The Chippewa Cree Indians of Rocky Boys Reservation and two Native residents of Chouteau County say they are now working with the county toward a possible settlement in a federal voting-rights lawsuit challenging the countys at-large system for electing county commissioners.

The plaintiffs argue that the current countywide voting structure violates the Voting Rights Act by diluting the voting power of Native residents, who make up about 20% of the countys voting-age population.

One of the plaintiffs, Tanya Schmockel, who works as the compliance director for the Chippewa Cree Tribe, says her involvement began when she noticed the absence of basic county services in the area, where many Native residents live on the Chouteau County side of the reservation.

She says, I just kind of realized

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