2016 Across the Divide – Montana’s Tribes Navigate Politics and Progress

Charles Curtis was a man of many firsts. A member of the Kaw Nation, Curtis was the first known Native American elected to the Senate, representing Kansas for six consecutive terms. He was the first Native American chosen to serve as the Senate Majority Leader. And in 1929, Curtis was elected as the 31st vice president of the United States.

This year, tribal members in Montana have the opportunity to establish a legacy of firsts. From constitutional reform to representation in sate and federal Congress, Native Americans are shaping Montana’s state politics in ways often unseen, or at least underreported.

For the 25th issue of the University of Montana’s Native News Honors Project, we sent out eight teams of reporters to uncover the state of politics within Montana’s 12 Native American tribes spanning across seven reservations and for one landless tribe.

Our stories consider an often overlooked side of Montana’s politics, exploring progress and stagnation. In a multifaceted world of politics, we see tribal members, state officials and Montana citizens crossing the divide.

http://nativenews.jour.umt.edu/2016/