Montana
'Old racist stereotypes': Crow Tribe official responds to Tim Sheehy's 'drunk Indian' comments
BILLINGS — Representatives of the Crow tribes and other native groups are expressing their displeasure following the release of audio recordings of Montana U.S. Senate Republican candidate Tim Sheehy making racially insensitive comments about Crow tribe members involving alcohol.
“I know that Crows are our community, we’re no stranger to some good-natured ribbing, but I think this is a, I think that it’s a perpetuating old racist stereotypes, that of the outdated idea of the (makes air quotes with his hands) drunken Indian,” the Crow tribe’s secretary for the executive branch, Levi Black Eagle, in Wednesday interview with MTN News.
“I know that all the cattle and ranching families that I know, Crow and ranching families, they’re an upstanding character, they’re strong workers. I know that they don’t start their day with a can of beer,” Black Eagle said.
In the audio clips, taken in 2023 at different fundraising events, Sheehy can be heard saying, “I’m pretty involved down there, rode through their Crow Rez, their annual Crow Fair parade this year. I rope and brand with them every year down there, so it’s a great way to bond with all the Indians being out there while they’re drunk at 8 a.m., and you’re roping together. Every heel shot you miss, you get a Coors Light can upside your head.”
MTN News
Just days later, Sheehy was heard again at another event, accusing tribal members of throwing beer cans at him during the annual Crow Fair Parade.
“Six weeks after I launched the first thing I did was I strapped a Sheehy sign to a horse and rode through the Crow Rez parade and if you want to know a tough crowd, go to the Crow Rez. They let you know whether they like you or not, there’s Coors Light cans flying by your head,” Sheehy said.
MTN News
The Crow tribe has a ban on alcohol sales on the reservation.
“It’s really disheartening, especially from an individual, a candidate running for such a high office, you would expect more from those individuals,” Black Eagle said. “I think it’s a majority of the community that fights hard to negate those stereotypes and to have them perpetuate in such a way is just, it’s really disgusting. And we don’t stand for it.”
Black Eagle said the parade is a time to honor and appreciate their culture and tribal members’ accomplishments.
MTN News
“I don’t think that there’s ever been an instance where one of the spectators threw anything, especially at one of our guests. We treat our guests better than that,” Black Eagle said. “It’s a time for us to show our best versions of ourselves and definitely to have it smeared in such a way is just, it’s really shady.”
Sheehy is seeking to unseat incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Tester in a race that could determine control of the U.S. Senate. The race has garnered national attention, with millions of dollars flowing into the race that will be decided Nov. 5.
On Wednesday morning, Sheehy held a campaign event in Billings, where the senate hopeful spoke alongside U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas. His campaign team was aware that MTN News asked for an interview with Sheehy, but at the immediate conclusion of the event, Sheehy was taken out of the room and interview requests were denied.
Other prominent members of the Native American community in Montana were also upset to hear Sheehy’s words.
Montana state Sen. Shane Morigeau, a Missoula Democrat, said the comments, which he learned about on Tuesday, misrepresent tribal members, and he fears what it could do to the younger generations hearing those words.
“When you’re making jokes about, you know, native people being, you know, alcoholics and violent, well, what does that tell the young native kid that lives in my community or on the Crow reservation?” Morigeau said. “When I was listening to it, what I started thinking about was like, ‘Wow, this is exactly one of the reasons I brought legislation forward last session to essentially have an Indian education for all type of bill for legislators.”
MTN News
Morigeau’s bill failed in 2023, but he still hopes this can be a learning moment for everyone.
“I think these sorts of things are, there’s an underbelly of this kind of stuff in the state of Montana. And it’s unfortunate,” Morigeau said. “I really wish it could be a learning opportunity for the candidate, as well. You know, we expect our elected officials to be people of integrity. And when you do something that’s wrong or hurtful, you own up to it and you apologize.”
Morigeau is a member of the Montana American Indian Caucus, which released a letter to Sheehy Wednesday afternoon saying how “let down” they were by his remarks.
“As a candidate for office in Montana, you have a responsibility to know and respect the Indian communities you are running to represent. You are also responsible for using your platform to advocate for that respect to your political supporters,” a portion of the letter states. “Instead, you have chosen to disrespect the original Montanans as a strategy to pander to the non-Indian vote and political funders. Your remarks have only further alienated the tribal people from your party.”
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 13, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from May 13 drawing
22-31-52-56-67, Powerball: 15, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from May 13 drawing
17-18-28-37-42, Star Ball: 04, ASB: 02
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from May 13 drawing
02-06-10-16, Bonus: 16
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from May 13 drawing
08-13-39-63-66, Powerball: 02
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Montana Cash numbers from May 13 drawing
02-04-13-17-32
Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 13 drawing
21-24-29-42-49, Bonus: 01
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Montana
Public Meeting at Hub on Smith Concerning Montana Water Call Prompting Priority Administration in Tongue Basin
Wyoming State Engineer Brandon Gebhart announced that on May 5, 2026, the State of Montana placed a call under Article V(A) of the Yellowstone River Compact to fill Tongue River Reservoir in Montana. As a result, priority administration is in effect on post-1950 water rights in Wyoming that divert water from the Tongue River and its tributaries and are not excluded from the compact.
A public meeting will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 18, in the dining room of The Hub on Smith. Attendees are asked to enter on the north side of the building.
The Tongue River Basin has been experiencing drought conditions over the past year with historically low winter snowpack and streamflow conditions. According to the release, those conditions led to Montana’s interstate call and prompted the administration of the Tongue River Basin in Wyoming.
The priority administration will affect post-1950 water rights within the Tongue River Basin, including reservoir storage, stream diversions and groundwater withdrawals, all of which affect river flows. Post-1950 water rights will be regulated off or prevented from turning on. Wyoming hydrographer-commissioners will continue to administer reservoir storage and post-1950 diversions throughout the spring and work with affected water users until the administration is lifted.
As provided in the compact, domestic uses less than one-half acre in area and livestock uses, including stock reservoirs less than 20 acre-feet in capacity, are excluded from this administration. The release noted these excluded rights could be subject to future regulation to satisfy priority calls by senior Wyoming water rights.
Beginning May 5, 2026, Wyoming hydrographer-commissioners have worked to record the current storage levels of reservoirs with post-1950 water rights. Going forward, those reservoirs can continue to accrue storage so long as post-1950 storage gained after the interstate call on May 5 remains in storage until either the water is released to satisfy the Montana call or Montana lifts the call because Tongue River Reservoir will fill.
Reservoirs with unfulfilled pre-1950 water rights can continue to store water and that storage will not be subject to release to satisfy Montana’s call. However, that storage and other direct flow rights could be subject to regulation to satisfy priority calls by senior Wyoming water rights.
The priority administration will be carried out pursuant to state law by hydrographer-commissioners assigned to various portions of the Tongue River Basin, working under the direction of Division II Superintendent David Schroeder.
The Wyoming State Engineer’s Office can be contacted at:
Jack Morey, deputy state engineer, 307-777-5032, jack.morey2@wyo.gov
David Schroeder, Division II superintendent, 307-674-7012, d.schroeder@wyo.gov
Jeff Cowley, interstate streams administrator, 307-777-1942, jeff.cowley@wyo.gov
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 12, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 12 drawing
17-32-35-40-47, Mega Ball: 17
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from May 12 drawing
04-12-17-24, Bonus: 11
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 12 drawing
19-21-35-38-53, Bonus: 01
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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