Nora Mabie

When Border Patrol comes to town

MTFP reporter @noramabie.bsky.social joined Today, Explained to talk about what happens when Border Patrol comes to a tiny Montana town.

Listen here 🎧

With shirts, Froid residents show support for neighbor after Border Patrol arrest The shirts and sweatshirts have also sparked some pushback, highlighting the complicated dynamics around immigration enforcement unfolding in one small Montana town.

NEW: After their neighbor was arrested by Border Patrol, residents of Froid, MT wore shirts to support him.

The shirts are now a common sight in the tiny town, worn by youth and adults not typically prone to taking public stances on immigration. #mtnews #Friod #Orozco

Thank you Garrett!

With shirts, Froid residents show support for neighbor after Border Patrol arrest The shirts and sweatshirts have also sparked some pushback, highlighting the complicated dynamics around immigration enforcement unfolding in one small Montana town.

Oh my god you all, please read @noramabie.bsky.social 's ongoing reporting about the town of Froid, Montana, the Orozco family, and the national battle over who gets to be considered a neighbor.

montanafreepress.org/2026/02/10/f...

When Border Patrol arrested a beloved mechanic in Froid, Montana, neighbors were forced to reckon with national immigration policy Roberto Orozco-Ramirez’s detainment has brought the Trump administration’s national immigration crackdown to a small, conservative town in Montana. As community members rally to support their neighbor...

NEW: Border Patrol just arrested one of this conservative town’s 195 residents. Neighbors, forced to reckon with their own complicated views on immigration, are now fighting back.

montanafreepress.org/2026/01/28/f...

At least 80 Native Americans in Montana victimized in health care scheme Fraudsters transported Native Americans to other states and billed insurance companies for treatments that did not occur or were not needed.

Fraudsters transported Native Americans to other states and billed insurance companies for treatments that did not occur or were not needed.

After brother's suicide, Blackfeet sisters are creating a horse-based alternative to talk therapy After a death in the family, Blackfeet sisters turn to horses and culture to help heal a community in crisis

Following their brother's death, two sisters on the Blackfeet Reservation are creating a horse-based alternative to talk therapy.

Crow Tribe looks to ‘reset the clock’ on blood quantum requirements, expand enrollment The proposed legislation would change the lives not just of the 14,289 enrolled Crow tribal members but also potentially thousands of descendants who would be more likely to qualify as tribal members ...

NEW: A proposal by the Crow tribal chair could dramatically change who counts as a Crow tribal member under the “blood quantum” standard, a concept created by White settlers and rooted in assimilation tactics.

montanafreepress.org/2025/12/05/c...

Shutdown could stop SNAP benefits for 77,000 Montanans Montana food bank leaders say the disruption of benefits would hurt individuals, families and communities statewide.

The federal government recently directed states to stop issuing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits in November.

That means more than 77,000 Montanans — and potentially 41 million Americans — could lose access to food assistance if the federal government shutdown continues.

For the first time, Montana officially celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day After years of legislative debate, Oct. 13 marks the first time the state has officially observed the day as a legal holiday.

NEW: After years of legislative debate, today marks the first time the state of Montana - home to 12 tribes and 7 reservations - has officially observed Indigenous Peoples' Day as a legal holiday.

Monday, October 6, 2025 – Tribal housing advocates work against a tide of obstacles

It was my pleasure to join tribal housing experts on Native America Calling this morning. We spoke about the causes and consequences of Indian Country's housing crisis and heard from a listener about their experience.

open.spotify.com/episode/0xyq...

Blackfeet Community College President Brad Hall's path to homeownership wasn't easy, but his experience offers insight into what’s possible when adequate housing is available to reservation residents.

Part 3 of The Shelter Gap series out today. montanafreepress.org/2025/10/03/h...

Thanks Dan!!

The development conundrum: Why is housing so hard to build in Indian Country? Why is housing so hard to build in Indian Country?

The housing crisis in Indian Country is defined by demand that far outpaces chronically short housing supplies. With demand high, and plenty of land, why can’t developers build new housing to close the gap?

Part 2 of The Shelter Gap answers that question. montanafreepress.org/2025/10/01/t...

No roads home: How a chronic housing shortage keeps reservation communities in crisis. Part 1 of a three-part series examining barriers to buying, renting and building homes on reservation land and highlighting the community benefits of secure housing.

I've spent more than a year investigating housing insecurity in tribal communities across Montana. Part 1 of our series, The Shelter Gap, explains how the housing shortage thwarts the development of a middle class on reservations, perpetuating cycles of poverty. montanafreepress.org/2025/09/29/h...

Helena voters narrowly approve $283M school bonds Results released just after midnight Wednesday show both bonds passing, each by only a few hundred votes.

UPDATE: Results released just after midnight Wednesday show both bonds passing, each by only a few hundred votes.

High-ranking tribal official resigns from state health department, cites ‘recent events’ as reason in an email Stephanie Iron Shooter’s tenure at the state Department of Public Health and Human Services was mired in controversy, as she repeatedly fielded concerns from tribal leaders about the agency.

Scoop: The state health department’s highest-ranking official focused on American Indian health is resigning from her position. Stephanie Iron Shooter said "recent events" led to her resignation, according to an email obtained by MTFP.

Missoula’s Johnson Street homeless shelter closes While the city’s ‘housing sprint’ was a success, officials say the closure of the 165-bed facility will strain Missoula’s remaining shelter, especially as the weather cools.

While the city’s ‘housing sprint’ was a success, officials say the closure of the 165-bed facility will strain Missoula’s remaining shelter, especially as the weather cools.

‘More questions than answers’: Tribal representatives caution state health officials against plan for Medicaid work requirements The state’s draft plan comes months ahead of the federal timeline laid out by the Trump administration’s domestic policy bill. Tribal representatives urged Montana officials to slow down.

Although Native Americans are exempted from many of the new state and federal requirements, representatives from tribal governments and Urban Indian Organizations raised red flags about the risks of increased bureaucracy.

New ‘IndigiPalooza’ event to celebrate Native art, storytelling IndigiPalooza brings together more than a dozen Native artists, musicians, writers and creators for panel discussions, live music, an art market and more.

IndigiPalooza, a 2-day event in Missoula, MT, brings together more than a dozen Native artists, musicians and writers for panel discussions, live music, an art market and more.

‘Our doors would have to close’: Trump’s proposed cuts threaten tribal colleges The threat of federal cuts is already impacting students and staff.

‘Our doors would have to close’: Tribal college leaders in Montana say Trump’s proposed cuts threaten their institutions and would harm the state's economy. #mtnews #mtpol

Tribes move to join lawsuit challenging Montana election laws “It’s racism to try and enact the same laws over again,” said Fort Belknap Indian Community President Jeffrey Stiffarm.

The group of tribal plaintiffs argue that changes to Election Day voter registration laws disproportionately harm Native Americans in rural and tribal communities who already face significant barriers to voting.

State budget includes new investments in tribal colleges, repatriation The state’s budget includes a historic increase in funding for tribal colleges and appropriates more than $367,000 to a team at the University of Montana dedicated to repatriating cultural items to tr...

Montana's state budget includes several new investments for Indian Country — a historic increase in funding for tribal colleges and $367,000 to support repatriation efforts at UM.

Using (very) heavy metal to prevent suicide and process grief A new class on the Blackfeet Reservation helps students engage with art to cope with distress and make meaning from pain.

Facing darkness head-on is the guiding principle of a new semester-long class at two schools on the Blackfeet Reservation. #mtnews

'Biggest regret of our lives': Kids allegedly lead poisoned in Yellowstone Yellowstone let a family live in lead-contaminated housing, a new lawsuit alleges.

The Aiuppa family was told their daughter had 2,000% more lead in her bones than an average child. She began breaking bones in 2022 & hasn’t stopped. She’s had a broken finger, forearm and a tibial spiral fracture in her leg — twice.

via @thatsmohrlikeit.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/national-par...

‘Slap in the face’: Trump cuts halt Indian boarding school digitization effort Tribal leaders say the funding cuts have serious implications for boarding school survivors, their families and the general public.

Tribal leaders say the funding cuts disrupt critical healing processes for boarding school survivors, families and tribes, and keep the general public from learning the truth about what happened at these schools.

Rep. Thedis Crowe, a freshman lawmaker from Browning, at a May town hall event said the caucus “became a force to be reckoned with.”

Montana’s American Indian Caucus touts historic success in 2025 legislative session Members of Montana’s American Indian Caucus say the 2025 legislative session may have been the group’s most successful yet. Rep. Thedis Crowe, a freshman legislator from Browning, said the group “beca...

NEW: Members of Montana’s American Indian Caucus say the 2025 legislative session may have been the group’s most successful yet.

The caucus successfully advanced legislation establishing Indigenous Peoples Day, extending child welfare protections, bolstering state efforts to combat #MMIP and more.

New laws address Montana’s missing and murdered Indigenous people crisis Native Americans in Montana are four times more likely to be reported missing than their counterparts. Several new laws aim to address the crisis. The new laws aim to bolster the state’s Missing and M...

Native Americans in Montana are four times more likely to be reported missing than their counterparts. Several new laws aim to address the crisis. #mmip #mmiw #mtnews

Governor signs new law professionalizing doula care Supporters say the new law will expand access to maternal care in Montana, particularly in rural and tribal communities.

A new law professionalizes doula care in Montana. Supporters believe it will expand access to maternal care and improve health outcomes, particularly in rural and tribal communities. montanafreepress.org/2025/05/14/g... #mtnews #mtpol