Native American legislators respond to Butcher comments

At a meeting of North Central Pachyderms last week former Montana legislator Ed Butcher made disparaging comments about current and former Native American legislators, and some of them have since responded to his comments.

The meeting Butcher attended was originally about tracking Republicans in the Montana Legislature and their loyalty to the party, but toward the end of the meeting he made remarks about Native American legislators he worked with.

He said two of the legislators from Montana’s reservations he knew, including Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, were intelligent people whom he admired, but he described others he worked with as generally unintelligent.

“I won’t mention the other names that are room-temperature IQs,” he said. “The reservation doesn’t necessarily always send their best and brightest.”

These comments drew the ire of some current and former Native American legislators including Montana State University-Northern Indian Education Liaison and former Montana Rep. Margarett Campbell, who said she and her colleagues are highly educated and that Butcher’s comments were extremely inappropriate.

“You’re damn right I’m offended,” she said.

She said she was the first female Native American House majority leader, so clearly she was well-regarded not just by the people who voted for her, but by her colleagues, something that not every legislator can say.

Campbell, who holds a doctorate of educational leadership from University of Montana, said this is hardly exclusive to her, as many of her Native American colleagues have also been put in leadership positions within their parties and caucasus, and many of them were and are highly accomplished outside of their lives as legislators.

As for local Native American legislators, some were not as angered by Campbell.

Windy Boy said regardless of whether or not Butcher personally likes him, his comments are certainly offensive toward many, though he isn’t personally bothered by them.

“Well, Ed Butcher is Ed Butcher,” he said. “ … He’s always talked like that, ever since I met him.”

He said attacks on Native American legislators are so common that comments like these are fairly routine, and he’s more immediately concerned with things like how gerrymandering affects Native American representation in the Legislature.

“I’ve seen it all down there. I’ve heard it all,” he said.

Rep. Mike Smith, D-Poplar, said he and his colleagues are plenty educated, but regardless, Butcher isn’t someone who’s opinion he takes too seriously.

“I’ve known him for many years, but I don’t pay attention to him,” he said. “ … Some of the comments he makes are pretty radical.”

Sen. Mike Fox, D-Hays, said he hadn’t seen Butcher’s comments and doesn’t really have anything to say in response until he reads them for himself.

Other current and former Native American legislators had not responded to requests for comment by printing deadline this morning.