American Indian Governance and Policy Institute

Tune in to our newest episode of Unpacking Injustice: Montana’s Mass Incarceration of Indigenous Women: Historical Trauma, Colonization, & Culturally Relevant Healing. Kristina Lucero, Director of the American Indian Governance and Policy Institute, brings policy, data, and personal history together to unpack the roots of this crisis.

Search “Unpacking Injustice” on Spotify or Amazon Music, or click the link to listen now:
https://mtinnocenceproject.org/2026/02/10/podcast-montanas-mass-incarceration-of-indigenous-women-historical-trauma-colonization-culturally-relevant-healing/

This weekend marked a first-of-its-kind convening, bringing Tribal leaders together with Native legislators, to collectively identify shared challenges and opportunities, strengthen relationships, and prepare coordinated policy action grounded in Tribal sovereignty.
Thank you to everyone who joined and supported us in honoring the stories that have shaped our communities and building policy rooted in Indigenous values that we can carry forward together.
Special Thank You to Headwaters Foundation for making this gathering possible.
Stay tuned!

The Indian Child Welfare Act is just one example of a bigger truth: policies meant to uphold Tribal sovereignty are too often ignored in practice. Our research exposes where systems fall short, from child welfare to state-Tribal consultation. The American Indian Governance and Policy Institute advocates for effective ways of navigating these systems to strengthen Indigenous communities. This Giving Tuesday, support the work turning policies like ICWA from an afterthought into application.

https://www.umt.edu/american-indian-governance-policy-institute/donate.php

https://www.umt.edu/american-indian-governance-policy-institute/icwa-report-5.25.pdf

www.umt.edu

Cobell v. Salazar wasn't just a lawsuit, it is the framework for how to force the federal government to produce records it refused to collect. Please join us in welcoming Keith Harper (Attorney for Plaintiffs, and former U.S. Ambassador) who will discuss the litigating strategy in forcing the federal government to account to its fiduciaries.

📅Wednesday, November 5, 2025
⌚️3:00 p.m.
📍Payne Family Native American Center Rotunda
💻Join online: Zoom ID 934 1863 7872
⚖️CLE Credit pending approval
*light refreshments to follow*

👕If you're in need of an orange shirt for Orange Shirt day, we have ours in! The design was made by Taeshon Schaefer (IG: .with.lights), an Aaniiih artist. This piece reflects the three children, Almeda Heavy Hair, Bishop L. Shield, and John Bull, who were welcomed back home to the Ft. Belknap Indian Community in September of 2024. This piece reflects the children returning to camp.

🧡Almeda Heavy Hair entered Carlisle Industrial School on April 13, 1890, and died on August 28, 1894 at the age of 16.🤍

🧡Bishop L. Shield entered Carlisle Industrial School on April 13, 1890, and died on July 30, 1890 at the age of 17.🤍

🧡John Bull entered Carlisle Industrial School and died on May 7, 1891 at the age of 16. 🤍

🛒Sizes: S-3XL, while sizes last
🏧Cost: $30 cash/check
📞Contact: Kristina .[email protected] or 406.243.6377

🧡Every Child Matters 🧡
Please join and walk with us this Orange Shirt Day ~ Tuesday, September 30, 2025. Along the way, you'll learn about how Federal Indian Boarding Schools impact our communities today, the work Tribal governments are doing to heal their communities, and what you can do to support these efforts.
⏰7:30 a.m. at Payne Family Native American Center: Prayer and Reflection
⏰8:00 a.m. Walk around the Oval: Every step honors the children and carries their story forward.

🌅✨ Join Us for a Day of Remembrance & Resilience ✨🌅
📅 September 30, 2025
📍 Payne Family Native American Center Rotunda
💛 On the National Day of Remembrance, the American Indian Governance and Policy Institute invites you to honor, learn, and walk in solidarity:
🌞 7:30 AM – Sunrise Remembrance Honoring (PFNAC Rotunda)
🚶‍♀️ 8:00 AM – Walk the Oval 🪶
🔖 Informational flags posted in each quadrant:
• Historical Facts
• Policy Implications
• Disparities & Impacts
• Resilience & Action
👕✨ Limited Edition T-shirts by Indigenous Artist Taeshon Mirage will be available for purchase!
Let’s come together to remember, reflect, and move forward in unity & resilience. 💛🧡🤍

Welcome back students 🐻! Looking forward to the start of a new school year✨looks like we’ve got some future policy makers on campus!

Programs like the Montana Native News Project not only help correct the narrative on Indigenous communities, but also thoughtfully craft new leaders in reporting stories. Check out their stories here! Nice work!

MICWA passed third reading in the Senate today!! Don't know what that means? Join us for CLE day tomorrow and find out the process MICWA endured to get to the Governor's desk🤱🏽