Serving Native Communities, One Day At A Time.
During the government shutdown, days blurred together in a way that felt both exhausting and urgent. There was no such thing as a “normal” schedule. Mornings often started before the sun came up, scrolling through emails and news updates, checking which offices had officially closed, which staff had been furloughed, and what programs were at immediate risk at that given moment in time- things tended to change quickly and oftentimes without notice.
Working for an organization like Western Native Voice, the stakes felt especially high. Communities back home in Montana were already facing barriers to resources and access—and now, even basic federal support systems were frozen in uncertainty.
Most days began with meetings on Capitol Hill. I met with senators and staffers from both sides of the aisle, walking through hallways that felt unusually quiet, yet tense. Conversations centered around the urgency of reopening the government, but also on long-term fixes for the communities who would feel the effects of this disruption the hardest.
Healthcare was a constant topic of negotiation: ensuring continued access to Indian Health Services in any proposed 2026 budget, protections for rural hospitals, and the consequences Native families would face if the standoff dragged on much longer. The Affordable Care Act subsidies were the focal point of any and all negotiations during the six plus weeks the government was shut down. Without an extension of the ACA subsidies, healthcare costs could rise up to 300% which is why lawmakers were pushing so hard to get them extended at least another year.
In between meetings, I researched and connected with sources who could help clarify what was happening with SNAP benefits. Tribal members and rural families rely heavily on consistent food support, and the lack of clear, reliable information was creating real fear. My job became part investigator, part advocate, tracking changes, emailing agency contacts, and trying to provide our network with the most accurate information possible in an ever-changing environment.
There were nights I didn’t go home. A few all-nighters were spent drafting talking points for staffers on the Hill, building updates for our team, and preparing for meetings the next morning. Coffee became a food group.
The shutdown made something clear: this work is not just political, it’s personal.
Every conversation, every negotiation, every email sent after midnight is about ensuring that Native voices have a seat at the table where any decisions are being made about them.