This spring, Western Native Voice (WNV) launched a series of Native leadership conferences across Montana as part of its “Building Bridges, Building Power” campaign. Running from March through May, each event is carefully designed to meet the unique needs of the local community. The series began with impactful gatherings in Fort Peck and Bozeman, setting the tone for what’s to come.
Tailored Community Engagement
Unlike generic training sessions, these Native leadership conferences are customized to reflect each community’s priorities. As a result, participants find the content directly relevant to their lives. In both Fort Peck and Bozeman, attendees participated in interactive workshops rooted in WNV’s four core programs: leadership, advocacy, civic engagement, and education.
Empowering Local Leaders Through Native Leadership Conferences
These conferences aim to equip community members with practical tools to lead change. By focusing on leadership development, WNV nurtures a network of individuals who are ready to organize, guide, and uplift others. Furthermore, advocacy workshops help participants understand how to influence policy and collaborate with decision-makers at every level.
Fostering Civic Engagement and Educational Growth
Civic engagement training encourages attendees to participate in the democratic process. Specifically, these sessions highlight the importance of voting and show how collective action shapes local outcomes.
Meanwhile, education-focused workshops address specific challenges—such as school reform or access to health care. These sessions offer more than insight; they give participants actionable steps to improve their communities.
Looking Ahead
As the initiative continues, WNV will host more Native leadership conferences in Fort Belknap, Helena, Billings, Great Falls, Missoula, Pablo, Browning, Rocky Boy, Northern Cheyenne, and Crow. These upcoming events will expand WNV’s reach, creating more opportunities for collaboration and empowerment.
In every community they visit, these Native leadership conferences reinforce Western Native Voice’s mission: to build sustainable local leadership and drive positive change across Montana.