Bullock going to Fort Belknap for CHAP celebration

Gov. Steve Bullock will be joining in the festivities and will hold a ceremonial bill signing at Fort Belknap Indian Community’s Community Health Aid Program CHAP Celebration Monday.

The event will start at 9 a.m. at the Red Whip parking lot and at 9:45 a.m. will walk around the Agency “Loop” and meet back at the Red Whip Center. The event will include guest speakers, a buffalo feast and door prizes.

The CHAP bill was passed by the Montana Legislature last session, after some controversy and multiple revisions to the original bill, and signed by Bullock, who is now campaigning as a candidate for U.S. president, in May of this year.

The bill was introduced by state Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, and was requested by the Fort Belknap community.

The bill sets standards for people to be certified, without being licensed, to provide some dental, behavioral health and community health services in a location operated by the U.S. Indian Health Services or a tribal health program.