The History Project
Several years ago, we set out to strengthen our organization by developing a deeper understanding of our history. Since then, we have compiled documents, footage, photos, historical records, and articles that capture 50 years of organizing to protect Montana’s family farms and ranches and unique quality of life. The result is a series of videos, a published anthology, and a photo display documenting the people, places, and campaigns that have made Northern Plains such an important part of Montana’s history.
Anthology
Standing Together: Protecting Land, Air, Water, and People
This 130-page, hardcover anthology tells the story of Northern Plains’ work to protect the people and places we love across Montana. In addition to a written narrative, this hardbound book features photos, cartoons, artwork, news-clippings, and poetry from a half-century of tenacious grassroots organizing. Written and curated by Teresa Erickson.

Photo Display
Enjoy this virtual version of the Photo Display in our Home on the Range office in Billings. This display showcases notable members and moments that have shaped our organization and left a lasting impact on the issues we have organized around.

Nick Golder

Ellen Pfister and Don Golder

Ellen Cotton

National Sacrifice Area

Bill Gillin

Wally McRae

Steve and Jeanne Charter's Wedding Party

Anne and Boyd Charter at their Bull Mountain Cabin

Bob Tully

Helen and Gordy Waller

Carolyn Alderson

Willie Nelson, Helen Waller, and Steve Charter

Otter Creek Valley in Bloom

Lyle Quick

Gail Small

Tongue River Railroad Citizen Lobby Trip

Paul Hawks

Birney BBQ

Soda Butte Creek Cleanup Celebration

Bench Ranch, near Fishtail

Beth Kaeding

Alaina Buffalo Spirit

Mark Fix

Coal Bed Methane Pollution

Tongue River Valley

Clint McRae

Colstrip Steam Electric Station

Tongue River Railroad Party

Deborah Hanson

Dena Hoff

Jeanie Alderson and Terry Punt

Yellowstone River

Tom Breitbach

Mining Law Citizen Lobby Trip

Doris Medicine Bull

Earth Day

Mary Fitzpatrick

Tim Crawford

Bill Mackay

Eileen Morris

Ed Gulick

Home on the Range

Jack Heyneman

Wilbur Wood

Gilles Stockton

Farm Crisis Legislative Action

Right of First Refusal Bill Signing

Walter Archer

Spoil Waste Rock Pile

1872 Mining Law Rally

Acid Mine Drainage at Pegasus Gold

Irene Moffett

Jerry Iverson

Kenneth Medicine Bull

Rally Opposing Keystone XL

Bill Whitehead and Deb Haaland

Norma Bixby

Mary Donohoe

Bakken Oil Well Flare in Eastern Montana

Pat Sweeney and Hazel King

Richard Parks

Charter Family

Soil Crawl

Aerial View of Stillwater Platinum/Palladium Mine near Nye

Tom Mexicancheyenne

Charlie and June

Julia Page

Toni Chew

Sarpy Creek Mine





































































Videos
Enjoy a compilation of videos documenting our history, including:
- Standing Together: Protecting Land, Air, Water, and People which tells the origin story of Northern Plains.
- Water is for Fighting, a condensed retelling of our origin story focusing on our work to protect one of the most precious resources in the west – water.
- “Our History Tells Us…” series of 1-2 min videos which highlight some of our greatest fights like protecting the family farm during the 1980s farm crisis, promoting clean energy solutions, negotiating our Good Neighbor Agreement with the Sibyane-Stillwater Mining Company, how we saved the Tongue River Valley from coal bed methane destruction, and how we stood up to big corporations to protect clean air in Billings.