Blackfeet Declare Emergency as SNAP Funding Stalls

SNAP benefits are going away, and thousands of Montanans are going to feel the pinch. In Browning, the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council just declared a state of emergency to prepare for the effects of the SNAP snafu.

SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, helps feed families across Montana. When that funding stalls, it’s not just a line on a spreadsheet. It’s groceries, it’s gas money, and for some folks, it’s survival.

The Tribal Council sees that federal funds for November may not arrive in time. So they’re taking matters into their own hands. According to NBC Montana, they’ve started prepping emergency food support, and they even plan to process 18 bison from the tribal herd to help feed the community.

Food banks all over Big Sky country are watching the same storm cloud roll in. The Montana Food Bank Network is already preparing for a surge in demand if SNAP benefits don’t come through. Many small towns in rural Montana rely on those benefits to keep their shelves stocked and families fed. When that money doesn’t hit, it hurts.

The Blackfeet Council isn’t waiting around. Food drive signs are popping up all over Browning, and FAST Blackfeet is collecting donations for anyone who needs help.

For those not part of the tribe, maybe we can learn a lesson from the Blackfeet. Montana's general hunting season is underway, and some families are taking the harvest of wild game a lot more seriously this year. If this SNAP stall drags on, Montana’s food bank network might be stretched thin. But if there’s one thing this state does well, it’s showing up for each other when times are tough.