legislation aimed at altering the judiciary and expanding wolf hunting — remain in play. He and other caucus members argue legislation that would reduce the wolf population could interfere with state-tribal collaborative management efforts. Bills that politicize courts, he said, 'erode their core function, to be blind and impartial.' Running Wolf said the caucus is watching several bills it fears could harm Indian Country. He said House Bill 179 to revise election laws as they relate to inactive voters, House Bill 807 to prevent certain vaccine requirements, and House Bill 623 to revise nuclear energy laws, would have disparate, negative consequences for tribal communities. With the Legislature set to recently reconvening, Webber and other caucus members say they hope to see more engagement from Indian Country during the second half of the legislative session. 'People haven't realized that they have a voice and that their voice is powerful,' she said. 'They can really affect what's happening in the state. We haven't totally done that yet. … That's why we go to Helena — to make sure that we are heard, that the tribal peoples are heard.' This story was originally published in the Montana Free Press
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Blasted — Indigenous bills advancing through Montana legislature
Kaiden Forman-Webster ICT + MTFP Two bills that are priorities for the Legislature's American Indian Caucus are back in play after strategic moves by Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, a Democrat from Box Elder, last Friday afternoon. At the end of the Senate's floor session, Windy Boy motioned that the Montana Indian Child Welfare and Indian Education for All bills be pulled from the committees where they had previously been voted down and revived by the full chamber. In Friday's Senate floor session, Windy Boy blasted both bills. For Montana Indian Child Welfare he stated 'It had 26 proponents and zero opponents, and it is a good bill'. Sen. Dennis Lenz, a Republican from Billings and Chair of Senate Health, Welfare, and Human Safety committee that tabled the bill objected to the motion stating that the issue of MICWA is complex. The Senate voted 29-21 in favor of the motion, the bill will now be heard for second reading by the Senate. A blast motion simply allows a bill sponsor to pull a bill from its respective committee after it has been heard and is either voted down, tabled, or the committee chair refuses to take executive action on the bill. The blast requires a simple majority vote by the Senate. As for the second bill, Windy Boy motioned for it to also be pulled from committee stating 'It had 15 proponents and one opponent, and I did have an amendment that would address that at one point and when the opponent spoke up they said they would support the bill afterwards.' Sen. John Fuller, a Republican from Kalispell and Chair of the Education and Cultural Resources committee objected to the motion on the grounds that it would be a violation of procedural rulings. It was another victory for Windy Boy with the Senate voting 26-24, advancing the bill to be heard for second reading along with the other. It was a successful day for Windy Boy and his bills. 'It feels good,' said Windy Boy, 'It's good for the kiddos.' Windy Boy joked 'I'll have to buy [Sen. Mike] Yakawich a Happy Meal for supporting both.' On Monday, Feb 24, both bills were heard on the Senate floor for second reading. The Montana Indian Child Welfare Act bill involved a very lengthy conversation. Windy Boy reflected on a personal story of the death of his daughter and the ensuing crisis of finding a home for the seven children left behind after her passing. Windy Boy and his wife took in all seven grandchildren and relayed what would have happened to the kids if he did not take them in. Explaining that if he did not step up and raise his grandchildren they may have been lost to the foster care system, opening the children up to being separated from one another and the possible severance from their culture. Windy Boy stated that the cultural compacts within the MICWA bill will be able to address these issues. Sen. Daniel Emrich, a Republican from Great Falls, encouraged a no vote on the bill on the grounds that the requirement in section one of the bill requires a cultural compact between the guardian and respective tribe of the Indigenous child as a 'serious constitutional concern'. Windy Boy's answer to this was to refer to the Montana state Constitution article 10 section one subsection 2. 'The state constitution recognizes the unique cultural heritage of the tribes in Montana' said Windy Boy. The bill was voted on by the Senate body and passed second reading 31-19 and will now be heard for third reading before going to the House. Indian Education for All was heard for second reading immediately after and involved much less debate. Windy Boy emphasized the accountability required by the bill, appealing to people's want to ensure government funding is used transparently. Simply put it is an accountability piece of legislation. 'So this basically is an accountability bill to make sure that if you get $1 and that dollar is supposed to be geared towards educating the students at the local school district, it's just to see 'show me what you're doing,'' Windy Boy said. No one spoke out against the bill with it passing second reading 31-19 and will also be heard for third reading before advancing to the House. After multiple bills being held up in committees related to Native issues, Montana American Indian Caucus Members look to use the blast motion for their bills to the senate floor, a rare situation, but members believe it is the best way to accomplish their agenda of strengthening Native issues At a Wednesday meeting of Montana's American Indian Caucus, several members raised concerns about their bills being held up in committees and or being tabled or voted down. With Republicans holding a strong majority in both the Senate and the House, it is an uphill battle to get legislation through, prompting some new strategies by the caucus – who are mostly Democratic lawmakers. During last Wednesday's meeting, caucus members concluded enough is enough. Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, a Democrat from Box Elder said he would have the votes to blast his bill in the Senate, citing the current dysfunction of the chamber. Windy Boy's Montana Indian Child Welfare Act was tabled by a committee on Feb. 14, though he said other child welfare bills have advanced from the same committee. The Indian Education for All bill, also from Windy Boy, made several changes to the program that Windy Boy argued created more accountability regarding the reporting of funding. His bill was tabled Jan. 30. Following Windy Boy, Sen. Susan Webber, Blackfeet and a Democrat from Browning, also spoke to her Senate Bill 180, which aims to include the child's heritage in divorce proceedings. It was voted down Feb. 14, but Webber said she plans to blast it Feb. 25. Sen. Shane Morigeau, D-Missoula and Salish and Kootenai, also threw his hat in the ring regarding his bill to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day in Montana and is 'On the Jonathan Windy Boy wagon' on blasting his bill as well. Morigeau is confident his bill 'Will not get rid of Columbus Day but will let people celebrate what they want.' Similar legislation has died in previous sessions. The aforementioned dysfunction of the senate stems from what is known as the nine moderate Republicans. These nine have continually been a thorn in the side for the Republican majority. When asked if this factors into Moderates being more open to working on key issues for Montana with Democrats, Windy Boy said 'I don't like to read too much into issues like that, but if it happens, no doubt that's probably what those Moderates are thinking.' Multiple bills this session that have made it to the senate floor have been opposed by the more Conservative Republicans, yet the Moderates have sided with the Democrats on certain matters such as keeping Medicaid Expansion. When asked about situations where individuals work across the aisle to support a bill they may not fully support in exchange for support on their own bill, Webber acknowledged 'That is a part of it and there is some of that going on.' She added that for her bill in particular, she's been able to gain support by talking to and explaining it to others. Morigeau addressed this strategy from a different lens, looking back on last session and explaining a bill to 'establish autism facilities grant program' that was voted down in committee. He then turned to a Republican and asked if they would carry the bill for him. They did, and the bill was signed into law. For Windy Boy, engaging with Moderates has been a productive experience bringing forth appreciation that they are open to listening to what he wants to accomplish, which he attributes to these Republicans being a reflection of their voter base that cares for Montana priorities. Being open to learning from different perspectives from across Montana is an important skill needed to successfully transverse issues, something Windy Boy is well attuned to due to his many years at the Capitol. 'The way I see it is that they're more open minded on looking at that bigger picture, so they understand what the issue is about from our version, our angle,' Windy Boy said. Currently, caucus members believe the issue of bills being held up in committees creates large setbacks for these lawmakers and that using the ability to blast bills will more than likely continue. "I think so as of right now, because it is the only way we can really get our bills through,'Webber said. Windy Boy has been a strong advocate for Indigenous issues for the entire 23 years that he has served the legislature and enjoys stepping up to the plate to cross the aisle and find common ground with Republicans. Looking at it as an opportunity to address stereotypes inflicted on both sides. Even after he was told that doing so was a lost cause to which he ignored. 'I am the kind of guy that I just walk right up and start talking to them,' Windy Boy said. He went on to say that people can often be mislabeled. What I found out are people that are labeled as racist, people that are labeled as discriminatory, all of that,' Windy Boy said. 'My take from it is, they're uneducated, they don't understand me. But at the end of the day, after I turned around and educated them from my approach of what I'm talking about, they have kind of one of those 'Aha moments,' and so those ones there, who have been labeled as racist and discriminatory have become some of my strongest proponents.' For Windy Boy's bills, they must now pass through the Senate and the House with the possibility that other Montana American Indian Caucus members may use the same strategy of blasting their bills through committee hold ups. This story is co-published by Montana Free Press and ICT, a news partnership that covers the Montana American Indian Caucus during the state's 2025 legislative session
