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Friends of the Plains Indians
The Great Falls Native
American Art Show
Raptor Project
Watershed Projects
Fuel for Schools
Housing Issues
Friends of the
Plains Indians
North Central Montana RC&D has adopted this as a project because of its
importance both economically and culturally to the entire RC&D area. The RC&D
assisted a group of artists to form a non-profit group now known as the Friends
of the Museum of the Plains Indian. This group got involved politically and
locally to save the Museum from being closed and the invaluable artifacts moved
from the area or dispersed otherwise. The RC&D continues to support this Friends
group mostly through special projects and facilitating larger group meetings.
The Friends Group and RC&D sponsored a Vision 2025 to look at what citizens
thought the potential of that Museum could be and how it could happen in Feb of
2008. A Youth Camp, sponsored for high school age tribal members, were shown
some of the old gaming pieces that the Museum holds. They were then taught how
to remake the instruments and learn the traditional games that they were used
in.
The Great Falls Native
American Art Show
North Central Montana RC&D supports the Native American Art Show because it
provides both economic and cultural benefits to the North Central Montana area.
This group celebrated its 25th anniversary of organizing a Native American Art
Show in Great Falls the same week as the famous CMR Art Show and Auction.
Raptor Project:
North Central Montana RC&D co-sponsored a project with Liberty Conservation
District and several other interested parties including the Prairie Pals 4-H
Club just north of Chester, MT. Interest in increasing the Hawk population in
the area calls for installing hunting and nesting perches for the Hawks in areas
that are rich in gophers and other pray that these types of Hawks hunt.
According to an Audubon Society member, North Central Montana has one of the
largest populations of certain types of Hawks in the US.
Watershed Projects:
North Central Montana RC&D continues to support the two major Watershed groups
that dominate our area. The Marias River Watershed has a strong working group
supported by four local Conservation Districts. The RC&D helps with technical
and specific project support. The Milk River Watershed Group was dormant, and
at the request of the Conservation Districts, the RC&D and NRCS assisted them in
reorganizing and putting together a strong working group in the watershed area.
The RC&D continues to support that group by assisting with a plan of work and
setting specific goals.
Fuel for Schools:
The RC&D is working with the Fuel for School program in the new Browning High
School. A grant was set up for a portion of the Funding. The RC&D is working
with several other parties to fund the remaining amount for this project. The
school is scheduled to open in fall of 2009.
Housing Issues:
North Central Montana RC&D Continues to partner with Neighbor Works Montana in
providing the Homebuyer Education Classes in North Central Montana. This is not
an easy task as the area is large and rural. Classes are held monthly in Havre
and as needed in Malta, Conrad, Cut Bank, Shelby, and Choteau.
Other housing issues arise as these rural areas attempt to rebuild. Homeland
Security has built four new office buildings in the North Central Montana area,
which caused an increase in employment and providing a housing shortage is some
areas. The RC&D has brought together several groups to address these concerns
and will continue to support attempts to increase affordable housing for all its
citizens.
In the Malta area, the RC&D co-sponsored a Housing Fair that brought all kinds
of programs and provided a multitude of information for small rural areas
dealing with housing issues. The RC&D is looking at duplicating these types of
meetings in other communities as needed.
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