Project Little Shell

Series produced by University of Montana Journalism

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Reported news features and sound portraits linked to federal recognition of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Produced by advanced audio students at the University of Montana School of Journalism as part of the Native News Honors Project.

Generations of Little Shell, known as Montana's "landless tribe," fought for the federal recognition that finally happened via Congress and the president in December 2019. This project explores what that means and what's next for a tribe with more than 5,000 members. The recognition was national news, covered in the New York Times, the Washington Post and other outlets. When the excitement settled, these graduate and undergraduate journalists dug in, talking to people all over Montana, where the tribe has its headquarters. The combined stories explore deeply who this tribe is, how it thinks about its identity and what's changed with long-sought recognition.


18 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: Linda Watson, longtime enrollment volunteer at the Little Shell headquarters in Great Falls, Credit: Kevin Trevellyan
Reporter Kevin Trevellyan visits the Little Shell headquarters in Great Falls to get a picture of how volunteers and staff are dealing with people ...

  • Added: May 06, 2020
  • Length: 05:03
Caption: Tribal Chairman Gerald Gray, right, at the Little Shell headquarters in Great Falls, Credit: Candace Rojo
Reporter Sofia Stuart-Rasi explains why the first priority of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians after they achieved federal recognition is...

  • Added: May 06, 2020
  • Length: 04:53
Caption: Ekoo and her grandma look at photo albums in Browning, Credit: Victor Yvellez
Victor Yvellez begins his story with one young woman, Ekoo Beck, who's considering disenrolling from Blackfeet and enrolling Little Shell. Her moth...

Bought by WAMC Northeast Public Radio


  • Added: May 06, 2020
  • Length: 04:56
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Rainy Allen, left, and her mom. Rainy identifies as Little Shell, but can't enroll because of blood quantum rules, Credit: Mary Auld
Reporter Mary Auld talks to an expert, people enrolled in Little Shell and those who identify as Little Shell but can't enroll in the tribe because...

  • Added: May 06, 2020
  • Length: 05:11
Caption: Tyler Scott with the Little Shell history book his grandparents helped research, Credit: Kylie Mohr
Reporter Kylie Mohr digs into the where of Montana's "landless tribe." Although more than 3,000 people in a tribe that has more than 5,000 members ...

  • Added: May 06, 2020
  • Length: 05:04
Caption: Embracing at the celebration of recognition in Great Falls, Montana, Credit: Allison Berrian
Reporter Stephanie Maltarich finds Little Shell members in Missoula, Montana, who are trying to find each other through social media, genealogy and...

  • Added: May 06, 2020
  • Length: 05:03
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Reporter Allison Berrian explores why recent federal recognition of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians, knowns as Montana's "landless tribe...

  • Added: May 06, 2020
  • Length: 04:51
Piece image
Reporter Hailey Monaco provides context on Little Shell language classes. Before it was federally recognized, the tribe expressed its cultural iden...

  • Added: May 06, 2020
  • Length: 04:34
Caption: Former Chairman John Gilbert, Credit: Evan Bartel
Reporter Evan Bartel outlines the history of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians with elders, including Al Wiseman and John Gilbert, and the...

Bought by KRZA


  • Added: May 06, 2020
  • Length: 04:29
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: John Gilbert, former chairman
Reporter Evan Bartel talks with John Gilbert, former chairman of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Like elders and chairmen before him, h...

  • Added: May 13, 2020
  • Length: 03:24
Caption: Ekoo Beck, Blackfeet descendent exploring Little Shell citizenship
Reporter Victor Yvellez talks with Iko’tsimiskimaki “Ekoo” Beck, who is in the process of disenrolling Blackfeet to join the recently recognized Li...

  • Added: May 13, 2020
  • Length: 03:30
Caption: Alex Gray, candidate for office and Little Shell citizen
Reporter Sofia Stuart-Rasi talks with Alex Gray, a Little Shell citizen running for office. Together, they knock on doors in his district in Missou...

  • Added: May 13, 2020
  • Length: 02:40
Caption: Julie Mitchell, pre-school and Ojibwe language teacher
Reporter Hailey Monaco talks with Julie Mitchell, a HeadStart teacher in Great Falls, Montana, who takes the time every day to help pre-schoolers l...

  • Added: May 13, 2020
  • Length: 03:51
Caption: KerryJean Murphy, student and proudly Little Shell
Reporter Mary Auld talks with KerryJean Murphy, a non-traditional student who connected with her Little Shell heritage later in life. She thinks a ...

  • Added: May 13, 2020
  • Length: 03:02
Caption: Terrie LaRocque, tribal volunteer
Reporter Allison Berrian talks with Terrie LaRocque, who worked the reception desk at the Great Falls, Montana, headquarters of the Little Shell Tr...

  • Added: May 13, 2020
  • Length: 02:23
Caption: Duane Reid, historical preservation officer for the Little Shell Tribe
Reporter Kevin Trevellyan talks with Duane Reid, historical preservation officer of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Reid discusses disc...

  • Added: May 13, 2020
  • Length: 03:31
Caption: Celina Gray, grad student and mom of three
Reporter Kylie Mohr talks with Celina Gray, a grad student at the University of Montana and a mom of three who's struggled to find her place, both ...

  • Added: May 13, 2020
  • Length: 04:11
Caption: Chris La Tray, author and Little Shell citizen
Reporter Stephanie Maltarich talked with author and researcher Chris La Tray, who's writing the book, "Becoming Little Shell." It combines his fami...

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: May 13, 2020
  • Length: 02:57
  • Purchases: 1