What the Helena

In this episode, we’re joined by Erin Miller from Montanans for Election Reform to discuss Montana’s CI-126 and CI-127 ballot initiatives. Together, we explore what these proposals could mean for election integrity, access to voting, and the future of democracy in our state.

You can follow Forward Montana on instagram @forward_montana and on TikTok @forwardmontana. Visit us online at forwardmontana.org.

For more informaiton about Montanans for Election Reform visit yeson126mt.com.

This episode was hosted by Sophie and edited by Ashley.

Make sure you return your ballot early or head to the polls on NOV 5.

With abortion health care and reproductive rights at the forefront of this election season, we talk to Alice Boyer and Danielle Vazquez to explore the reproductive rights of Indigenous people in Montana. We discuss why it’s crucial that everyone has access to these essential services.

You can follow Forward Montana on Instagram @forward_montana and on TikTok @forwardmontana. Visit us online at forwardmontana.org.

This episode was hosted by Taryn & Mikayla and edited by Ashley.

Make sure YOU submit your ballot!

This year marks the centennial of the Indigenous Citizenship Act, also known as the Snyder Act, which granted citizenship to Native Americans nationwide. However, the act didn't guarantee the right to vote. We sit down with Ronnie Jo Horse, Western Native Voice's Executive Director, to explore the significance of this act 100 years later and its relevance in the current election season. 

To learn more about how Western Native Voice is working with Native American communities to build political and personal power to impact policies affecting their communities, check out their website westernnativevoice.org.

You can follow Forward Montana on Instagram @forward_montana and on TikTok @forwardmontana. Our website is forwardmontana.org. 

This episode was hosted by Sid Boyer and edited by Ashley Lobao.

Make sure YOU are registered to vote here!

This Halloween, we're joined by Max Cumming, Dylan Yonce, and Paul Kim to discuss their forthcoming documentary, The Bodies Beneath Us. The film follows two of Missoula's buried histories: the former poor farm and cemetery site that now hosts Rattlesnake Elementary, and the city's once prominent Chinese community whose bones still rest at the base of Mount Jumbo. These stories ask us to interrogate the things we've been told about the places we call home; to dig a little deeper, and not to look away from what we find.

You can keep up with the documentary on Twitter @bodiesbeneathus and Instagram @bodiesbeneathusdoc. The Bodies Beneath Us is fiscally sponsored by the Foundation for Montana History; you can donate to the project at this link.

Forward Montana is on Instagram and Twitter @forward_montana. You can learn more about us at forwardmontana.org.

During black history month it's important to celebrate and uplift the stories of folks who helped shape both our state and our nation. For this episode, we sat down with author Anthony Wood to share the narratives of black Montanan's across the state from Churches in Billings, to the Black Women's Clubs in Great Falls to The New Age Newspaper of Butte. Take a listen to learn more about some of the events that shaped history through the lens of black Montanans!

To learn more about Anthony Wood's book Black Montana: Settler Colonialism & the Erosion of the Racial Frontier 1877-1930, head here: https://www.anthonywwood.com/

You can check out the documentary Hidden Stories: Montana's Black Past here: https://www.montanapbs.org/programs/hidden-stories/

Forward Montana is on Instagram and Twitter/X @forward_montana. You can learn more about us at forwardmontana.org.

This episode was hosted by Lyla Brown and Courtney Smith and edited by Cydney Smith.

After some technical difficulties, we are pleased and proud to bring you our 2023 Wrapped episode! Last year we saw young people play a huge role in Montana politics so for this episode, we decided to do a little extra to close out 2023. Our hosts, Chloe (they/them) and Kat (they/she), brought in some special guests, played a game, and collected some of your stories and takeaways to give you a rundown of What the Hell—ena even happened this last year.

Show notes!

Forward Montana is on Instagram and Twitter @forward_montana. You can learn more about us at forwardmontana.org.

If you've been following the news in Montana for the last few months, it's likely you've seen a barrage of headlines about property taxes: how much they're rising, who's responsible, and what we ought to do about it. These conversations can be confusing, politically motivated, and full of opaque math and jargon-y terminology. On this month's episode, Montana Free Press's Eric Dietrich helps us see through the political messaging from across the spectrum and get at the heart of the question: what services to we expect from our government, and who should be financially responsible for those services?

PLUS, a bonus mini-interview with Brandon DeMars of Middle Fork Strategies, where we break down the math and message behind TaxShiftMT.com.

You can read Eric's reporting on property taxes (and more!) at this link.

Forward Montana is on Instagram and Twitter @forward_montana. Learn more about us at www.forwardmontana.org.

This episode was hosted and edited by Izzy Milch.

This week, we're joined by Cheyenne from Butte Pride and Kelly and Kayla from the Anaconda Pride Foundation to hear about their experiences planning and pulling off Pride events in small-town Montana earlier this summer. We talk about how unique and crucial these events are in smaller and more rural communities and share lessons we've all learned from organizing with and for LGBTQ2S+ Montanans.

You can keep up with Butte Pride on Instagram @butte_pride. Anaconda Pride Foundation is on Facebook at this link.

You can find Forward Montana on Instagram and Twitter (are we calling it X now? What's up with that?) @forward_montana. Our website is www.forwardmontana.org. You can learn more about our open positions at this link!

This week, we sat down with Caitlin Piserchia, Program Director at the Montana Chapter of the Sierra Club, to chat about Held v Montana-- the historic youth-led climate case currently making its way through Montana's courts. We talk through the unique protections of Montana's Constitution, how we can all best support youth climate advocates as they fight for our collective future, and so much more!

Join us and our friends at Families for a Livable Climate on June 21st from 7-8PM for a virtual Q&A with youth plaintiffs from the case! This is a great opportunity to hear directly from plaintiffs about what it’s like to participate in the FIRST youth-led and the FIRST constitutional climate lawsuit to go to trial in the nation. RSVP (and submit your questions!)at this link: https://www.livableclimate.org/events.

You can find the Montana Chapter of Sierra Club on Instagram @sierraclubmontana, Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MontanaSierraClub, and online at https://www.sierraclub.org/montana.

To learn more about the Held v Montana case, head to youthvgov.org/held-v-montana.

Forward Montana is on Instagram and Twitter @forward_montana, and online at forwardmontana.org.