Montana Advisory Council on Indian Education (MACIE)
The Montana Advisory Council on Indian Education was established by the Board of Public Education and the Office of Public Instruction to function in an advisory capacity for the education of American Indian students in Montana.
The Montana Advisory Council on Indian Education shall be a strong voice for collaborative efforts among tribal, state, and federal organizations, institutions, groups, and agencies for the express purpose of promoting high quality and equitable educational opportunities for all American Indian students in Montana. This includes, but is not limited to, culture, language, and Indian Education for All. MACIE Constitution
MACIE Information
MACIE meetings will be conducted by Zoom unless otherwise indicated. Please email Brooke Gondara for the Zoom link if you wish to attend.
MACIE Meetings - All start at 9:00 a.m. and end at approximately 12:00 p.m., except those in person, which go to 5:00 p.m. (or when business is concluded, if before).
Meeting Schedule
January 7, 2026 (Via Zoom)
February 4, 2026 (Via Zoom)
May 6, 2026 (Via Zoom)
Previous MACIE Meetings
January 8, 2025 - Working Session
- Agenda will be posted once it is finalized (approximately a week before the meeting)
February 5, 2025 - Informational Session
April 2, 2025 - Working Session - in person (with Zoom option), Billings
May 7, 2025 - Informational Session
July 16, 2025 - Working Session - MACIE / Board of Public Education, Helena
August 6, 2025 - Informational Session
October 1, 2025 - Working Session - in person (with Zoom option), Helena
November 5, 2025 - Informational Session
November 6, 2024 - Informational Session
- Agenda (updated October 29, 2024)
- Minutes - Draft
October 2, 2024 - Working Session - in person (with Zoom option), Office of Public Instruction, 1300 11th Ave, Montana Room (2nd floor), Helena
August 14, 2024 - Informational Session
June 5, 2024 - Working Session
May 1, 2024 - Informational Session
March 7, 2024 - Informational and Working Session
January 3, 2024 - Working Session
November 1, 2023
October 4, 2023
August 2, 2023 - Informational Session
June 7, 2023 - Working Session
May 3, 2023 - Information Session
April 4, 2023 - Working Session
February 1, 2023 - Working Session
January 4, 2023 - Informational Session
November 9, 2022 - Working Session
September 7, 2022 - Informational Session
August 10, 2022 - Working Session
May 11, 2022 - Informational Session with outreach to the Superintendent of Public Instruction
April 6, 2022 - Working Session
February 9, 2022 - Informational Session
January 5, 2022 - Working Session
November 10, 2021 - Informational Session
October 6, 2021 - Working Session
September 8, 2021 - Informational Session
August 11, 2021 - Working Session
July 7, 2021 - Informational session
June 9, 2021 - Working Session
May 5, 2021 - Informational Session
April 7, 2021 - Working Session
February 10, 2021
December 9, 2020
October 7, 2020
July 14, 2020
May 6, 2020
March 11, 2020
November 6, 2019
September 11, 2019
May 8, 2019
January 19, 2019
BPE and OPI will jointly make appointments to MACIE based on nominations from Indian tribes, Indian organizations, major education organizations in which Indians participate, and schools where American Indian students and adults attend.
Membership Information
| MACIE Member | Representing | Member Type |
|---|---|---|
| VACANT | Blackfeet Tribe | Voting Member |
| Jeremy MacDonald | Chippewa Cree | Voting Member |
| Michael Dolson | Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes |
Voting Member |
| Levi Black Eagle | Crow Tribe | Voting Member |
| Michelle Crazy | Fort Belknap | Voting Member |
| Rena Lambert | Fort Peck | Voting Member |
| Iris Killeagle Secretary |
Little Shell | Voting Member |
| Norma Bixby | Northern Cheyenne | Voting Member |
| John Well-Off-Man | Class 7 | Voting Member |
| Dawn Bishop-Moore | Indian Impact School of Montana | Voting Member |
| Jordann Forster Chairperson |
Montana Federation of Public Employees |
Voting Member |
| VACANT | Montana Indian Education Association | Voting Member |
| Yancey Beston | Montana School Boards Association Indian School Board Caucus |
Voting Member |
| Edward Parisian | School Administrators of Montana | Voting Member |
| Calli Rusche-Nicholson Vice-Chairperson |
Urban - Billings | Voting Member |
| Dugan Coburn | Urban - Great Falls | Voting Member |
| Billie Jo Juneau | Urban - Missoula | Voting Member |
| McCall Flynn (Interm) | Board of Public Education | Ex Officio Member |
| Rodney Bird | Bureau of Indian Education | Ex Officio Member |
| Angela McLean | Montana University System | Ex Officio Member |
| Brooke Gondara | Office of Public Instruction | Ex Officio Member |
| Cory Sangrey-Billy | Tribal Colleges | Ex Officio Member |
| Hilary Gourneau | Tribal Head Start | Ex Officio Member |
| Vacant | Youth | Ex Officio Member |
OPI Staff are here to help:
Brooke Gondara, Tribal Student Achievement and Relations, Unit Director, (406) 422-6958