Items

• 
  2020-07-28

  Beartooth Pass

  In late July 2020, my wife (then girlfriend), my family, and I took a trip to Sturgis, South Dakota for the annual Black Hills motorcycle rally. During the trip, we traveled to Red Lodge, Montana, where we spent two days riding our motorcycles into Yellowstone National Park. Of all the memories we made on that trip, driving on Beartooth Pass, one of the most dangerous roads in the United States, was my favorite. The views were stunning and the ride was exciting, with near-vertical dropoffs and few guardrails. In South Dakota, the only COVID-19 restriction in effect was mask mandates inside restaurants and stores; in Montana, there were no restrictions.
• 
  2021

  POV of a Cattle Rancher

  This is important to me because this is my partner speaking. At the beginning of the pandemic we were living in Montana on a working cattle ranch, so our experience was a lot different than what we were seeing on social media. We experienced extreme food shortages and ironically had an even harder time selling cattle to processors and feed lots.
• 
  2021-02-22

  My day

  My first half of spring break was pretty great. On Saturday, I went to Big Sky, Montana to ski. I brought my friends Brett, James, and Patrick with me. My good friend Brandon was also up there so he stayed with me. My family has a house up there, so we go once during the winter and once during the summer every year. Sadly there is not a direct flight to the airport in Bozeman Montana. That place is about an hour drive to Big Sky. We flew Delta Airlines and had a connection flight in Minneapolis. In the New Orleans airport, we had chick fil a. The airport was very crowded. Then in Minneapolis, we had about an hour layover. We then arrived in Bozeman Montana at around 8:15 at night. We then went to Dairy Queen and got ready for the hour drive ahead. During that drive, I basically just listened to music. We then finally arrived in Big Sky. We were all pretty tired so we went to bed. The next morning we woke up and then ate a big breakfast. After that, we drove to the Ski Rental shop. We then got our skis and began skiing. We started off with a blue to see how everyone would do. James was not the best and kept falling. After about 2 runs we left my dad and met up with Brandon’s older sister. We then went to the other side of the mountain and skied there. There was a new chairlift that had like a bubble you would pull over you. It also had heated seats.
• 
  2021-04-13

  Tribes of north-central Montana pause use of Johnson and Johnson vaccine under recommendation by CDC and FDA

  "Native American tribes in north-central Montana are responding to today's CDC and FDA recommendations that the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine temporarily stop being used. The reason for the "pause" is because it has been linked to blood clots in at least six people out of the more than 6.8 million who have received that version of the vaccine." Tribes including Little Shell Tribe, Rocky Boy Reservation, and The Blackfeet Tribe are coordinating with providers and pausing use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
• 
  2021-03-14

  Brenda Cohen Oral History, 2021/03/14

  In this oral history, I interview my mom, Brenda Lee Cohen on her pandemic experience with a particular focus on her work with the Calgary police service as a crime and intelligence analyst supervisor. In this interview, Brenda talks about her initial experience with the COVID-19 pandemic, she recalls the first day of the pandemic as she and her husband were stuck in America. This particular interview touched upon what her work environment was like during the pandemic and topics such as systemic racism, the police ‘culture’ and the revocation of a popular program for city employees known as the ‘golden handshake’ in the midst of the pandemic. Brenda also spoke briefly about her experience with misogyny within the workplace and how these ideas are so prevent within a space which mixes the civilian and police worlds. Finally, Brenda also spoke about what she is most thankful for in this pandemic, and ultimately reflects on her own inability to express her thoughts and emotions – and how one day when she is out of the police environment, things will be different. Interviewee Name: Brenda Cohen Interviewer Name: Padraic Cohen Date of Interview: 03/14/2021 Location: Cochrane, Alberta Canada. Transcribed by https://otter.ai Partially transcribed by Padraic Cohen
• 
  2020-11-23

  COVID and Montana High Schools

  The contributor of this item did not include verbal or written consent. We attempted to contact contributor (or interviewee if possible) to get consent, but got no response or had incomplete contact information. We can not allow this interview to be listened to without consent but felt the metadata is important. The recording and transcript are retained by the archive and not public. Should you wish to listen to audio file reach out to the archive and we will attempt to get consent.
• 
  2020-11-22

  A Superintendent On What It's Like Overseeing A School District During The Pandemic

  Lulu Garcia-Navarro interviews the superintendent of Great Falls Public Schools in Montana about COVID-19 and schools.
• 
  2020-11-09

  Canada-US border Communities in Alberta Adapting to Pandemic

  While popular within Canada, the border closure between the two countries has undoubtedly hurt businesses in both. Especially in border communities that are undeniably linked.
• 2020-10-29

  Homecoming Football Cancelled

  The week of homecoming has always been a huge deal for the students at Great Falls High School. Even when I went there 10 years ago, we went all out. I cannot begin to fathom the disappointment for the seniors who lost their last chance to play a varsity homecoming football game. This season has been met with many hurdles. Limited spectators, masks, social distancing, sign ins and contact tracers for attendance, it’s been a lot of adjusting for everyone, but especially the players. They work their hardest to stay healthy and eligible to play. When news broke about the other team having had contact with covid, the boys were devastated that they would not have the opportunity to fulfill that homecoming legacy. The loss of this game in many ways was the equivalent of a lost season.
• 
  2020-10-29

  Great Falls Bison Football

  This year is my youngest brother's freshman year of high school. Imagine our devastation when it was assumed that these boys would lose out on the opportunity to start their high school careers participating in a sport that they love. With thanks to GFPS and all associated groups, through social distancing, careful planning, and diligent hygiene-- these talented and amazing athletes were able to play for the very first time, at Memorial Stadium. Go Bison!
• 2020-10-30

  Football During Covid-- AFTER of the Lost Season

  At the end of last year and the loss of the whole spring sports lineup, we were all disappointed to say the least. After all, they had worked so hard to not even be able to actually participate in their track season. Then the questions started rolling in-- what about next fall? What about football? At one point, it looked like it wouldn't even be possible, but somehow the district and state managed to make it happen with some limitations. At the end of it all, things turned out fine and the boys and each of the player's 3 allowed spectators got to enjoy this year’s football season. The stadium is much quieter with the same amount of energy from the players and the few lucky supporters who get to be there. They got to keep their season, they have had minimal cancellations due to other teams and contact with Covid, and I could not be prouder of these boys on and off the field. They got their season, they worked hard to keep it, abide by the rules, and to keep their season rolling through times of uncertainty.
• 
  2020-10-23

  Travel During Covid

  Travel during Covid what mostly like any other travel, just with a mask, and people didn't actually want to sit right next to you waiting to board the flights. The actual flights were different, though. The seats were not filled unless you were a member of a party travelling together. That being said, my first class ticket as a single travelling passenger with no other members of my party allowed me to have a full row to myself unlike most flights where everyone is seated in close proximity whether you know the passengers seated next to you or not. It was actually nice in terms of people respecting personal space.
• 
  2019-10-16

  Making the Best of Covid

  Like everyone, at the beginning of the pandemic I was terrified. I didn't know what the future held. I had just started a new job substitute teaching and all of a sudden, the schools were shut down and I was out of necessary work. Thankfully, I worked another job that afforded me the ability to continue making somewhat of a living, although savings would ultimately get me through about 7 months of the pandemic. Cooped up at home, I had nothing but time to think, reflect, work through my own demons, and ultimately to find myself again. I finally had nothing but time-- the one commodity we all complain we never have enough of. I got to take care of my physical, emotional and mental wellbeing again, spend time with my horses and dog, finish crocheting a few afghans that I had tucked away for months because I simply didn't have time. I got my photography business off the ground and finally went out to photograph places that I loved but never felt I had enough time to drive to. I found a better version of myself--a happier, stronger, braver and fearless, take no prisoners kind of woman through all the time on my hands. I treated myself to a photography trip to Alaska in September, which turned out to be the final step in self discovery. I needed to spread my wings on a solo trip to one of the most beautiful places in the world to find that final missing piece. I can confidently say that I think I found the place I will call home next. This pandemic has been transformative in so many ways. It is still possible to respect the virus for what it is without sacrificing our own mental and financial health. It is easy to seep into the perils associated with the pandemic. Between the online bickering of political parties, the looming election, the vaxxers and the anti-vaxxers, the maskers and the anti-maskers-- what everyone has failed to take advantage of, is time. I wish people took a step back to re-evaluate their sense of self through all of this. I wish people took time to look at all the opportunity and blessings that the confusing time of the pandemic has provided us. I wish people took time to be grateful for the things they have and not disparaged by the things that they do not. I choose a positive perspective on an otherwise horrible period in our lives. I choose to make the best of covid. Photo: Matanuska River Bridge, Palmer AK, 2020. Taken by: Jordyn Clutter (Hot Mess Pony Express) Arizona State University, HST 485.
• 
  2020-05-07

  Flathead Reservation Offers Financial Relief Grants

  Grants offered for business assistance, housing, food programs, financial relief, public health programs, and local food production.
• 
  2020-05-19

  Crow Agency assembles emergency response team amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

  "- When it comes to containing the coronavirus, communities all around the world are having to take unique steps that work for them. And that's true as well for Montana's native tribes."
• 
  2020-03-31

  Crow tribe puts up road-side checkpoints to curb travel to reservation

  "BILLINGS — Officials with the Crow tribe set up five road-side safety checkpoints over the weekend to stop non-tribal members from fleeing the COVID-19 pandemic to stay on the Crow reservation, tribal officials said in a Facebook video Monday."
• 
  2020-05-21

  Western Native Voice establishes COVID-19 relief fund to support hardest hit native communities

  "BILLINGS — The WNV COVID-19 Relief Fund has been established in a partnerships between Western Native Voice and We Are Montana to help respond to the urgent requests from Native leaders for resources to support their communities, protect elders, and ensure front line workers have the protection and supplies they need. "
• 
  2020-05-15

  Blackfeet Tribe Offers Drive Throuth Testing

  Blackfeet Covid-19 Incident Command Base offers tribal members some peace of mind with drive through testing using supplies offered by Montana Governor Bullock. #IndigenousStories
• 
  2020-05-11

  Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes: Covid-19 Testing for the Community

  “The Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board has determined that the rapid anti-body testing that was available to the Tribes did not provide the accuracy and reliability necessary to adequately serve the constituents of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Due to these issues, the schedule for Community COVID-19 testing by the Fort Peck Tribes will be rescheduled to the month of June.” #IndigenousStories
• 
  2020-03-31

  Federal aid on way to Montana Tribes

  An image of a front-page article from the Billings [Montana] Gazette reporting that tribes in Montana are set to receive almost eight million dollars in housing funds and a slice of a ten billion dollar stimulus package to help with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds will be distributed to help tribal governments, enterprises, and businesses recover.
• 
  03/30/2010

  Checkpoints Set Up on Crow Reservation

  Crow Tribal Chairman A.J. Not Afraid opens checkpoints to stem the influx of non-locals searching for areas that are Covid-free.
• 
  2020-03-05

  Skiing in Big Sky, Montana

  Life goes on in the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave."