Author: Anna

New photos showcase our ever-unfolding history

To celebrate Northern Plains 50th Anniversary, we assembled a photography exhibition to highlight the people, places, and events that helped shape our organizational history. We displayed 68 photographs and detailed […]

Livingston residents talk serious trash

Yellowstone Bend Citizens Council members sit around a table discussing waste reduction in Livingston.

Yellowstone Bend Citizen Council members met for their first discussion in their “Trash Talks” series on reducing waste. The topic of the January 4th discussion was reducing kitchen waste.

A huge victory years in the making in Colstrip!

Member Wally McCrae and IBEW Local 1638 member Bret Bowen pictured together.

Northern Plains has organized for years to ensure responsible and robust cleanup of Colstrip’s leaking coal ash ponds. These ash ponds have been contaminating groundwater at a massive rate threatening […]

Holding closely to the Held v. MT victory

Youth plaintiffs in the Held v. MT case pose for a group photo.

Thanks to the courage of 16 young plaintiffs and a state constitution that provides some of the most expansive rights in the nation, Montana has become a significant site in […]

Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Two Indigenous women stand behind a sign that says "Protect Our Water" and "#noKXL."

On October 9th, the second Monday of October, along with Montanans across the state, Northern Plains is celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a celebration of the power […]

Billings gets $1M for tree cover

A landscape of downtown Billings and its current tree cover.

Earlier this month, the US Forest Service announced that the City of Billings will receive $1 million in federal funds to design and implement an urban forestry project. The city […]

Finding common ground at the Small Town Summit

A crowd of people with their hands up, holding a banner that reads "Small Town Summit".

Northern Plains joined over 250 other rural organizers and grassroots groups at the first ever Small Town Summit, hosted by United Today, Stronger Tomorrow, in Missoula in early June. Convened […]

IRA clean energy funding is coming our way!

The Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law last summer, will work to reduce United States’ greenhouse gas emissions by up to 44% by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. Lucky for us, the IRA includes some substantial clean energy benefits for Montana residents and businesses to help us get there.

First steps in a long journey

In late 1971, several months before a small group of people formed Northern Plains, some of those same people embarked on an ambitious project – a trip to Washington, DC, […]

Combining art and action to protect democracy

A couple of years ago, Northern Plains member and Bridger farmer/rancher Tom Tschida found himself getting deeper and deeper into a new hobby, hand-printed letterpress art. He began to acquire […]

Standing strong in the face of adversity

The novelist James Lane Allen is credited with the quote, “Adversity does not build character, it reveals it.” After a remarkably challenging session full of adversity, the character of Northern […]

The power of standing up and speaking out

Our voices make a difference, and members testifying before our legislature has been a part of Northern Plains work since our founding. Below are a couple of excerpts from member […]

Forging the path to healing

SJ 6 was recently heard in the House Energy, Technology and Federal Relations committee. SJ 6 is a joint resolution sponsored by Sen. Susan Webber (D-Browning) that would recognize the […]

The power of personal stories

In addition to defending rooftop solar, we helped sway some big votes on another terrible bill that could force individuals to cover the court costs of coal corporations in reclamation […]

Speaking our truth, living our values

A fundamental value of Northern Plains is that everyday people should be able to participate in the decisions that impact their communities. Our member-leaders are living those values in Helena, […]

SJ 9: Montana Soil Health Day and Week

SJ 9 is a joint resolution introduced at the 2023 Montana Legislature that would designate the first week of April as “Montana Soil Health Week” and the Wednesday of that week as “Montana Soil Health Day”. The resolution intends to raise awareness of the importance of soil health, celebrate Montana’s agricultural producers, uplift Montana’s culture and legacy as an agricultural state, and promote the stewardship of Montana’s soils.

Members show courage and leadership in Helena

Since Northern Plains’ founding in 1972, our members have had a big impact at the legislature, speaking up for our values and priorities. This year is no different! Here are […]

Yellowstone Valley Food Hub featured in Billings Gazette

The Yellowstone Valley Food Hub started back in 2011 when Annika Charter-Williams, a Roundup rancher, and several other producers started a local food-buying club. Later, the Yellowstone Valley Citizens Council, an affiliate of the Northern Plains Resource Council, began helping producers organize the Food Hub.

C-PACE is enabled in Yellowstone County!

Montana’s biggest county has finally enabled C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Capital Enhancements), creating immense opportunity for businesses in Yellowstone County – including non-profits and farms – to invest in energy […]

An early victory protecting our Constitution!

Even before the official start of the 68th Montana Legislature, efforts were afoot to silence an important tool that our Montana Constitution grants us. Senator Steve Fitzpatrick (R-Great Falls) – the […]

The ultimate expression of grassroots democracy

The 68th Montana Legislature has officially commenced! Since our founding in 1972, Northern Plains members have had a strong influence on Montana’s laws and policies. We have crafted and passed bedrock environmental […]

Northern Plains member meets with BLM Director Stone-Manning

Northern Plains member Edward Barta recently returned from Capitol Hill, where he spoke with Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Tracy Stone-Manning, staffers from the US House & Senate National Resources Committees, and Senator Daines’ office. Edward told officials about the problem of pollution from thousands of idle and orphaned oil and gas wells across Montana and the nation.

Reflecting on the true history of Thanksgiving

For many, Thanksgiving is a time to gather with loved ones, celebrate our connections, and reflect on how much we have to be grateful for. This ritual is a tradition woven deeply into many families and communities. As an organization devoted to community, Northern Plains appreciates how meaningful the Thanksgiving holiday is for many of us. However, we are equally devoted to facing and telling hard truths, and we are deeply committed to ensuring that we do not perpetuate harm.

Protecting the Montana Constitution

We are fiercely proud of our Constitution, written by Montanans to serve Montanans. Now, half a century after ratification, there is a reckless extremist movement to rewrite our constitution. Read more about this landmark document and how you can take action to protect it.

Standing up to the bullies of the Bull Mountains

By now, we hope you’ve heard about the fight Bull Mountain residents are facing against Signal Peak Energy, the owner of Montana’s only underground coal mine. Signal Peak’s serial criminal […]

Inflation Reduction Act brings us closer to a healthier climate

On August 16, 2022 President Biden signed into law the historic Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This law marks the most significant action on climate change in U.S. history. While it’s far from perfect, the IRA  will have significant implications for our climate, the clean energy future we’re fighting for, and the future of family agriculture.

GNA: Ensuring Land, Water, and Community Protections

Since the GNA was initiated in 2000, GNA community members and independent tailings experts have identified and advocated for responsible tailings waste storage at the Stillwater and East Boulder mines. In 2015, Stillwater Mining Company began planning for expansion of its tailings storage facilities at the Stillwater and East Boulder Mine sites. Read on to learn how the GNA is ensuring responsible mine waste management in this expansion.

Big Sandy: Quinn Farm, 2022

The second soil health event of 2022 was held in early July at the Quinn Farm in Big Sandy, which will serve as a future research center for experimentation on […]

Federal court draws new PSC districts

redistricting maps

On March 8th (just a week before the candidate filing deadline), a panel of federal judges drew new boundaries for Montana’s Public Service Commission (PSC) districts. The districts were redrawn […]

Congress stalls progress on Savanna’s Act

We must push Congress to address systemic violence to Native communities In October 2020, Congress passed – and President Trump signed – Savanna’s Act into law. Named for Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, […]

Introducing the newest Northern Plains affiliate

It’s not every day that a new – and powerful –affiliate joins the Northern Plains affiliate family. Golden Triangle Resource Council (GTRC), a new local organization that will hold membership […]

The Bull Mountains are worth protecting

In the winter 2022 issue of the Plains Truth, we detailed a crime-movie level of corruption, and injustice that Signal Peak Energy (SPE) has levied on the local community and […]

Reforming a Rigged American Beef Market

The American beef market is a rigged system. Global corporations are using corrupt, illegal practices to overcharge consumers, fraudulently label imported beef, and steal from ranchers. Read on to learn why we should act now to stand up for family agriculture, healthy food, consumers’ rights, and Montana’s working landscapes by restoring fairness, competition, and dignity to our cattle markets.

Conrad: Graham Ranch, 2021

Four people walk side-by-side in a brown field.

After a long pandemic-induced hiatus, Northern Plains hosted its first Soil Crawl of 2021 at the Graham Ranch, just west of Conrad. Unfazed by the hot, smoky weather, around 30 […]

Helena: XX Bar Farm and Ranch, 2021

A man holds the roots of a plant and speaks to a group of people standing in a field.

On a beautiful, late summer afternoon in the Helena Valley, Tim Dusenberry – the owner and operator of XX Bar Farm & Ranch – described the transition that his family […]

Red Lodge: Healthy Meadows, 2019

Despite wet September snow, more than 50 people attended our final Soil Crawl of 2019. Ivan and Chia Thrane cleaned out their 100 year-old barn for attendees to gather indoors […]

Square Butte, Sandy Arrow Ranch, 2019

The July 19 Soil Crawl at the Sandy Arrow Ranch near Square Butte hosted a “class” of 25 attendees for a day-long workshop. Soil scientist Molly Haviland of Haviland Earth […]

Soil Health in Montana

Read to learn about the importance of soil health to protect our crops, communities, and climate.

Big Timber: Indreland Ranch and B Bar Ranch, 2017

In June of 2017, more than 70 ranchers, farmers, and gardeners gathered for a day of learning, collaborating, and digging in the dirt. The 2017 Soil Crawl on the Indreland and B Bar ranches was an opportunity for people who grow food to learn from one another about soil health and the methods used to achieve it.

Roundup: Charter Ranch, 2015

Since the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, the importance of soil health has not gone unnoticed by American farmers and ranchers. Yet our national policies continue to contribute to the […]