Northern Cheyenne and Crow Tribes focus on Tribal IDS

Both the Northern Cheyenne and Crow Tribes have recently taken steps to assist tribal members in having current ID’s, a reaction to Trump immigration policies. Although Native Americans have not been targets, in Montana many tribal people closely resemble Hispanics and there is concerns they might be mistakenly swooped up in an immigration raid.

For example, as reported by the Billings Gazette, members of the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Leadership set up at the Billings First Congregational Church to print tribal IDs for their members residing in the city.

Recently, tribes across the state have encouraged their members to carry tribal IDs, leading many to realize they did not have one. In response, leaders quickly organized to address this need.

Northern Cheyenne Pres- ident Gene Small emphasized their goal to ensure at least 80% of their members living in town have their IDs. “I talked to one of our elders here. I haven’t seen him for a long time. He’s been up here for a long time, for forever, you know. And I was surprised to see him here, but I didn’t even know he was living here in Billings. But he made a good point. He said, this, this is good for the people, because like me, he said, I’m on a fixed income, and it’s hard for me to drive to Lame Deer. It’s hard for me to come up with the gas money to get to Lame Deer to get this ID. So he was pretty pleased with it,” Small said.

The initiative proved successful, with about 100 IDs printed in just four hours. The expectation was to have printed around 250 by the end of the day on January 31.

Anita Wolf Black brought her two young grandsons to have their IDs printed and replaced her own, which was lost when her purse was stolen. She expressed gratitude for the tribe’s efforts. “For me, it not only helps replace my ID, but it also shows too, that the tribe, the council, those who are in government, do care about us who are not living at home with our families, and that we have this opportunity to have our IDs with us, having that second form of ID,” she said.

President Small said due to the popularity of the service, they’re already planning to host more additional ID printing days in the coming weeks. He also extended thanks to the Billings First Congregational Church for providing the space for this important community event.

The Northern Cheyenne Tribe has over 12,000 enrolled members. The normal fee for an ID is $10.00, however this is waived for elders and some low-income members. According to the tribal website, an additional form of identification such as a driver’s license or birth certificate, proof of address is required to obtain a tribal I.D. Then, that document can even be used for passport purposes.

On the Crow Reservation, the Speaker of the House of the Crow Legislative Branch recently sent out a letter advising tribal members to carry identification in case immigration agents come onto the reservation.

Others on the reservation understand why Sen. Dean Don’t Mix did it.

“You know there could be some confusion,” said Cody Hogan, Crow Tribal member. “Just like me. I look like a Mexican and Mexicans talk to me, but I don’t know Spanish.”

The Speaker of the House of the Crow Legislative Branch recently sent out a letter advising all tribal members to carry tribal ids with them in case immigration officers come to the reservation.

That’s a fear shared by many in America’s tribal communities this week, as worries about being approached by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in states across the country.

“It’s scary,” said another Crow Agency woman, who wants to remain anonymous. “They keep saying we have to have our tribal IDs. I’m going pray.”

From the Fort Peck Reservation to the Crow Reservation and beyond, more than two dozen tribes have issued guidance to their tribal members about what to do should ICE agents approach.

Those concerns escalated following reports earlier this week of at least 15 Indigenous people in New Mexico being asked to produce proof of citizenship to immigration law enforcement agents.

“My family is from here,” said Dennis Pope, a member of the Kiowa Tribe in Oklahoma, with family who are part of the Crow Tribe. “They’re safe. We have IDs. We have a homeland. This is our homeland.”

President Trump has made no indication Native Americans will be targeted, and some say the hysteria has led to unfounded fears.

“Social media does get out of hand and it’s all hearsay to me,” Hogan said.

“ICE only does targeted enforcement operations,” said Matthew Elliston, an ICE field office director in Baltimore. “We do not do raids. We did not do dragnets. We do not do sweeps. That is not something ICE has ever done.”

Even so, the Crow Legislature is now recommending carrying a tribal ID and or a state ID at all times.

Don’t Mix responded after hearing concerns from the grandson of a Crow elder who was worried about what he read on social media.

“It’s mainly to reassure the public,” Don’t Mix said. “And I don’t know if there’s any illegal aliens here, but as long as you have your tribal ID, you’re OK.”

While the threat of deportation is low, the fact that Indigenous people are being approached by ICE agents worries Charlene Sleeper, a leader of Montana’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) movement.

“We are subjected to racial profiling through law enforcement a lot of times,” said Sleeper, who is also a Crow Tribal member. “And so we live this, you know, experience on a daily basis so we know the potentials.”

A time of turmoil as many wait to see what will transpire.

“They’re just doing their jobs and as long as you have your backup, which is your tribal ID, you’ll

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