Jonathan Windy Boy Explained

Jonathan Windy Boy
Birth Place:Fort Belknap, Montana, U.S.
State House:Montana
District:32nd
Term Start:January 2, 2017
Predecessor:Bruce Meyers
State Senate1:Montana
District1:16th
Term End1:January 2, 2017
Predecessor1:Frank Smith
Successor1:Frank Smith
Party:Democratic
Children:2
Residence:Box Elder, Montana, U.S.
Alma Mater:Northern Montana University
Profession:Business owner

Jonathan Windy Boy (born August 28, 1958) is an American politician, currently serving as a member of the Montana House of Representatives. From 2008 to 2016, he served in the Montana Senate. In 2019, he stepped down from legislative duties after being found guilty of sexual misconduct.[1] The sexual misconduct stemmed from inappropriate texts he sent in 2017 to female colleagues between mid-August and October.[2] Allegations and anecdotes began circulating of his history sexual misconduct on the reservation. He ran for re-election as Representative of District 32 and served in the 2021 session.

Career

In 2002, Windy Boy was elected to the Montana House of Representatives, representing House District 32. He has been a member of the Tribal Council of the Chippewa Cree Tribe since 1999. He was elected Chippewa Cree Tribe Vice-chairman from 2008 to 2010. In 2011, he opposed changing Montana law to revoke the drivers license of any teenager caught in possession of alcohol, but agreed that any teenager with a DUI should be banned from holding a driver's license until age 18.[3] In 2012, he endorsed a Republican candidate, Sandy Welch, for State Superintendent of Education.[4]

In 2013, he introduced Montana Senate bill 342, which allocates $2 million for a Montana Indian Language Preservation Pilot Program, which will "provide funding to Montana’s eight tribes to develop materials to keep their languages alive for future generations."[5] [6] He serves as a full-time THPO for the Chippewa-Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy where he works with a private business on section 106 consultation process.[7]

Personal life

Born and raised in Box Elder, Montana, he is divorced and has two children. He is known as a traditional dancer, and has worked in oil field exploration, and as a drug and alcohol prevention speaker.[8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cates-Carney. Corin. Rep. Windy Boy Sent Harassing Texts, Says Former House Leader. 2021-06-22. www.mtpr.org. en.
  2. Web site: AMY BETH HANSON and MATT VOLZ. Associated Press. Ex-House speaker: Box Elder legislator Windy Boy sent harassing texts. 2021-06-22. Great Falls Tribune. en-US.
  3. News: John Kelleher . Windy Boy opposes MIP drivers license sanctions . Havre Daily News . Havre, MT . 2013-03-04 . 2011-01-24 . dead . https://archive.today/20130411020934/http://www.havredailynews.com/cms/news/story-211079.html . 2013-04-11.
  4. News: Tim Leeds . Windy Boy endorses Republican Welch in superintendent race . Havre Daily News . Havre, MT . 2013-03-04 . 2012-09-27 . dead . https://archive.today/20130411020934/http://www.havredailynews.com/cms/news/windyboyendorsesrepublicanwelchinsuperintendentrace.html . 2013-04-11.
  5. News: Wipf. Briana. Bill aids efforts to save native dialects. Great Falls Tribune. 2013-07-03. 2013-07-01.
  6. News: Mike Dennison. Senate advances bill to help preserve Native American languages. Independent Record. Helena, MT. 2013-03-04. 2013-02-27.
  7. Web site: iResponse Industry Consults With Tribes Montana. 2021-06-22. iResponse. en-CA.
  8. News: Jonathan Windy Boy (D). 2012-05-26. Billings Gazette. 2013-03-04.