Landmark Settlement Guarantees Native History Will Be Taught in Montana Schools

Montana schools must now teach the cultural heritage and history of the state’s Native American tribes, thanks to a landmark settlement reached Monday in a district court.

The agreement formalizes enforcement of the state’s constitutional mandate — called Indian Education for All (IEFA) — to teach all students about the histories, cultures, governments, and contributions of Montana’s Tribal Nations. Montana is the only state in the nation with an explicit constitutional guarantee of Indian education.

For more than two decades, IEFA has required Montana schools to provide education about Tribal histories, cultures, and contemporary Tribal governments. While nationally recognized as a model of Indigenous education, implementation has varied widely across school districts and lacked meaningful enforcement.

Under the agreement reached by the state’s tribes and the Montana Office of Public Instruction, the IEFA would be incorporated into state accreditation and monitoring systems, making implementation a core expectation for Montana’s K-12 schools. It also formalizes Tribal consultation processes, ensuring Tribal Nations have an ongoing role in shaping how Indigenous education is developed and delivered statewide.

The lawsuit, DuPuis-Pablo v. Montana Office of Public Instruction, was filed in 2021 by 18 Montana students and their guardians, together with Tribal Nations including the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, Fort Belknap Indian Community, Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana, and Northern Cheyenne Tribe.

The agreement requires schools to demonstrate that Indian Education for All is integrated across curriculum areas, that IEFA funds are used appropriately, and that Tribal Nations are meaningfully engaged in developing Indian education programs.

“For too long, Tribes were expected to trust that things would improve without having a seat at the table,” Councilwoman Roxanne Gourneau, Ft. Peck Tribal Executive Board Member, said in a press release from the Native American Rights Fund. “This settlement recognizes that Tribal Nations are essential  partners in educating Montana’s students.”

Both Native and non-Native plaintiffs applauded the settlement.

Plaintiff Cammie DuPuis-Pablo (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes) said she hopes the agreement will combat ignorance about Native history.

“Montana is the only state that has Indian Education for All, but how are we ensuring that it’s being carried out?” DuPuis-Pablo said in a press release. “Hopefully, this settlement will push back against the ignorance and lack of knowledge that is all too common. I didn’t get to see accurate representations of Native Americans when I was in school, my oldest kids didn’t get that when they were in school, but — with this settlement — maybe my youngest kids will. Because our ancestors’ story is meaningful, it’s what happened, and it should not be cut out from the history of America, or I would say Turtle Island.”

Crystal and Tyler Amundson are non-Native and have children in Montana’s schools.

“As parents who were raised attending Montana schools, we have firsthand experience of what it looks like when Indian Education is not included in school curriculum and culture,” the couple said in a press release.. “All public school students should have access to learning that promotes understanding, which is why we’re proud that our children now attend Montana public schools that mirror Montana’s diverse population. But this settlement isn’t just about celebrating diversity, it’s about ensuring that my children, who are not Native, experience a more accurate and inclusive version of Montana’s history, present, and future.”

The settlement is subject to final court approval following a notice period.