MBPC promotes economic opportunity and community well-being by identifying and advocating fiscal and budget policies that work for all Montanans, including American Indians. State policies can and should honor the political status of American Indians and Tribal Nations in Montana and can help undo the economic injustice and exclusion that continues to impact many American Indians in our state. Our work aims to inform policymakers on how smart state tax and budget choices can strengthen our state by strengthening Indian Country, as well as to increase the representation of American Indian voices in the policymaking process.

 

To ensure that state lawmakers are making wise investments in Tribal communities, MBPC works with Tribal partners to inform the debate. To this end, MBPC works closely with Tribal representatives, Tribally-led organizations, advocacy groups, community members, and educators to drive priorities from Indian Country and develop policy proposals.

 

To further help inform our work on an ongoing basis, MBPC formed a Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) in 2013. The TAC members, who represent urban and reservation communities and bring a broad set of expertise, support MBPC in identifying important issues in Indian Country.

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Our work includes:

• Researching and analyzing policy proposals that impact Indian Country and disseminating this information through succinct, easy-to-understand reports, blog posts, and other materials.

• Educating elected officials and agency leaders about Tribal sovereignty and the history of Indian affairs.

• Informing Tribal leaders about available state-funded programs and opportunities.

• Hosting a Tribal-State Legislative Symposium prior to the start of each legislative session to inform participants on how to take a seat at the decision-making table.

• Empowering voices in Indian country by developing and disseminating a State Budget Handbook for Indian Country that details how the budget process works, how to get involved, how to lobby, and how to track the budget and individual bills.

• Working with the Montana American Indian Caucus each legislative session and advocating for policies and funding to support issues around economic development, Tribal colleges, Native language preservation, community and individual health, and more.

 

You can get a deeper understanding of our work and policy recommendations by browsing our reports and blogs.