Montana Public Radio

Blackfeet Nation

Native American Tribes Using Federal Funds To Aid Coronavirus Relief

By Eric Young • 5 hours ago

Native American tribes in Montana are beginning to use federal funds to bolster their response to the novel coronavirus.

The Crow Tribe announced they received $25 million from the U.S. Treasury. The Little Shell Chippewa Tribe received $25 million, per Chairman Gerald Gray. According to the office of Sen. Steve Daines, the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux tribes received over $24 million.

Trio Of Orphaned Montana Grizzly Cubs Heading To Arizona Zoo

By • May 27, 2020
Three orphaned grizzly cubs found near Dupuyer are set to move to an Arizona zoo after spending six weeks in Helena.
Corie Rice / Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

A trio of grizzly bear cubs whose mother was killed after attacking a hiker in Montana have a new home at a zoo in Arizona, state and federal wildlife officials said.

Blackfeet Tribe Announces Second Confirmed Case of COVID-19

By YPR News • Apr 27, 2020

Blackfeet tribal leaders announced a second lab-confirmed case of the COVID-19 illness Saturday night.

Blackfeet COVID-19 Incident Command posted to Facebook that Blackfeet Community Hospital received the positive test and that the patient is quarantined and under surveillance.

Tribes Declare Emergencies, Recommend Self Quarantine After Off-Reservation Travel

By • Mar 16, 2020


Multiple tribes in Montana declared states of emergency over the weekend following the confirmation of six presumptive COVID-19 cases in the state.

Three Blackfeet Nation Members Sue Indian Health Service

By • Jan 23, 2020
Indian Health Service logo.
Indian Health Service / IHS

Three Blackfeet Nation members have filed a civil lawsuit arguing the Indian Health Service violated their treaty rights when it allegedly failed to prevent a former IHS doctor from abusing them. 

U.S. Appeals Court Hears Arguments Over Oil And Gas Lease Near Glacier National Park

By • Jan 21, 2020
Map of Solenex Lease site in the Badger-Two Medicine near Glacier National Park
Courtesy Montana Wilderness Association

A lengthy legal fight over an oil and gas lease in the Badger-Two Medicine area near Glacier National Park continued Tuesday in federal court. The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. heard arguments over the U.S. Interior Secretary’s authority to cancel the lease. 

Former U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell in 2016 canceled the last two remaining oil and gas leases in the disputed area near the Rocky Mountain Front. Moncrief Oil and Solenex LLC took the Interior Department to court arguing that the agency couldn’t suddenly change its mind.

New Report Says Keystone XL Would Exacerbate Missing Persons Crisis In Indian Country

By • Nov 25, 2019


A new report says the Keystone XL pipeline would exacerbate the problem of missing and murdered indigenous women in Montana and other Northern Plains states in the project’s proposed path.

Former Blackfeet Chairman Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud

By • Nov 7, 2019

A former chairman of the Blackfeet Nation has pleaded guilty to a federal wire fraud charge Wednesday. The former tribal leader faces up to 20 years in prison.

Montana Honors Memory Of Blackfeet Activist Elouise Cobell

By • Nov 4, 2019
A memorial honoring Elouise Cobell displayed at the University of Montana's Elouise Cobell Land and Culture Institute.
Cole Grant / Montana Public Radio

Elouise Cobell, the Blackfeet woman who spearheaded a lawsuit alleging rampant federal mismanagement of Indian trust funds, would have been 74-years-old Tuesday.

The lawsuit she championed ended with a $3.4 billion settlement, providing money for an Indian education scholarship fund and a land trust program.

Valier Pep Rally Video Leads To Canceled Games, Investigation

By • Oct 11, 2019

A Montana high school is investigating a video that has offended some community members for its depiction of Native Americans.

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