Quarterly Meeting Address Historical, Current Concerns

PABLO — The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes held their quarterly meeting on April 4, covering a wide range of priorities from legislative wins and budget concerns to cultural revitalization and a new Native-led treatment center. The meeting reflected both the urgency of protecting tribal sovereignty under shifting federal policies and the commitment to preserving Salish and Qlispe language and lifeways.

Culture Committee Marks 50 Years

The Selis-Qlispe Culture Committee (SQCC) will celebrate its 50th anniversary this fall, with weekly workshops beginning this month to prepare traditional clothing for a fashion show celebration. Community members are invited to make traditional clothing, with materials provided through donations and support from tribal entities.

Classes will be held Thursdays from 12 to 4:30 p.m., with Friday sessions added in the near future. While participation in the fashion show is optional, the committee hopes attendees will volunteer to showcase the work they’ve created. It was asked for CSKT employees to receive a change of duty to be able to attend sessions.

Sadie Peone-Stops, Department Director of the SQCC, reflected on the milestone.

“To think a small group of people came together and started sharing stories... it’s amazing to see how things have turned out today,” Peone-Stops said. “There has been a lot of work done in those 50 years, and a lot of elders have shared a lot of things in that time.”

“I like to say those language revitalization efforts really began 50 years ago,” she added. “When Johnny Arlee hit record.”

Jan Gardipe, the culture committee’s new outreach and education coordinator, shared her vision for the traditional fashion show, a series of workshops meant to reconnect people with traditional dress and culture.

“Jan has jumped right in,” said Peone-Stops. Gardipe quit her job and dedicated her time to learning the language. “She’s helping carry this work forward and bring fresh energy to it.”

“We want our people to learn how our people dressed,” she said. “We’re all so mixed now,” Gardipe said, referring to the blending of cultures over time. “What the Culture Committee does is we’re focused on the Salish Qlispe ways. We are preserving, protecting and perpetuating.”

The committee plans to share updates through social media, internal employee platforms, and Char-Koosta News in response to community feedback about outreach efforts.

Tribal members are also encouraged to contribute historical photographs to help guide the designs for traditional outfits.

During the time set aside for tribal member comments, one expressed concerns about exclusion within the SQCC. Elder Shirley Trahan addressed those concerns, defending the committee and its leadership.

“Sadie has good beginnings. She was appointed by our late elder Tony Incashola,” said Trahan. “She’s been at the Culture Committee nearly 20 years. She’s a good leader, hardworking, and dedicated to our language and culture.”

Peone-Stops credited her staff for their dedication and reiterated that her door is open to all who have questions or concerns.

A Treatment Center Rooted in Native Healing

Patricia Hibbeler presented updates on Red Shield 8 Nations (RS8N), a Native-led regional treatment center now in development, with completion targeted for late 2027. The facility will offer culturally rooted residential treatment for tribal members across Montana.

The center will be built in Great Falls on 15 acres of land donated by the Little Shell Tribe, which also contributed $850,000 from opioid settlement funds toward construction.

“We all know what’s been happening, not only on our reservation, but across Montana regarding substance use,” Hibbeler said.

RS8N was officially founded in 2024 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, rather than being housed under a single tribal government. Councilwoman Jennifer Finley serves as CSKT’s representative on the nine member board.

“Every tribe in Montana owes a huge debt of gratitude to the Little Shell Tribe,” said Finley, praising Chairman Gerald Gray’s leadership. “The reason he did it, he said, is because it was the right thing to do and we needed this yesterday.”

The center will provide SAMHSA Level 3.5 and 3.7 residential care, with detox services and family centered healing practices. Onsite features will include sweat lodges, pipe ceremonies, talking and drum circles, equine therapy, a childcare facility, gardens and Native art installations.

Instead of being called clients or patients, those in recovery will be referred to as “relatives” - a reflection of the belief that healing takes place within the family circle.

“They are our relatives,” Hibbeler said.

A feasibility study showed more than 200 American Indians in Montana are in need of detox and medically managed withdrawal services, and more than 400 require high intensity residential treatment. The need for such a center is urgent.

“The majority of our individuals that we’re sending to treatment, we’re sending them out of the state,” Hibbeler said. “We can’t get them into the state center, and the state treatment centers do not have the outcomes we want for our tribal members.”

The center’s guiding values include celebrating sobriety, honoring language and culture, holistic care, family focus, and resilience based healing.

CSKT elder Shirley Trahan raised concerns about cultural priorities and the need for more healing resources within the community. It is important for members in treatment to learn the culture of the tribe they are part of.

“Think about your people, your tribes, your culture,” she said, urging council and leadership to stay grounded in cultural values when making decisions that affect the membership.

She also expressed the belief that CSKT should have its own healing and treatment centers, emphasizing that recovery begins at home and that culture is central to that process.

Councilwoman Carole Lankford acknowledged that some tribal members disagreed with the decision to locate the regional treatment center outside the Flathead Indian Reservation. She noted that although she was initially in favor of building it locally, population growth and the potential influx of people had influence.

Lankford also praised the progress made by CSKT Tribal Health.

“Tribal Health is doing so much more than it ever has in a long time. I see more people going to treatment, it’s almost immediate,” she said.

“It’s taken our department a long time to evolve,” she added. “I see progress.”

Hibbeler said the culture subject is fluid, and invited committees to participate in conversations regarding the subject.

Ronan Wrestling Team

The Ronan girls wrestling team joined quarterly. Teammates joined Tirza Two Teeth as she received a CSKT blanket from council members. Two-Teeth received three state titles. Two Teeth will be signing her National Letter of Intent in April.

Other Ronan wrestlers were also recognized for their second place and Ronan Boys Basketball team got fourth in State as well.

The wrestling program in Ronan has come a long way since 1967, said McDonald as he was one of the first state champion wrestlers for Ronan in 1967. They just started the high school program that year.

Elders

Elder Stephen Small Salmon attended and shared his concerns about executive orders and potential changes that can impact Indian people. He asked councilmen their thoughts on what is happening and the future of CSKT.

He speaks of what is threatened or what is being taken away.

“It’s scary,” he said.

Elder Shirley Trahan attended and shared her thoughts preserving the culture.

“We need our culture, otherwise we are going to lose our identity and that is something we don’t want to let go of,” she said.

She said it is hard to see the influx of people moving into the state of Montana.

Trahan said she has been praying for these times, “So we don’t lose what we have.”

Federal Uncertainty, Local Action

The meeting also addressed growing concerns over federal budget cuts and their potential impact on Indian Country. Despite a temporary freeze on some programs following a Jan. 28 directive from the Office of Management and Budget, CSKT remains financially stable.

“The tribes have navigated thus far without taking on any debt,” said Greg Spahr, CSKT Director of Financial Management. “There are reserves on hand should uncertainty become a reality.”

Programs were encouraged to verify funding and prepare competitive grant applications. The fiscal year 2026 budget is on track for submission in August.

Legislative Wins and Advocacy

Jordan Thompson, CSKT’s Deputy Executive Officer, provided updates from the state and federal landscape.

Thompson shared several recent legislative victories. One of the most notable was the defeat of House Bill 216, which would have opened the reservation to nontribal big game hunting. The bill was voted down in committee by a 17–3 margin.

He also announced that Medicaid expansion was secured for another cycle, a move that protects health care access for more than 75,000 Montanans, including many in tribal communities.

In addition, Public Law 280 funding is progressing through the legislature with bipartisan support. A bill sponsored by Sen. Greg Hertz would allocate resources to both tribes and counties to help manage felony cases, a shift that could help strengthen tribal jurisdiction and services.

CSKT has also been expanding its jurisdiction and legal capacity.

“We’re working toward taking as much jurisdiction back as we can,” Thompson said, noting the Tribes prosecuted more than 150 felony cases in the past year. He emphasized that expanding the Tribal Court’s authority is part of a long-term goal to assert greater self-governance and ensure justice is served within the community, rather than relying solely on outside systems.

“It’s about sovereignty, safety and accountability and making sure our people are seen and protected under our own laws,” he said.

CSKT is also advocating for stronger protections for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP), continued support for the Indian Child Welfare Act, increased investment in Indian education and language preservation, and funding to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Council Updates

Council members expressed broad support for the projects presented and praised the intertribal collaboration behind Red Shield 8 Nations. They also emphasized the importance of building strong relationships with state leaders regardless of party affiliation.

Councilwoman Carole Lankford spoke about her recent trip to Washington, D.C., where she had the opportunity to testify on tribal matters and meet with key congressional offices, including that of Sen. Tim Sheehy.

“We need to work with Republicans whether you like it or not, we have to,” Lankford said, echoing Vice Chair Tom McDonald. “Right now, I think it’s to our advantage… because then we have someone to call.”

She also reminded attendees that President Donald Trump signed the CSKT Water Compact. Lankford emphasized working in unity and recognizing positive efforts as well, but relationship is key for Lankford.

Locally, Lankford is continuing work on several recreation projects. She said the skate parks are being used regularly, with new playground equipment arriving for the Ronan site and plans underway for a pickleball court. Her proudest recent achievement, however, is helping more tribal members access treatment.

Councilwoman Danielle Matt gave updates on community support initiatives. She noted new funding secured through a local donor to host monthly community meals, and highlighted progress on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) legislation that now allows the state to receive funding to support the MMIP task force.

The third annual MMIP 5K will take place May 10 at 9 a.m. at SKC. Proceeds from the event support local families.

“We have assisted five families this year with that fund,” Matt said.

She also announced that CSKT now has a homelessness coordinator, a milestone she called “a success” in helping members gain stability.

Matt celebrated the April 7 grand opening of the Dixon skate park and expressed optimism about the community’s momentum.

Matt shared her thoughts on treatment centers and is happy for those who enter into treatment and come home healthy, even if it is one person.

“I am happy that our community is coming together,” she said. “We’re celebrating many successes with people coming back from treatment into the community.”

“I will take the small victories every day when we see them come home healthy.”

Councilman James “Bing” Matt attended the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) conference last week, joining tribal leaders from across the country to address pressing policy issues affecting Indian Country.

Matt participated in discussions on tariffs, taxation, funding, and jurisdiction, including ongoing concerns about the outdated $1,200 payout threshold that triggers IRS reporting requirements for slot machine winnings. Tribal leaders emphasized the need to modernize the regulation, which has not been adjusted for inflation since the 1970s, causing frequent disruptions on casino floors and creating administrative burdens.

Other sessions focused on protecting tribal sovereignty in funding decisions and clarifying jurisdictional authority between tribal, state, and federal entities. Matt’s participation reflects the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ ongoing engagement in national policy arenas that impact the tribal economy and self-governance.

He also traveled to Helena, where conversations included the potential shift to Class III gaming, which would involve expanded types of gambling under tribal-state compacts. He anticipates visits from officials to discuss this further with the council.

Councilman Len Two Teeth encouraged tribal members to be more involved in council meetings. There were plenty of empty seats on the floor.

“If you are in Pablo on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I really want to encourage you to stop in, come and sit in the audience, ask questions, challenge us, make us accountable,” he said. “You see something wrong? Speak up. Tell us. We need to know.”

Two Teeth said council members are exploring a restructure of tribal government operations to improve how services are delivered and how members are treated.

“The organization we’re using now is not working,” he said. “We can do better. We all agreed to start looking at different ways to get services to the membership.”

“We get a lot of complaints, and that’s not right. We work for the members and we can’t forget that.”

“We stumble and we fall. We make mistakes. It’s important that we own it and find solutions,” he said. “You all had good words today… strong words, powerful words… and that’s what we need to hear.”

Treasurer James Steele Jr. voiced concern about tribal members in Canada and the political tensions affecting Native allies across the border.

He also supported the idea of redesigning the CSKT flag to reflect the full identity of the tribes.

“I’m so proud of our 50 years of the Culture Committee,” Steele said. “Those were created during the 1970s, a time when the country was in turmoil. That is such an awesome milestone.”

Steele said he regularly calls Montana state officials — once a week — to voice concerns and urges others to do the same.

“We have a beautiful homeland,” he said. “They come here and say, ‘You guys have a beautiful homeland,’ and that’s why we have something beautiful to fight for.”

“It can’t just be council. It has to be you, too.”

Councilwoman Jennifer Finley testified multiple times before the state legislature in support of Medicaid expansion, which she said will benefit many tribal citizens. She also took part in discussions on Public Law 280 and questioned Lake County’s role in providing services to tribal members.

“CSKT, as an entity, is the second-largest taxpayer in Lake County. And there are a lot of us…individual tribal members, myself included..who own fee land and pay property taxes,” Finley said.

“So one question I had was, if you’re going to take our tax dollars, how can you deny any services to us for that?”

“You owe us services for the money..unless you want to give us our tax dollars back.”

Finley also underscored her concerns about rising political extremism. “As Native people, as long as we have something that’s worth wanting, we’re going to have to fight to protect it.”

Vice Chair Tom McDonald said CSKT began preparing for federal changes the moment the presidential election results came in, particularly regarding food programs and tribal sovereignty.

“As we think about cuts to our food programs, Jordan’s food sovereignty program…all those things are getting cut right now…we need to be able to be prepared for that,” McDonald said.

He announced that CSKT had set aside funds to build its own meat processing facility in Ronan, a project approved last quarter.

“We are going to be able to reduce some costs,” he said. “We need to be able to feed our people.”

He also discussed plans to bring live buffalo from Yellowstone to the Flathead Indian Reservation, saying the council will weigh in on it next quarter.

“Every tribe should have their own buffalo herd,” he said. “That’s a good food source for our people.”

McDonald spoke about the therapeutic value of the landscape, especially around the Bison Range, and said he envisions part of the site being used for horse therapy and treatment programming.

“Part of therapy for our people, in the heart of our reservation, is that landscape of the Bison Range,” he said. “But to be able to pay for that facility, expand services, we need to bring up some revenue.”

He said a second entrance at Ravalli Hill to help increase revenue through higher gate receipts is “moving forward.”

Councilman Martin Charlo announced that Pablo’s skate park will have its grand opening on May 24. He also thanked the Culture Committee for organizing a recent trip to the Medicine Tree, and acknowledged the lands crew for improving accessibility in Darby by adding benches and widening paths for elders and those with mobility challenges.

The theme of the quarterly meeting was the need for unity.

“We need to stand together, not divided,” one council member said.