News & Commentary

We are pleased to highlight the bills from the 2025 Montana legislative session that uplift Indigenous Justice being signed into law

Today marks day 36 of the Montana legislative session, and we are uplifting a few noteworthy bills that fall within our efforts to protect democracy and support Indigenous Justice.

There is a lot going on in this moment in time – with breaking news about harmful bills and bad policies coming at us daily. But one thing remains, the ACLU of Montana's focus on preserving civil rights for all people, no matter how much chaos we are all witnessing in the world today.

We are compelled to discuss the urgent need to support Indigenous candidates running for office ahead of the 2024 election and beyond. Recent bipartisan legislative retirements of American Indian Caucus members leave a significant void of expertise on matters of state-tribal policy, with no clear replacements emerging. In addition, we are particularly concerned by the complete lack of support for the candidacy of Barbara Bessette (Chippewa-Cree, HD20) from within her own party, who was one of the first urban Indigenous members elected to the Montana state legislature. The legislature is best served by a diversity of Indigenous voices, but neither party has taken serious efforts to help Indigenous candidates succeed. 

There are so many ways you can celebrate this day and support Indigenous people while doing so! See reflections below on what Indigenous Peoples’ Day means to staff at the ACLU of Montana.

The ACLU of Montana acknowledges and honors September 30th as the National Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools. We demand attention and action on the ongoing, pervasive trauma of boarding schools for Indigenous people.

The Indian Child Welfare Act — a law that protects Native children from forced removal from their families, tribes, and culture — is currently under attack.

Tribal sovereignty is at risk; the meaning of the Castro-Huerta decision.

The release of the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative Report confirmed what many Indigenous communities already knew, that federal government’s support of Indian Boarding schools throughout the 19th century and beyond – enacted horrific violence in an effort to assimilate and Americanize.