Native Americans are the first stewards of Montana. They built distinct cultures in this homeland long before settlers colonized it, and they continue to do so as citizens not only of the United States but also of sovereign tribal governments. The little Shell are now recognized - but there is so much more to do. It is only a beginning.
The road to this moment in tribal-federal relations is littered with broken promises and terrible misdeeds on the part of our federal government. It is time for the federal government to finally live up to its treaty obligations with Native American peoples and be an honest partner. For too long this has been an afterthought in our politics. I hope to represent the eight tribal nations of our state with humility, an earned understanding, and the knowledge that every step we take is on native ground, from Montana to DC. That is why I will work for:
Expansion of the 8(a) Business Development Program from 5% of all federal contracting dollars to 8%, with a "reservation multiple" applied to all governemnt contractors residing on reservation lands in order to encourage 8(a)-related investment in Native communities
Federal ratification for Montana’s tribal water compacts
Modernizing the trust relationship between the federal government and tribes, especially the trust resource management system
Revitalization of Native languages
Reinstating the original delineations for Bears Ears, protect Badger-Two Medicine from harmful resource extraction, and work with all tribes to protect culturally significant non-tribal federal lands
Vigorous enforcement of NAGPRA
Ending the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women (MMIW), specifically by directing federal monies to tribal public safety and justice and pushing for re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act
Ensuring that tribal governments have access to federal programs on equal or greater footing with state governments
Direct federal resources to ensure every reservation has access to on-the-ground mental health professionals and appropriate facilities to stem the tide of suicides that has heartbreakingly overtaken some tribal nations
Promoting and supporting Food Sovereignty
Ensuring access to broadband internet in rural and Reservation communities across the country
