Native News MT

The Fort Belknap teamed wrapped up a successful reporting trip on Wednesday. They finished strong with a trip to the Helena State Capitol building, where they talked to tribal leaders including Tribal Council President Jeffrey Stiffarm.

Reporter @kaiyote_will and photographer @tster7127 visited Castle Rock Lake near Colstrip and the St. Labre Indian School in Ashland. The team also met with Northern Cheyenne tribal member and Indigenized Energy Assistant Project Manager.

The Northern Cheyenne team trekked across the state today and landed in Colstrip, MT. There, the pair learned about mining operations and other types of energy from Westmoreland Mining. #LearnByDoing #NativeNews

The Rocky Boy team spent their second day meeting with Loni Taylor, a board member at MCCLR and tribal council member. The second half of the day was spent going around the reservation with Dustin Whitford to see important places that pertain to this edition’s story on Rocky Boy.

The Fort Belknap team spent the day talking to members of the tribal council and others associated with tribal water. They finished the day with a member of the Gros Ventre who showed them the land and gave them historical knowledge to aid with their story.

During their first day on the Blackfeet reservation, yesterday, Chloe Olsgaard & Andy Mepham visited St. Mary’s Division Dam, East Glacier business owners and the tribal council office. The team also laid eyes on the site for tomorrow’s interview: Chief Mountain (Nínaiistáko)

The Flathead team spent the day ping ponging back and forth between Pablo and Ronan meeting all kinds of sources. That wraps up their first trip, but they’ll be back.

The Flathead team finally got to meet their longtime source Jody Cahoon Perez, direction of the Salish Kootenai Housing Authority, in person. Five minutes later, she’s pointing out her favorite Mission Mountain hikes to Kaden. Welcome to Flathead!

The Fort Belknap team fought the snow today in an multi-location outdoor interview with the Fort Belknap irrigation manager. They continued reporting with interviews with water experts at the Aaniii Nakoda College.

The Fort Peck team talked with a tribal councilwoman in Poplar, Montana yesterday.

The Fort Peck team met with Fort Peck Chairman Floyd Azure, on our way to meet up with Cultural Resource Director Dyan Youpee on March 17.

Dyan Youpee, Fort Peck’s Cultural Resource Director, discusses her father, Darrell “Curley” Youpee, who founded the Cultural Resource Center. He served as director for 22 years. Curley passed away in 2021. Dyan carries on his work in the repatriation of sacred items and remains.

The Montana Native News Honors Project is an annual publication that is reported, photographed, edited, and designed by students in the University of Montana’s School of Journalism. If you want to learn more click here: nativenews.jour.umt.edu/projects/about/

Christine Trudeau (she/her) and Jeremy Lurgio (he/him) are the 2023 Native News advisors. Trudeau is a Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation citizen.

Griffin Smith (he/him) is the editor in chief of Native News 2023.

Ridley Hudson (she/her) is the photo editor and will be covering Rocky Boy’s Reservation.

McKenna Johnson (she/her) is the design editor of the 2023 Native News Honors Project.

Griffin Ziegert (he/him) will be traveling with 1-2 groups to make a video element of their story.

The Little Shell coverage will be done by writer Dylan Fullerton (he/him). He is covering the Little Shell Chippewa tribe throughout the semester.

The Crow team is comprised of reporter Aislin Tweedy (she/her) and photographer Nate Sanchez (he/him). They will be covering the Crow reservation throughout the semester.