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Lake County commissioners may reconsider whether to pull out of an agreement to provide law enforcement services on the Flathead Reservation.
Montana Public Radio’s Aaron Bolton reports that comes after a meeting with Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen this week.
County officials met with Attorney General Kndusen in Polson to see if his office can offer resources for prosecuting crimes.
On May 21, jurisdiction over felonies on the Flathead Reservation will fall to the federal government. That’s because Lake County is pulling out of a long-standing agreement between the state and the federal government to provide those services.
County officials say they can’t afford it, but federal law enforcement officials have said they have little resources to offer the county and would only prosecute high-level felony crimes.
County officials and residents worry many crimes would be left unchecked.
Knudsen told commissioners he has neither the resources nor authority to help oversee felony jurisdiction, Knudsen did say Gov. Greg Gianforte (R-MT)’s office may be willing to help.
“I’ve been told directly they are willing to sign a bill next session that gets you folks some law enforcement funding.”
Lawmakers did pass a bill to do just that in 2023, but Gov. Gianforte vetoed it.
When asked for comment, Gov. Gianforte’s office pointed MTPR to his veto letter saying the bill created a “slippery slope” by not putting any conditions on the $5 million the bill would have provided the county.
His office did not directly say whether he’d sign future legislation to fund Lake County law enforcement.
Lake County Commissioner Gale Decker says it’s hard to trust Knudsen’s message given the governor’s previous veto. But he says commissioners are considering whether to keep jailing and prosecuting people for felony crimes based on what Knudsen said.
“If we can get everybody to the table, I think there’s a solution.”
It’s unclear when commissioners will make that decision.
(Courtesy Assemblymember James Ramos / Facebook)
Tribal leaders, lawmakers, and California state leaders are commemorating missing and murdered Indigenous people ahead of the May 5th national awareness day.
Three activities will take place on Wednesday sponsored by the California Native American Legislative Caucus and its chair, Assemblymember James Ramos (Serrano/Cahuilla/D-CA).
A press conferences is taking place at the state capitol, followed by a subcommittee meeting, and a candlelight vigil will be held in the evening.
The events will highlight the disproportionate numbers of violence against Native Americans.
Two tribes have declared states of emergency because of the numbers of missing persons on their reservations – the Yurok Tribe and the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians.
Dozens of child-sized Ravenstail robes were danced for the first time Tuesday in Juneau, Alaska.
KTOO’s Yvonne Krumrey has more.
Ravenstail is a Southeast Alaska Native weaving practice using mostly black and white yarn, and geometric designs.
Master weaver Lily Hope says it’s the largest collection of new Ravenstail weaving in 45 years.
The event shared the history – and future – of Ravenstail weaving, or Yéil Koowú.
Here’s Hope on the talk show Juneau Afternoon last month.
“This particular history and telling of where we are now and how we got here, has never been shared on this scale.”
Weaver Rae Mills joined Hope on the show. They shared their love of weaving and the community that forms around it.
“Iʼve never felt so whole and so complete, and just so healed, as when I’m able to share something so special. The fact that these things were done by our ancestors, and we almost lost them, and they were woken back up, and we are still able to share this knowledge, and happiness and love. And it’s been amazing to be a part of.”
On Friday, the robes will go on exhibit.
KTOO 360TV aired the event live on 360TV and streamed KTOO.org and LilyHope.com.
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