What we did 

We interviewed 12 Elders from reservation and urban locations in Montana in April 2024. Elders shared stories about their roles, Grandfamilies, and premature causes of death in their communities.

We wanted to know

• What happens when a mother or child dies in a community?

• What are the roles of Elders in raising children and being grand families?

• What are some areas where change is possible to improve conditions and reduce deaths?

What we heard

Elders discussed gaps in existing resources, silos in programs, pervasive drug and alcohol abuse, limited housing, poverty, transportation barriers, and the need for greater education. These challenges were balanced by solutions like historical resilience, traditional parenting practices, cultural traditions and ceremonies, grief and loss support, support for grandparents raising grandchildren, kinship systems, and Indigenous values and teachings.