The Price to Pay
By Jacob Owens | Native News, University of Montana School of Journalism
Ranchers throughout northcentral Montana, including those on the Fort Belknap reservation, are reporting dramatically reduced herds. Some ranchers, though generally optimistic, harbor concerns about the future of their iconic way of life.
A Slow Burn
By Clarise Larson | Native News, University of Montana School of Journalism
Bends isn’t new to wildfire. His family has been ranching on the reservation for generations. Ranching is a part of who he is. He is accustomed to wildfires — he remembers spending summers of his youth protecting his family’s ranch from wildfire.
But things are changing.
Ecological Consequences
By Hannah Telling | Live at the 2023 Montana Folk Festival
“Looking back on my life, I realize I grew up surrounded by living ghosts. In the lush forests of my childhood, I chased stories of my great-grandparents—immigrants, miners, union members. In the heat of summer, I leapt over deep, linear trenches marking collapsed mine tunnels, explored desolated, alien planet landscapes caused by toxic mine waste, and unearthed strange, rusted machinery from Montana’s industrial past.”
The Search for Climate Safety
We are past the point of discussion and inactivity when so many are fleeing their homes and communities are forced to navigate slow government response and people are being denied safe access to necessary medical care. We must rally together in these times across demographics and countries.
What If We Get It Right?
What gives me hope is the tremendous set of tools we have at our fingertips to solve climate change. We can and I believe we will get it right! But it won’t happen without a lot of work, coming together and challenging our old conceptions.
Sacred Braids
By Tyler Nienstedt | Native News, University of Montana School of Journalism
The sweetgrass that grows on the Rocky Boy’s reservation has inhabited the plains and wetlands there for centuries and is unique to this specific area. Used in ceremonies and for personal use, the Anishinabe Ne-I-Yah-Wahk believe the smoke carries prayers to their Creator.
In recent years, the sweetgrass on the Rocky Boy’s reservation has become harder to find.
Tapped In
By Tye Brown | Native News, University of Montana School of Journalism
The Fort Peck reservation, home of the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes, spans more than 2 million acres in the far northeast corner of the state. For most of its history, water accessibility has been a challenge in this region, in particular for farming, ranching and personal use. Recently, worsening drought has made it even harder in the heavily agricultural region.
After more than two decades, a water treatment and delivery project is finally nearing completion. Within the next few years, it could provide thousands of households, ranches and farms with clean water. Residents hope this will mark the end of water insecurity that has made it difficult to live in the area.
Cleaning Up
By Serena Carlson
Serena’s essay, one of the winners of Changing Times youth writing contest, responded to a prompt focusing on a creative future and how their community is responding to the climate in 2070.