Montana Tribes and State Officials Settle Landmark Indigenous Education Lawsuit

HELENA, MONTANA — In a significant step for Indigenous representation in the American education system, Montana state officials and several Tribal Nations have agreed to settle a long-running lawsuit regarding the implementation of the "Indian Education for All" program. The settlement, announced in August 2026, aims to ensure that public schools fulfill a 1972 constitutional requirement to recognize the cultural heritage and contributions of the region’s Indigenous peoples. The lawsuit, DuPuis-Pablo v. Montana Office of Public Instruction, was filed in 2021 by 18 students and their guardians alongside the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the Fort Belknap Indian Community, the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians, and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. The plaintiffs argued that while Montana is the only state with such a constitutional guarantee, the actual programming in schools remained inconsistent or non-existent for decades. Crystal Amundson, a plaintiff and parent who grew up in Helena, told ICT that the programming was virtually “non-existent” during her own schooling and that of her children. The new agreement seeks to change this by incorporating Indian Education for All into state accreditation and monitoring systems. This shift makes the curriculum a core expectation for all K-12 schools rather than an optional initiative. Roxanne Gourneau, a member of the Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board, stated that the settlement recognizes Tribal Nations as “essential partners” in the education of Montana’s students, ensuring they finally have a seat at the table. State Superintendent Susie Hedalen confirmed that the Montana Office of Public Instruction has already launched a new portal to share authentic resources with educators. A judge is scheduled to consider the final approval of the settlement during a hearing in December.