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Associated Press
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Montana budget includes new investments in tribal colleges, repatriation
Gov. Greg Gianforte last week finalized Montana's two-year budget, which contains several new investments for Indian Country, including a historic increase in funding for tribal colleges and money devoted to repatriation efforts. Though Gianforte made several vetoes in the last few weeks that trimmed hundreds of millions in spending approved by lawmakers, the money that will help fund priorities set by the Legislature's American Indian Caucus made it through the session that adjourned in April and survived the governor's scrutiny. Tribal Colleges Montana is the only state in the nation where every reservation is home to a tribal college. Tribal colleges, which together serve thousands of Native and non-Native students in Montana, provide affordable education, boost workforce development in rural areas and revitalize tribal languages and culture. Despite their outsized role in communities, however, the schools survive on meager budgets and are reimbursed at rates substantially lower than community colleges and historically Black colleges and universities. Tribal colleges receive, on average, between 71% and 74% of their total funding from the federal government, according to an American Council on Education report. The federal Bureau of Indian Education allocates money to tribal colleges based on the number of 'full-time enrolled Indian students.' And Montana is one of a few states that appropriates money to tribal colleges to support non-Native students, also called non-beneficiary students. The Legislature for years has allocated a maximum of $3,280 to tribal colleges per non-Native student. By comparison, lawmakers in 2019 funded full-time resident students at Montana's three community colleges at about twice the rate of non-beneficiary tribal college students. While past legislative attempts to raise that $3,280 non-beneficiary ceiling have failed, this year was different. Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, worked to add a line in House Bill 2, the state's budget bill, that increases state funding to tribal colleges. The addition raises the state's allocation for non-beneficiary students by about 27% to $4,183. The boost in state money comes as President Donald Trump's fiscal year 2026 budget proposal slashes federal funding for tribal colleges nationwide. Though the budget must ultimately be approved by Congress, Trump's proposal asks lawmakers to reduce federal funding for tribal colleges by nearly 90%. 'The federal funding (for tribal colleges) does not cover the non-Native students who attend, so it's up to the state to cover that cost,' Windy Boy told Montana Free Press in a recent interview. 'And there's a good number of non-Natives who attend.' About 20% of students at Fort Peck Community College in northeastern Montana are non-Native. FPCC President Craig Smith wrote in an April email to MTFP that it was 'refreshing' to see the Legislature increase those funds. In past years, he said non-beneficiary funds have supported faculty positions, classroom materials and equipment, among other things. 'While not quite at the equitable level of the Montana University System higher education institutions' funding levels, I think (the funding increase) shows solid validation of the role that tribal colleges play in the higher education scenario in Montana,' he wrote. Repatriation Efforts HB 2 also appropriates $367,665 to the University of Montana Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act team to support repatriation efforts. Congress in 1990 enacted the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, or NAGPRA, which establishes a process for tribes to request the return of Native American remains and cultural items from institutions that have them. More than 30 years later, however, not all institutions comply with the law. A ProPublica investigation revealed that the remains of more than 90,000 Native Americans had not been returned as of January 2025. While UM has made efforts to return remains and other items, the school reported still having the remains of at least 25 Native Americans, according to ProPublica's database. Windy Boy called NAGPRA 'an unfunded mandate.' The new, one-time-only funding, he said, is meant to assist UM's work, which is otherwise supported through grants. 'There was so much grave robbing … we've been pillaged and robbed for so many years,' Windy Boy said. 'Please just let our ancestors rest and let their funerary objects rest with them, that's why it's important.' Courtney Little Axe, repatriation coordinator at UM, said the funding will support a new team of NAGPRA tribal liaisons. Doctoral student Mikalen Running Fisher has been working in that capacity for more than one year, facilitating the return of meaningful items. 'What keeps me going in (this work) is thinking of the future generations,' she told MTFP last spring. With funding from HB 2, Little Axe said UM could hire eight NAGPRA student liaisons — one for each tribal government in the state. The investment, she said, will help students learn more about repatriation while strengthening UM's relationships with tribes. Kelly Dixon, a member of UM's NAGPRA team, said the group had been 'limping along' financially and is grateful for state support. 'It is not going to be easy to rectify all that has happened over the past century plus,' Dixon said. 'But we have a team and we have an institution and now a state that supports that.' ___ This story was originally published by Montana Free Press and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.
Forbes
07-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Why Native Communities Are The Future Of Impact Investing
In the search for the next frontier of innovation and opportunity, impact investors are increasingly looking toward Indian Country — a dynamic and under-invested market poised for transformative growth. From clean energy and regenerative agriculture to digital infrastructure and housing, Native communities are leading the way with bold, visionary projects that not only serve their people but offer scalable solutions for a changing world. At Oweesta Corporation, we've seen firsthand how Native CDFIs (Community Development Financial Institutions) are unlocking potential in tribal communities by supporting entrepreneurs, building housing, and advancing sustainable infrastructure. These are not charity-driven efforts; they are strategic investments delivering measurable returns — both financially and socially. Chrystel Cornelius speaking during 2023 Capital Access Convening in Juneau, AK. Oweesta Indian Country: A Growing Market of Opportunity Tribal nations are sovereign governments with growing economic engines. Today, Indian Country spans 574 federally recognized tribes across 35 states, generating over $130 billion in annual economic activity. And that figure doesn't even capture the full landscape of Indigenous economies — which includes state-recognized tribes, Native Hawaiian communities, and many others exercising self-determination and working toward federal acknowledgment. Yet, despite this strength, Native communities remain among the most undercapitalized populations in the U.S. Less than 0.4% of philanthropic funding and an even smaller fraction of investment dollars reach Native-led initiatives. That dynamic is beginning to shift. New investment models — rooted in Native leadership, sovereignty, and community-driven priorities — are reshaping what it means to invest in Indigenous economies. Through partnerships with values-aligned investors like Tamalpais Trust and philanthropic funders like the Northwest Area Foundation, Native communities are building energy sovereignty, supporting Native farmers and ranchers, expanding broadband access, and creating culturally grounded financial education programs. As Nikki Foster from the Northwest Area Foundation notes: 'Native CDFIs have a proven and successful model for building opportunity in Indian Country. Because they understand the unique assets and the traditional values of Native communities, they can provide pathways for entrepreneurs in ways that grow businesses and employment, even in places without a main street or a bank. And, they have the numbers to back this up. This approach builds healthy tribal and regional economies for the benefit of all.' 'Indian Country is rich with innovation, resilience, and opportunity. For too long, we've lacked access to capital — but that's changing,' says Chrystel Cornelius, President and CEO of Oweesta Corporation. Indigenous Innovation for a Sustainable Future The economic growth emerging from Indian Country is deeply tied to cultural preservation and environmental stewardship. Native entrepreneurs are leading solar and wind projects that restore ancestral lands, launching technology ventures that connect rural communities, and expanding food systems that prioritize health and sustainability. In fact, many of the industries that define the future — clean energy, regenerative agriculture, and climate resilience—are rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems. That makes Indian Country not just a market to watch, but a wellspring of leadership and innovation the world urgently needs. 'When you invest in Native communities, you're investing in time-tested, sustainable approaches that have served our people — and this planet — for generations,' adds Cornelius. A Better Return: Long-Term Prosperity for All Investing in Native communities creates ripple effects far beyond tribal lands. According to Oweesta's recent impact analysis, every dollar invested in Native CDFIs generates over $2.38 million in local economic impact — fueling job creation, supporting small businesses, increasing homeownership, and building generational wealth. In addition to social outcomes, investments in Native financial institutions show strong financial performance: low default rates, high portfolio recovery rates, and competitive internal rates of return (IRR) for patient capital vehicles. 'Native CDFIs are more than lenders — we are weavers of prosperity, resilience, and self-determination,' says Cornelius. Chyrstel Cornelius, CEO of Oweesta and Ronald Milsap, Director, U.S. Zero Barriers to Business with BMO during the awards ceremony at Oweesta's 2024 Capital Access Convening in Santa Ana Pueblo, NM. BMO was a sponsor for Oweesta's Capital Access Convening. Sam Levitan Photography From Philanthropy to Partnership Funders and investors are moving away from traditional charity models toward partnership-based approaches — ones that trust Native organizations to lead. This shift includes providing unrestricted funding, investments paired with equity, patient capital, and long-term commitments grounded in relationship, accountability, and respect for sovereignty. At Oweesta, we work alongside partners who understand that economic justice for Native people is not a peripheral issue — it's central to building a stronger, more inclusive economy. We have seen firsthand the transformational power of capital aligned with culture, vision, and community priorities. As Shannon Ward, Chief Lending Officer at Oweesta, affirms, 'At Oweesta, we see firsthand how investments in Native CDFIs transform lives, create sustainable growth, and build generational wealth. We are not just funding projects, we are empowering communities to thrive and lead the way toward a more inclusive and sustainable future.' The Time is Now Indian Country is no longer a hidden market — it's a hot market. With the right investments, tribal nations are poised to lead in shaping a just, sustainable future for all. For investors seeking real impact, resilience, and meaningful growth, the opportunity is clear: Partner with Native communities. Fund Native-led solutions. Build the future we all deserve. This is a content marketing post from a Forbes EQ participant. Forbes brand contributors' opinions are their own.
