News from the Northern Plains

Buffalo's Fire Sections

Montana

News from Montana covering Native issues, politics, environment, education and more.

Register for the free Buffalo's Fire Newsletter.

Northern Cheyenne Tipi

Legal saga continues for Northern Cheyenne Tribe

Traditional chiefs' council request appeal, plaintiffs argue stay would jeopardize tribal elections

By Bret Anne Serbin

Tribal Government Transparency

BIA expected to end yearlong 'noninterference' policy after court rules Chiefs’ Declaration void

By Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

A year of upheaval: The Northern Cheyenne constitutional crisis

By Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

Fort Peck Tribes ban discussions with data center developers

Nora Mabie, Montana Free Press

Tribal Government Transparency

BIA expected to end yearlong 'noninterference' policy after court rules Chiefs’ Declaration void

Citizens seek accountability from Northern Cheyenne elected leaders

By Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

A year of upheaval: The Northern Cheyenne constitutional crisis

From a controversial Traditional Chiefs’ declaration to a landmark appellate court ruling

By Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

Fort Peck Tribes ban discussions with data center developers

The vote comes amid mounting data center opposition in Montana, and as developers nationwide target tribal land for building

Nora Mabie, Montana Free Press

ShineThe Shine series explores limitations and solutions to government transparency in Indian Country.

On the Blackfeet Reservation, families learn to search for their own missing relatives

As Indigenous people go missing and are murdered at disproportionately high rates, families learn forensic skills to find their own loved ones.

Nora Mabie and Lauren Miller, Montana Free Press

Bringing Little Bighorn to life

The Real Bird family has hosted the Battle of Greasy Grass for the past 35 years

By Maria Hawkins

Real Bird Reenactment on June 27, 2026

Beyond the 150th

Thousands gathered on the Montana plains to honor the warriors of 1876. Buffalo’s Fire is on the ground

By Buffalo's Fire

Letter from the Editor-in-Chief

Remembering the fallen warriors of Greasy Grass

Our Buffalo’s Fire Memorial Wall is open to descendants. Post your tribute and share your story

By Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

‘It’s about safety’: Broadband service uncertain as 150th anniversary of the Little Bighorn battle nears

Tourists, media, historians and tribal officials expected to drive up demand for high-speed internet during commemorative event

Auditor’s Office claws back $37.3M in wrongful billing targeting Montana’s Native communities

Fraudsters abused Obamacare provision intended to help Indian Country

Keila Szpaller, Daily Montanan

Montana state Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy withdraws from U.S. House primary amid ‘allegations of serious sexual abuse’

Pennsylvania woman alleges Windy Boy propositioned her underage daughter and niece in the early 2000s

Zeke Lloyd, Nora Mabie and John S. Adams, Montana Free Press

The Battle of the Little Bighorn (Greasy Grass): Why it’s still being fought

150 years after the "Greasy Grass" victory, the Lakota and Cheyenne are planning a massive 2026 commemoration—and still refuse a $1.5 billion settlement for their land

By Pier Paolo Bozzano

UTTC professor reflects on the Battle of Powder River on its 150th anniversary

The first battle of the Great Sioux War ‘set the tone’ for the following 20 conflicts, including the Battle of the Little Bighorn

By Gabrielle Nelson

Help plan the 150th Battle of the Greasy Grass: complete the official participant survey

The event planning committees are requesting that all riding groups, families, and tribal delegations register their attendance plans now

By Buffalo's Fire

Tribes, horsemen, deep into planning for Little Bighorn 150th anniversary

Northern Cheyenne Tribe leads recent planning meeting

By Darren Thompson

Food sovereignty

UTTC student raises $12k in food drive for North Dakota and Montana

Inspired by her grandparents, Tonah Fishinghawk-Chavez proves that caring for the community is an action, not just a word

By Gabrielle Nelson

8488cf18-90df-4d7f-bb68-4c26c47e7469_1++

Montana billboards demand justice for MMIP cases

The billboard project is expanding to Oregon

IMG_3351_hd

Catholic boarding school documents staying in Montana

children-and-ursuline-nuns

Schools receive third — and potentially final — round of federal funding for homeless students

Person alone

Pollution knows no borders

Teck Coal’s Fording River coal mine