Members of President Barack Obama's cabinet were in Montana on Wednesday, touring the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation.
It was the first time ever that Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan had stepped foot in Indian Country to see first hand, the challenges the Northern Cheyenne are facing.
Secretary Donovan used the opportunity to announce some $250 million dollars in housing grants for American Indians and Native Alaskans as part of the President's economic stimulus package.
Senator John Tester invited Duncan and Donovan to Montana in order to show the obstacles Native Americans are now facing.
The Housing Secretary toured homes in Busby and Lame Deer to get a closer look at the housing situation in Indian Country.
"Reservations have had real challenges around housing," Donovan said.
Secretary Donovan says the Obama Administration is committed to building and improving homes that are more energy efficient with the help of stimulus funds.
"We have half a billion dollars nationally that we are investing in Indian Reservations -- very important almost $12 million here in Montana to try to improve conditions," said Donovan.
Meanwhile Secretary Duncan and Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau took part in a "listen and learning" session at Lame Deer High School. Teachers, parents and students voiced their concerns about education funding.
"Our goal is to travel the country and listen and learn, hear what's working and what's not," Duncan said. "And every child in this country needs a great, great education today."
To show their appreciation Members of the Northern Cheyenne shared symbols of their culture.
The two Cabinet Secretaries finished their day with a press conference on the MSU-Billings campus.
It was the first trip to Montana for both - who said they'll return to Washington with a better understanding of rural and Native American needs
"There are absolute real challenges we got to see firsthand today as my first trip ever to an Indian Reservation, and something I'll never ever forget. the challenges are very, very real" commented Duncan.
"I'm determined to improve the HUD Tribal relationship. Projects like land acquisition, home ownership counseling and construction of tribal facilities, and this is in addition to housing conditions, a vital, vital need" added Donovan.
Secretaries Duncan and Donovan came to Montana following a Senate hearing where Senator Jon Tester asked them to come and see first hand the challenges here.
It's been more than a decade since the Secretary of Housing or the Secretary of Education has been in Montana.
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