Tribal leader urges state to continue Medicaid expansion
The head of the Fort Belknap Indian Community urged state lawmakers Thursday to continue Medicaid expansion, support legislative efforts to combat suicide and keep public focus on the murders of Native American women and children.
In a 30-minute state of tribal nations address to members of the House of Representatives and various other state officials, Andrew Werk Jr., president of the Fort Belknap Assiniboine Gross Ventre Tribes, told lawmakers that Native Americans have proven that they can manage buffalo on their own land. He called the slaughter of buffalo at Yellowstone “unacceptable.”
He said nearly 50,000 tribal members have health care through Medicaid expansion, which the Legislature and governor approved in 2015 and is set to sunset in late June.
There are now efforts between Republicans and Democrats to continue the program.
Werk said the program was critical to American Indians and Montana’s health.
“I urge the Montana Legislature to continue to support Medicaid expansion,” he said.
Werk was the latest in a line of officials who have spoken to the state Legislature since it convened Jan. 7. Lawmakers have heard from Gov. Steve Bullock, Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines, Rep. Greg Gianforte and state Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike McGrath.
He said the federal government partial shutdown hit the reservations hard. But he was heartened to see in his community helping one another.
Werk said tribal tradition is in helping each other survive.
He asked lawmakers to keep their hearts and minds open “to all of our needs.”
He noted there were a record number of Native American legislators serving this session.
Eleven tribal members make up the state Legislature, a record number.
“Our Native American legislators are an inspiration to us all and are setting a strong example for future generations,” Werk said.
He said this group has focused on issues affecting all Native Americans, such as access to health care and health care services, protecting Native American children, solving more cases of murdered Native American women and girls.
“We should all be appalled at the staggering number of murders of Indian women and children,” he said, adding they face a murder rate 10 times the national average.
He was proud of efforts of Montana’s congressional delegation for calling on federal agencies to do more.
“I applaud our delegation for a bipartisan effort to do something,” he said. “It’s time to act on this crisis, this isn’t a reservation problem, this isn’t a Native American problem, this is a Montana problem and we must come together and unite as Montanans to address the causes of this epidemic and find a solution.”
He also cited suicide prevention, protecting veterans and preserving indigenous languages are priorities as well.
“We need to build programs that sustain our tribal nations diverse languages and honor our heritage,” he said, asking them to extend the Indian preservation program of 2013.
Werk said suicide rates in Montana are “unacceptably high, especially among American Indians.” He said the number among American Indians is five times the state rate.
He also urged lawmakers to support bills that recognize veterans.
Werk reminded lawmakers that tribes make a huge economic impact in the state and asked lawmakers to remember that as bills supported by the Indian caucus come to the floor.
Werk also talked about buffalo and placing them on reservations.
“I know that buffalo is very contentious,” he said, but added tribes have proven they can manage their own buffalo.
“What I see, is the buffalo going through the same thing that my ancestors did when they were placed on reservations,” he said. “It’s unacceptable.”
He later added: “You can’t have the Indian without the buffalo, so I encourage to work with tribal people …”
Werk said the future looks bright for the Big Sky state.
“We all feel Montana is the last best place,” he said. “We feel the same in our homelands, on our reservations, that they are the best place also.”