Doing Right By the First Montanans

Montana may not be famous nationally for its diversity, but the state has a significant population of American Indians - a minority all too often ignored by America and mistreated by the Bush administration. So it is inspiring to see the state's new administration doing everything it can to include the tribes as an equal and valued partner in moving Montana forward.

From the beginning, Gov. Brian Schweitzer pledged to include the tribes in his administration, and put tribal members in top positions in state government. For his efforts he has not only been praised by some of Montana's big newspapers, but also by the tribes themselves.

Case in point is today's Billings Gazette piece about Schweitzer being formally adopted into the Crow nation (see the picture from the ceremony on the right). As the story notes, Schweitzer makes a point of showing respect to the tribes: the governor "said he stands by his promises to work with tribes 'government to government' and that the front door to the Capitol is 'welcome to the first Montanans.'" The tribe's chairman said that after Schweitzer was inaugurated, the new governor told him at the Capitol, "No more will you have to walk through the back door. Come through the front door." At the ceremony yesterday, the chairman said "It's a great day in Crow country...This governor has opened the door for Indian tribes."