Jodi Rave: Series on Indian lawmakers in Montana

Politics

Monday, January 5, 2009

"Sen. Carol Juneau, D-Browning, the longest-serving member of the Montana Legislature's American Indian caucus, arrives for the 2009 session with legislative priorities ranging from water compacts and education funding to hate crimes and energy drinks.

Juneau is already set for a hearing Wednesday that would extend the tribal-state water compact commission. She is also prepared to convince lawmakers of the need to increase the state's education budget, expand the definition of hate crimes and regulate the sale of energy drinks.

The Mandan-Hidatsa woman stands among the nine Native caucus members of the Legislature. She has the most seniority within the group, having served four terms in the House. This will be her second term in the Senate.

Juneau has lived on the Blackfeet Reservation for more than three decades. She is most noted for successful passage of the Indian Education for All Act, a law passed in 1999 that affects every public school student in the state. The Indian education act moved lawmakers to live up to Montana's constitutional mandate that Native history and contemporary tribal issues be taught to all K-12 students, a law ignored for more than 30 years.

When the Legislature convenes Monday, Juneau will serve on the Judiciary and Public Health, Welfare and Safety committees."

Get the Story:
Jodi Rave: Juneau brings experience to Legislature (The Missoulian 1/4)
Browning legislator has sights on economic independence (The Missoulian 1/5)