Governor signs Native American foster care bill
Ellis Juhlin | Montana Public Radio
A bill creating guidelines for the removal and placement of Native American children in cases of adoption or foster care has been signed into law.
The Montana Indian Child Welfare Act (MICWA) prioritizes placing Native children with family members or other tribal members with the goal of preserving their cultural heritage. Montana joins over a dozen other states in creating a state level policy, modeled after federal legislation.
The federal policy is currently being challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court over claims that it creates unconstitutional race-based classifications.
The bill was a priority for Montana’s American Indian Caucus, due to the disparities of indigenous children in the foster care system. Native American kids make up 36% of the kids in foster care in Montana, despite being only 9% of the population, according to the research institute Child Trends.
Other states that have implemented similar policies have seen a subsequent decrease of Native kids in state custody.
New law tightens rules for Indian Education for All curriculum
Austin Amestoy | Montana Public Radio
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a law May 23 tightening rules for public schools to teach about Native American history, traditions, language and culture. The new law outlines how state schools and the Board of Public Education are to fulfill the constitutional requirement to teach about Indigenous culture and create learning standards for the Indian Education For All program.
The new law explicitly states that Indian Education For All requirements apply to all students and certified educators. It tightens reporting requirements to include more details about the instruction provided in schools. It requires that Montana tribes be included in rulemaking processes “addressing the development or revision of content standards.”
Montana is the only state in the nation with a constitutional requirement that schools teach about Indigenous cultures. Supporters of the new law say the state has failed to uphold that mandate for 50 years. The law goes into effect on July 1.
Yellowstone National Park officials kill bison calf after an incident with a visitor
Edward F. O'Brien | Montana Public Radio
Yellowstone National Park law enforcement officers are investigating an incident last Saturday that resulted in the death of a newborn bison calf.
A man approached the calf in Yellowstone’s northeast corner where it had been separated from its mother when its herd crossed the Lamar River, according to a park press release. As the calf struggled, park officials say the man pushed it up from the river and onto the roadway. Rangers were unable to reunite the calf with the herd.
Park officials said they later killed the calf because it was causing a hazardous situation by approaching cars and people along the roadway.
Park regulations require people stay at least 25 yards away from all wildlife including bison, elk and deer and at least 100 yards from bears and wolves.
Park officials have released a picture of the man allegedly involved in the situation and are asking the public for any information that may assist the investigation.
