Friday, April 25, 2025

A long fight over who pays for law enforcement services on the Flathead Reservation may be coming to an end. Montana Public Radio’s Aaron Bolton reports a bill would provide temporary state funding so local officials can hash out a long-term plan. For decades, Lake County has arrested and prosecuted tribal members on the Flathead Reservation under an agreement known as Public Law 280. But the county in recent years has said it can’t afford the work and asked that the state chip in. Lawmakers did give the county funding last legislative session, but Gov. Greg Gianforte (R-MT) vetoed the bill, saying the state isn’t financially responsible. This session, discussions between the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Gov. Gianforte’s office, and county officials resulted in new legislation that would give the county $6 million over the next two years. Lake County Commissioner Gayle Decker says the bill requires the tribes and the county to create a plan for law enforcement that doesn’t involve state resources. “We think we can come up with a Memorandum of Understanding that’ll work and it’ll help us transition into the next phase of public law 280.” The bill has passed both chambers and is nearing Gainforte’s desk. Chris Eyre, left, Zahn McClarnon, and Jessica Matten. (Courtesy AMC Networks) As season three of AMC’s detective series “Dark Winds” winds down this coming Sunday, executive producer and director Chris Eyre reflects on the evolution of Native Americans in popular culture. Eyre’s breakthrough film was 1998’s “Smoke Signals,” a feature-length movie that showed the complexity – and humor – of Native people, after decades of stereotypes. I asked Eyre if he ever saw the success of Native-produced and written series like “Dark Winds” and others on the horizon 27 years ago. “Well, before I think ‘Reservation Dogs’ and ‘Rutherford Falls,’ I was getting somewhat concerned that ‘Smoke Signals’ was just going to be a blip on the radar of yesteryear. But I think ‘Smoke Signals’ is part of that continuum of progress with Native people in front of the camera and behind the camera.” Eyre has directed several episodes of “Dark Winds” including the season three premiere that had a surprise cameo with Robert Redford and George R.R. Martin, who are also executive producers. Eyre says he loves all the characters in this intriguing and often mystical storyline, including the dynamic between Joe and Emma Leaphorn. He says compelling – and humanizing – treatment of Native people in film and television is a sign that this kind of smart storytelling has arrived. “And I don’t think it’s going to stop. I think now we’ve gotten to a place that the door is not going to close again. I think there’s too many people – Native and non-Native – but Native people that are leading the charge as writers, and directors and performers and musicians and artists and executives, that have pushed this door open, and I don’t think the door is gonna ever close again.” Season three of “Dark Winds” is wrapping up with the eighth and final episode, but even before the first episode dropped, news came that season four was greenlit. Eyre says he’s blessed to be part of this series. “I’m just want to say tune in for season four, I’m as excited as anybody to know what happens. And I’m an insider, so we’re all working really hard right now to make season four great like season three, and I’m excited to see what happens.” “Dark Winds” airs Sunday nights on AMC. It’s based on Tony Hillerman’s novels and stars Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, and Jessica Matten.   Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today.