Northern Cheyenne Tribal President Rynalea Pena issued an executive order Friday extending stay-at-home orders through May 31 for the south-central Montana reservation.
This order comes despite Gov. Steve Bullock's stay-at-home order expiring April 26. Business have begun to reopen around the state, and Bullock announced recently that gyms, theaters and museums can reopen May 15 as part of the phase one opening.
The Northern Cheyenne Reservation has no reported cases of COVID-19 to date. Tribal nations retain the sovereign authority to protect the health, safety and welfare of their tribal members, and Bullock has stated that tribal leaders should keep their stay-at-home orders in place as long as they see fit.
The release from the president's office details updated emergency measures for the general public as found below:
- The stay-at-home order shall be extended until May 31, 2020 for the Northern Cheyenne Reservation and may be extended based on the advice from public health experts, health care providers, and emergency management professionals.
- The mandatory curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. shall remain in effect until May 31, 2020.
- Continued adherence to the following safety or preventative measures are recommended: Social distancing (six feet), limitation of 10 people for public gatherings shall continue until further notice, and personal hygiene practices are recommended (washing your hands, using hand sanitizer and wiping down your home and offices).
- Strong recommendation to not allow visitation to the Elderly homes and Elderly care/living facilities (Shoulderblade Complex and Heritage Center) housing Tribal members.
- Tribal members and others living on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation are advised to restrict travel to "hot spot" coronavirus areas and to self-quarantine, request to be tested for COVID-19 at the I.H.S. unit and to continue to practice prevention measures when travel must be made into areas with reported active coronavirus cases.
- If Tribal members or others residing on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation show signs of COVID-19 or coronavirus infection they are to self-quarantine and immediately report to the Public Health Nurses or Indian Health Services Unit in Lame Deer for COVID-19 testing procedures.
- Forthcoming executive orders will revise this current order as the ongoing consultation with public health experts, health care providers and emergency management professionals continues.
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