Valley Views

valley views Is curiosity the new form of patriotism?

“Your bloodwork shows your Vitamin D levels are low,” my doctor admonished me. “Start taking supplements.”

Not even sure what vitamin D was for, I followed her advice. Within a week, the pain in my knees had gone away. Amazing, I thought. How often can you solve a problem by simply swallowing a pill?

I loved the simplicity of the solution, and the reality check it provided.

Few things in life are that easy to fix. Inflation, floods and fires, mistrust in elections – all of these are significant national issues which require work from many angles. They require complex thinking.

But both our neurobiology and our culture drive us towards simplified thinking.

We are wired to tune out information that contradicts what we already believe (confirmation bias). It also takes effort to process information rationally, so we fall back on the familiar and the clear, such as statements that have been repeated until they seem commonplace, or even words printed in a bold font (cognitive ease).

Our culture also drives us towards simplicity. We often absorb news in soundbites or headlines. We usually reduce issues to binaries (pro- or anti-) and eliminate potential middle ground. It feels safer when “answers” are simple.

But most answers no longer are simple, as a recent report warned. Environmental and security emergencies are merging and magnifying, around the globe and in our own country. For example, we see extreme temperatures grounding planes for commercial and personal travel, and even adversely affecting military operations and exercises. To meet this moment, we need to build our capacity as a nation to “think fast, think ahead, and act now.” We need to “expect the unexpected – and be prepared to adapt.”

But how?

We can start with ourselves, and then demand it of our leaders.

One way is to deepen, widen, and lengthen our thinking, as one CEO puts it.

We can challenge ourselves to deepen our understanding of an issue by overcoming our blind spots: “how might someone on another side of this issue see this situation?” or “what assumptions about the world am I relying on?” We can widen our thinking by actively asking for others’ opinions. And we can lengthen our thinking with the question – to ourselves and our leaders - “what are the effects now, and what might they be a year, or 10 years from now?”

Since we filter information through our emotions, we should take our emotions into account – but also complexify how we understand those emotions. If we simply say a situation made us mad, we lose information about what made us angry. Peel back the layers of

Valley Views Melinda Burrell Peacevoice

Broken promises

The Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission is responsible for redrawing state legislative districts to reflect every community in Montana. Voters need to be able to elect legislators who represent different viewpoints and can come together to solve the problems our state faces. This responsibility requires the Commission to ensure voices are heard in every part of our state, and no one is left behind. That is why it was so unfortunate that when the Commission proposed maps earlier this month, the Republican Commissioners put forward two proposals that would both eliminate majority-minority districts and quash the possibility for Native Montanans to elect the candidates of their choice.

Republican Commissioner Stusek’s proposal would separate the Blackfeet and Flathead Reservations. It totally eliminates a majority-minority House District and majority-minority Senate District shared by both reservations. Commissioner Essmann’s map would eliminate the Fort Belknap, Rocky Boy and Fort Peck Reservation shared Senate District while at the same time making it much more difficult to elect Native candidates of choice in any northeastern Montana district. Both Republican proposals would make it nearly impossible for Native candidates of choice to win House and Senate seats in the districts encompassing the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Reservations.

This is a disservice to Montana. Native citizens are a part of this state’s fabric. We contribute millions of dollars to the economy, enrich our cul-

Valley Views Members of the Montana American Indian Caucus emotions. Does an angry outburst actually mask fear? The term “hangry” is a great example of how a more complex understanding of our emotions brings power to control them. When we realize we’re angry because we’re hungry, we know that food is part of the solution.

In our dynamic world, we need to get comfortable with complexity. Good solutions to our myriad problems require it. Is that the 21st century version of patriotism? If we love our country and want to help it succeed, is our best tool our choice to be inquisitive about people and issues?

Melinda Burrell, PhD, syndicated by PeaceVoice, is a former humanitarian aid worker and now trains on the neuroscience of communication and conflict. She is on the board of the National

see page 11 Association for Community Mediation, which offers resources for community approaches to difficult issues.

LETTER POLICY

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ture, and take care of our neighbors. Designing legislative districts that deny us the same right to equal participation in the political process as other Montanans is wrong, and it’s illegal. Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act guarantees minorities the right to districts where they are the majority and can elect the candidates of their choice. Protecting minority voting rights is also a requirement under the Montana Constitution. Article II, Section 4 of the Montana Constitution prohibits the state infringing on a citizen’s political rights to representation “on account of race, color, sex, culture, social origin or condition, or political or religious ideas.”

Eliminating majority-minority legislative districts in Indian Country and diluting Native votes has other major consequences for the entire state. It makes maps, in which Republicans are favored to win over 70% of legislative seats with only 57% of the vote, even more biased. Are the Republican Commissioners so desperate to create undue advantages for their party that they now stoop low enough to steal seats from Indian Country? This is just bottom of the barrel politics, and it’s a broken promise from Republican Commissioners.

At the June 2021 Commission meeting, Republican Commissioner Essmann emphatically claimed, “As far as history goes, we are not proposing repealing the Voting Rights Act today. We propose to keep the Federal Indian Reservations in tact.” We cannot express how deeply we wish that Commissioner Essmann kept his promise from that day. However, since he did not, we will continue to fight for our seat at the table at Commission hearings, and, if illegal maps are adopted, in Court.

Signed on the behalf of the following members of the Montana American Indian Caucus:

Sen. Shane A. Morigeau,

Sen. Susan Webber,

Sen. Mike Fox,

Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy,

Rep. Donavon Hawk,

Rep. Rynalea Whiteman Pena,

Rep. Tyson Running Wolf,

Rep. Sharon Stewart Peregoy,

Rep. Marvin Weatherwax,

Rep. Frank Smith

vj

Consider local interests

Editor,

Whose interests does Ryan Zinke support? Communities? Businesses? Apparently big businesses.

A report from the Dept. of Interior Inspector General office revealed that he intentionally misled investigators (who work under a Trump-appointed Inspector General) while he was the Secretary of the Interior. The investigators were researching claims that Zinke had blocked two Connecticut Tribes’ casino projects as a favor to their competitor, MGM International Resorts, which was building a casino nearby.

Zinke asked that they not release this report until after this November’s election.

The report was released Aug. 24, and is public: https://www. doioig.gov/sites/default/ files/2021-migration/ WebRedacted_FormerSecretaryandCOSDidntComplyWithDutyofCandor.pdf

Western Montana, where Zinke is running for the US House seat, is home to a lot of tribal land. What does this report say about his statements versus his actions? Zinke claims to have Montana values and be interested in the welfare of all its citizens, but prioritizes mega corporations over local interests. Fair and equal treatment of local businesses by someone in a powerful office? Ask two Tribes in Connecticut.

Stephanie Brancati Big Arm

To irrigators, water users

Editor,

Tuesday night at the County Community center in Ronan, a meeting was called by the Flathead Irrigation District with the Mission Jocko District attending and our Lake County Commissioners present. Subject in discussion was the collection of irrigation taxes levied twice a year on fee landowners. Our county commissioners gave their reason for the action they took, not to collect taxes after November 2022. I don’t think many people heard why this action was taken. 1 - It was not the Lake County Commissioners who, in Washington, DC. at 2:30 a.m. in December 2020, attached the CSKT Compact to the Covid bill. Steve Daines was responsible for this action, and right after this Jon Tester added two amendments. This bill could have never stood on its own, and never did through its history in the Montana House and Senate. CSKT lawyers wrote both of these bills introduced by Daines and Tester. Language in this bill is why the county commissioners did what

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from page 11 they did. Daines and Tester never once had a public meeting here in Lake, Sanders, or Missoula Counties. Things like collection of Irrigation fees should have been discussed before this outrageous bill was added as a rider to the Covid bill. Daines and Tester need to be confronted about this. 2- The threat on Flathead Irrigation not delivering irrigation water for 2023 was thrown out again, to cause alarm in the farming community. This is false, because all three irrigation districts will access you for the fall billing in December 2022. Remember you are always ahead six months in your irrigation bill. This means Flathead Irrigation will store and begin delivering water in 2023. For your knowledge, the BIA has over $10,000,000 of your money in their account, from over-charging for water since 2014, mostly from not being able to hire workers. This amounts to over $500,000 a year. If Daines and Tester want to help this problem, have them request an audit of the BIA. Mission/Jocko district tried for two years to get Daines to do this. 3- This and so much more is why all you project irrigators should object ASAP to the CSKT Compact. For more information contact www.saveyourwaterrigtht.org

Tim Orr St. Ignatius

Double check information

Editor,

The season is upon us, and misinformation campaigns are stepping up. As voters, we should check the facts with a variety of reliable sources and take it to heart when people who are asking for our votes lie to us.

The popular Inflation Reduction Act has triggered lies from high places:

Misinformation: - Fox News host, Brian Kilmeade, has suggested that IRS agents carry firearms, “a little like James Bond, but instead of hunting down evil maniacs, these agents hunt down and kill middle class taxpayers that don’t pay enough? It’s Joe Biden’s new army.” - House Republican leader, Kevin McCarthy, tweeted, “Do you make $75,000 or less? Democrats’ new army of 87,000 IRS agents will be coming for you.” - Our own Senator Daines twittered, “Senate Democrats want to spend tens of billions of taxpayer dollars to supersize the IRS with 87,000 agents to target small businesses and mom-and-pop shops.”

Facts: - The IRS does have some Criminal Investigation Agents who are armed, but the vast majority of IRS agents have no need of firearms. Those of us who are not criminals have nothing to worry about.

The Congressional Budget Office thoroughly reviewed the Inflation Reduction Act’s provisions to increase IRS agents, and reported, “The proposal … would return audit rates to the levels of about 10 years ago; the rate would rise for all taxpayers, but higher-income taxpayers would face the largest increase. In addition, the Administration’s policies would focus additional IRS resources on enforcement activity aimed at high-wealth taxpayers, large corporations, and partnerships.” (Full report available at: https://www.cbo.gov/ publication/57444)

Just the facts, ma’am.

Gail Trenfield St. Ignatius

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Burlesque, drag bring self-expression to Mission Valley

By Taylor Davison Valley Journal

POLSON — Last weekend, the Diamonds and Heels Burlesque and Drag Show made waves at the KwaTaqNuk, bringing in world renown performers from all over the country to entertain and spread messages of inclusivity, community, and acceptance.

Co-sponsored by SAFE Harbor, Spirit of Many Colors, and Violet Passion LLC, the pride event primarily organized by Kayla Ridgley of Violet Passion, aimed to bring the burlesque and drag scene to the Flathead Reservation. “My goal is to help bring that out front here, because Missoula has a pretty good drag scene and Kalispell is nice and budding,” Ridgley explained.

Ridgely took the lead in production of the event, doing the front work in finding funding, sponsors, performers, and getting the production going. Also a full time worker with the Tribe, Ridgely said it was a difficult balance, but she still managed to make about $4,000 of her $6,000 goal to make it happen.

“It ended up being a lot bigger than I anticipated … I kind of overdid it,” Ridgely laughed. With a total of 13 performers, including three indigenous headliners, Lou Lou la Duchesse, Mx. Pucks A’Plenty and Whisper De Corvo, two of whom are in the top 20 of burlesque performers in the world, made for a full house and a lot of moving parts.

“It’s just such a blast,” Ridgely said. “A lot of the queer community is involved in drag or burlesque somehow, because it’s a great form of self-expression. It’s been my saving grace, so to be able to offer that to others and know you’re okay as you are, you’re valid, it’s very important and very much needed.”

Burlesque, she explained, is the stripping of something, either emotions or clothes. Performers don’t have to take anything off. It’s just about the art of the tease and the story they’re trying to convey.

A performer for the last seven years, Ridgely said that as far as she’s aware, she is the only indigenous burlesque performer in the state of Montana. “Whenever I perform, I have indigenous people come up and say, ‘I wish I could do that,’ and you can,” she said.

One of her biggest messages, she explained, is healing through the art of burlesque. Many people in the LGBT+ community feel swept under the rug, or told they don’t exist, she said, and that’s something she can relate to from a Native experience as a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe. “Sometimes you hear ‘Oh, Natives still exist?’ And it still kind of hurts because we survived and we made it, we’re still around. So, I think of that whenever I hear ‘There’s no such thing as trans, or queer,’ and I can kind of identify with that hurt,” Ridgely explained.

Through her LLC, Ridgely is working to expand that message and reach those who need it within the community. Teaching burlesque and learning more about drag history to help guide those who come her way, Ridgely is also working toward teaching basic self-defense and empowerment.

“For me and for a lot of people I’ve talked to, that’s what these art forms have done for them in some way, is either heal their relationship to themselves, their relationship to their body, their relationships with other people, it just kind of transformed them,” Ridgely stated. It also is important to her to pay homage to those who came before and led the fight for acceptance.

“When one of my relatives found out I was doing this, he started crying because he remembers when he had to sneak into venues to try to perform and they had to leave in groups otherwise they would get beat up and (receive) death threats,” Ridgely explained. “Even in this event, sometimes I get messages of hate and I just block and delete, (and) just move on. But we’ve come such a long way. I feel mostly safe performing and a lot more support and love from my community and my elders ... We’re not hiding. We’re here and we just want to support others and help others and know that you’re not alone.”

To learn more about burlesque and drag and how to get involved, people can reach out to Ridgely through her Violet Passion Burlesque pages on Facebook and Instagram, or email her at: violetpassionburlesque@gmail. com.