Dear Friends,
Over the last year, our state and our world have experienced the struggles and impacts that come with a global pandemic. In Montana’s Native communities, there is an epidemic that has been happening for decades. Each year Indigenous women and girls go missing in Montana, often never to be found. Native Americans are 6.7% of the state population but account for 26% of missing person cases.
May 5 is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. This year, the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC) and their National Partners Work Group on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls have organized a National Week of Action that kicks off today as a call to action for the nation and the world. Learn how you can get involved.
This month in Montana, Rep. Sharon Stewart Peregoy, D-Crow Agency, carried two bills that were passed into law to strengthen the state's ability to address the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). House Bill 35 creates the Missing Indigenous Persons Review Commission, which will be under the Department of Justice. House Bill 98 extends funding for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Task Force and the Looping in Native Communities (LINC) grant program to 2023, which was first created in the 2019 legislative session.
At MCF, we have already provided 4 grants from the Snowbird Fund, established in February, to support individuals and families conducting a community search for their missing loved ones.
These are tangible ways to bring more awareness to this devastating issue and support the families and communities who are affected. However, there is still much to be done to combat this crisis that continues to affect our fellow Montanans. Let us all commit to continually learning more about this important issue and doing our part to address a need for change, not only on May 5 but throughout the year.
Sincerely,
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Mary K. Rutherford
President & CEO
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Missing & Murdered Native Women & Girls Day – May 5th
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The National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls on May 5, 2021, sheds a light on the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women (MMIW) epidemic and honors the women and girls who have been lost or have gone missing.
Ideas on how to participate and raise awareness on May 5:
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Wear RED and post a photo on social media with the hashtag #NationalDayofAwareness #MMNWG or #MMIW
- Host a community event in your community
- Host a prayer circle or candlelight vigil
- Post a list of names of women and girls missing or murdered from your community
- Create a living memorial
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Register to participate in the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center webinar:Honoring Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
Support is available for American Indian or Alaska Native domestic or dating violence survivors through StrongHearts Native Helpline,1-844-7NATIVE.
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Governor Gianforte has signed HB 624 into law. The bill will establish a task force of business leaders to make recommendations to incentivize employer-supported early childcare and improve childcare access and affordability for employees enhancing business performance and workforce development. Funder for Montana’s Children, a group of Foundation leaders, has committed to covering all costs of the work task force so there is no financial impact to the state within the bill. Learn more about the importance of this bill.
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On May 3, Kylie Gursky joins our team as Program Officer for the Women’s Foundation of Montana, a strategic initiative of MCF that works to advance women’s economic independence and create a brighter future for girls in Montana. Kylie comes to us from Montana Women Vote and has over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit industry. She also previously worked at the Montana Human Rights Network and the Social Justice Fund (Seattle). In this position, Kylie will raise funds to support WFM and carry out the programmatic priorities of the fund around grantmaking, advocacy, and research.
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Six Stones Fund Honors the Life & Legacy of Barbara Braided Hair |
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Barbara Braided Hair touched the lives of many. She dedicated her life to serving others and her love of the Cheyenne community, first cultivated in her childhood home of Birney, Montana shined through in everything she did.
As the family and the community continue to remember Barbara since her passing, they are celebrating her birthday this month in traditional ways, as well as through a charitable fund established in her memory.
Your gift to the Six Stones Cheyenne Community Endowment continues Barbara’s life work of making a positive impact in her community. Grants from the fund will support Cheyenne community needs such as financial literacy, education, traditional Indigenous arts and crafts, entrepreneurship, and more. As a gift to an endowment, your donation will benefit the Cheyenne community now and forever.
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Nonprofit Highlight: Boys & Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation & Lake County |
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The mission of the Boys and Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation and Lake County is “to inspire and engage all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.” At their clubs in Polson and Ronan, they provide kids with the opportunities they might not otherwise have in their communities.
They want every kid who walks through their doors to gain a love of learning and achieve academic success. They also want to help them develop leadership and character skills and build healthy relationships and lifestyles.
The Boys and Girls Club offers a mentorship program where kids meet with their volunteer mentor once a week to develop a strong relationship with a caring adult. They also have a gym in Polson and are finishing one in Ronan, offering a stable spot for sports leagues and the community volleyball program for middle school and high school girls. Currently, they are working to convert an old woodshop at their Ronan location into a pottery studio where kids can develop lifelong skills.
The Boys and Girls Club of Flathead Reservation and Lake County serves nearly 400 kids/month between their two clubs. You can support them by volunteering your skills, becoming a mentor, or donating here.
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Support Montana COVID-19 Recovery Efforts During Greater Helena Gives |
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An anonymous donor has pledged $80,000 in matching funds to support COVID-19 recovery efforts in Montana’s rural and tribal communities if MCF can raise the same amount by the end of May. To help us meet our goal of $80,000 by the end of May, MCF will be participating in Greater Helena Gives on May 6-7, 2021.
All contributions made to MCF during Greater Helena Gives will not only help your fellow Montanans affected by COVID-19 but will also have double the impact through this dollar-to-dollar match. Learn more.
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Local Community Foundations to Host Giving Days in May |
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The arrival of spring also brings an opportunity for giving in local communities across Montana to support our nonprofit community. Below is a list of giving days happening in May.
Have a giving day you would like us to share? Let us know so we can help spread the word. Email Maggie Sullivan at maggie@mtcf.org.
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MCF is currently offering the following grant opportunities.
Grants to support impacted workers and their families and further economic development in the Colstrip community.
Assistance to support individuals conducting a community search for a missing Indigenous person in Montana.
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Upcoming Event: Fundholder Presentation |
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Join us on Tuesday, May 18 at 11 am (MST) via Zoom for an investment update from MCF's Chief Investment Officer, Omar Sanchez of Cambridge Associates. He will provide a market and portfolio update as well as be available to answer questions about MCF’s investment strategies.
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For the Good of Montana, Forever |
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We chose to celebrate our love of Montana on 4/06 Day by recognizing the work of local community foundations across our state and the legacy they're leaving for future generations.
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