GREAT FALLS, Mont. (NMB) – Several Montana Tribes are suing the state, alleging that education leaders in Montana are violating the state constitution by failing to teach about the culture and heritage of Native Americans.
The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Cascade County District Court by numerous plaintiffs, including the Fort Belknap Indian Community and the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
The complaint argues the state is in violation of “statutes that provide that every
Montana public school student, whether Indian or non-Indian, will learn about the distinct and
unique cultural heritage of American Indians in a culturally responsive manner.”
It also claims that many schools in Montana are providing little to no funding for Indian Education for All Act programs, and that the Office of Public Instruction has failed to set up any enforcement mechanism for the Act.
The plaintiffs are asking the Court to mandate that the Board of Education and OPI ensure schools are complying with the IEFA Act.
OPI has not commented on the lawsuit.
