Southeast Montana News

Stay-at-home orders have been issued by the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations in Montana in an effort to help curb the spread of COVID-19. 

Executive orders issued by the Crow Tribal Chairman and Northern Cheyenne President mandate all members of both tribes to remain at home until April 10, then May 14, according to Billings Gazette and KTVQ. 

Both orders allow members of the tribes to leave their homes for essential activities such as health care, grocery shopping, or exercise. Members may also go to work if their workplace is considered essential. Both tribes have a curfew in place as well. 

The Crow Tribe has a curfew of 10:00 p.m. and the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation mandates members of the tribe to be home from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Members of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe can leave during curfew if their job is considered essential and must have a letter stating their place of work, hours, and their supervisor's contact information as proof. 

Alvin Not Afraid Jr., Crow Tribal chairman, has ordered all non-essential businesses on the Reservation to close. He has also banned any travel to the Big Horn and Pryor Mountains and all non-local recreation. 

Northern Cheyenne President Rynalea Pena has placed more restrictions on the Northern Cheyenne Tribe.

Members of the tribe must social distance and all Reservation entrances and exits will have security check-points, Pena said. If members leave the reservation, they will have to be documented and tested for the coronavirus by the Public Health Nurses program, the Indian Health Services, or the Community Health Representatives offices. The individual's entire household will also be required to be tested.

Pena told the Billings Gazette that under the state of emergency issued on March 15, all schools and the Charging Horse Casino will remain closed until further notice. 

Currently, there aren't any cases of COVID-19 in either tribe. 

“It’s important to know that the Northern Cheyenne Nation does not have a single confirmed case of COVID-19 and that the boundaries of our nation is our safety net,” Pena told Billings Gazette.