The Montana Native American Caucus is focusing on preserving Native culture during the 2025 Legislative Session. Senator Jonathan Windy Boy shares that key priorities include strengthening the Montana Indian Child Welfare Act and enhancing Native language education. These efforts aim to ensure Native children stay connected to their heritage and support cultural preservation in schools.
HELENA, Mont. - The Montana Legislative Session for 2025 is underway, and the Montana Native American Caucus is actively working on their goals for the future. Senator Jonathan Windy Boy, a member of the caucus, shared insights into their priorities.
Windy Boy highlighted three key issues aimed at preserving Native culture for future generations. One of the main bills is to revise and strengthen the Montana Indian Child Welfare Act. This act ensures that Native children adopted or placed under the care of non-Native parents have the opportunity to stay connected to their tribe's culture.
Another focus is the Indian Education for All program, which requires public school districts to teach both Native and non-Native students the history and culture of Native Americans. Additionally, the Montana Indian Language Preservation Program supports efforts by Montana tribes partnering with school districts to preserve native languages.
Native American children in Montana are disproportionately represented in the foster care system. According to the Montana Free Press, Native children in Montana were involved in foster care at an average rate of about 44 per 1,000, compared to about 9 per 1,000 white children. The revised Montana Indian Child Welfare Act would require guardians to make concerted efforts to immerse children into their tribe's culture.
"A lot of the kids that are in the system, for the most part, this new language is going to afford those kids that are affiliated with the tribes they're connected with the opportunity to go home and participate in the local ceremonies and cultural activities that go on. That they probably won't have access to," said a spokesperson.
Windy Boy emphasized the importance of teaching Native languages as part of the curriculum, similar to Spanish or French. However, no such curriculum currently exists, making legislative support crucial.
"Native language teachers have to come up with a curriculum from scratch, because there isn't any curriculum that's developed. That's why it's important to assist and try to support those class 7 teachers, to try and get a baseline of stuff so they can just kind of take it from there. Fill in a lot of blanks, and try to get these basic instructional pieces together so they can implement them from there," he said.
Windy Boy noted that the three bills do not have a fiscal note attached, which could impact their budgeting. However, he remains confident that they will pass.
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CSKT member and former Chairwoman Shelly Fyant (right) is one of 12 Native Americans in the Montana State Legislature.The Montana State House of Representatives convenes for the first day of the 2025 legislative session, which includes 10 new Native Americans in leadership positions. |
- Jan 9, 2025
- https://www.charkoosta.com/news/tribal-nations-represent/article_f48b8ff0-cecb-11ef-b22c-5b9e68c66121.html
Twelve Native American representatives are sworn into the Montana Legislature, including three from Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes| Char-Koosta News
HELENA — Three Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal members were sworn in at the 69th Montana Legislature: Shelly Fyant in the House and Shane Morigeau and Jacinda Morigeau in the Senate. Shelly and Jacinda, both Bitterroot Salish women, join retuning senator Shane Morigeau, in bringing unique perspectives to the legislative process.
The 2024 election brought 10 new
Native American representatives to Montana’s state House and Senate, including
Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, Sen. Jacinda Morigeau, Rep. Thedis Crowe, Rep. Tyson
Running Wolf, Rep. Frank Smith, Rep. Mike Fox, Rep. Jade Sooktis, Rep. Shelly
Fyant, Rep. Donavon Hawk, and Rep. Sidney Fitzpatrick. Along with returning
senators Susan Webber and Shane Morigeau, the total number of Native American
legislators now stands at 12.
Together, they are part of legislative sessions that are foundational to the democratic process, where they help shape laws governing society and ensure equitable distribution of resources and rights.
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