Vital Relief – Montana tribes’ $200 Million path to alleviating a pandemic

This $2.2 trillion economic stimulus, also known as the CARES Act, was intended to provide critical assistance in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Of that, $8 billion went to tribal governments across the country. The 12 federally recognized tribes in Montana received $200 million collectively, with each tribal nation allocated at least $14 million and up to 44 million. Though the spending had to tie back to the coronavirus in some manner, individual tribal governments were largely free to use the money in ways that best served their communities.

Students in the 2021 Native News Honors Project set out to learn more about how Montana tribes responded to the coronavirus pandemic, looking specifically at how CARES Act funding was used to alleviate their most pressing issues.