National | Politics

Native Sun News: Denise Juneau campaigns in Cheyenne country

Monday, May 16, 2016

Denise Juneau, Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction and candidate for U.S. Congress (middle), poses with fellow Native officials, State Representative Caroline Lopez (Crow) left, and Mont. Senator Sharon Stewart Pergory (Crow) during a community feed at Lame Deer, Mont. Photo courtesy A Cheyenne Voice

First Montana Indian woman to seek congressional seat
By Clara Caufield
Native Sun News Correspondent
www.nsweekly.com

LAME DEER, Mont. –– On May 5, Denise Juneau, candidate for the one Montana U.S. Congressional seat, held a community meeting and meal on the lawn of the Little Wolf Northern Cheyenne Tribal office grounds, an event attended by a large number of local Democrats.

Juneau, the first Native woman in Montana to be twice elected to a state-wide executive position, Superintendent of the Office of Public Instruction, is now challenging U.S. Congressman, Republican incumbent Ryan Zinke in the upcoming 2016 election. She is now conducting a state-wide Indian country tour to encourage voter registration and voter turn-out.

“I have won two state-side elections with a 31,000 margin over Zinke’s record. The fact is that if Native Americans vote, we will win,” she urged the crowd.

Northern Cheyenne tribal council member, Conrad Fisher served as MC for the event and said, “We have a very special guest running for a most important position in the State of Montana. She has already made history and now has the opportunity to serve Indian people from across the Nation. Let us greet her and make her feel welcome in Northern Cheyenne country.”

Speaking to the crowd, Juneau (enrolled member of the Mandan-Hidasta Tribe, North Dakota who grew up on the Blackfeet reservation in Montana) explained her background. “I have spent my adult life ensuring that all Montanans have a quality education, leading to increased opportunity. My roots run deep, 54 generations in this country.