MISSOULA — Three members of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes will represent Western Montana in the Montana Legislature for the first time in history.
Now as election season comes to an end, the three lawmakers are preparing for the year to come.
“I think it is so exciting for three CSKT people and three Bitterroot Salish people to be in the legislature," said Montana Senate District 46-elect, Jacinda Morigeau who will soon represent a large portion of the Flathead Reservation during the upcoming legislative session.
She says it's an area that's lacked representation with past congressional districts, “My district, Senate District 46,, is the largest district without with the largest native population without native representation."
Montana Senator Shane Morigeau, who will represent another section of Missoula, understands the challenges under-represented groups face when campaigning for office.
In 2017, he became the first CSKT member to be elected into the Senate since the late 1960s. He says past redistricting allows for each party to be equally represented in each district across the state.
“Redistricting, you know, it's a constitutional requirement to — both under the Constitution and under the Voting Rights Act — to ensure that, you know, minority voters have a voice," Shane Morigeau says.
Shelly Fyant — who was elected to serve Missoula in House District 91 — has already sat in several roles in her community and is a former CSKT Tribal Chairman.
“I’ve served on the college board. I served on tribal council. You know, this is just another step," Fyant said.
Despite her tribal leadership, Fyant says she was rarely approached for input on past legislation that would impact the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
“Some of the past legislators never came to the tribe — when I was on tribal council — to consult with us about bills. And in fact, introduced bills that would harm the tribe,” Fyant said
That's why she says she wants to focus on the basic necessities of the population during the upcoming legislative session, "Basically it boils down to the basics of food, water, and shelter."
Shane Morigeau — who has served since 2017 — says it’s exciting to more Indigenous leaders stepping into these roles.
"We have natives running in — in all those, all those areas — city council, school board now in Missoula, we have native representation there. So, we have people getting more involved, which is amazing to see," Shane Morigeau said.
Jacinda Morigeau said she's looking forward to being an equal voice for Montana and her district.
“This is my traditional homeland, my Salish homeland. So, even my, my constituents in the Rattlesnake, they are on my ancestral homeland," Jacinda Morigeau,
"This is all part of like who I am, like deep down inside so native and non-native alike we're all here together we're like neighbors helping neighbors," she concluded.
