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Indian lawmakers: Calf Boss Ribs to target elder abuse
By JODI RAVE of the Missoulian

Editor's note: The Missoulian continues a nine-part look at the Indian legislators serving in the 2009 Montana Legislature.

HELENA - Forestina “Frosty” Calf Boss Ribs, D-Heart Butte, joined House colleagues this week for her first session in the Montana Legislature.

“We're going to have a good session,” said Calf Boss Ribs. “It's going to be a great session. It's good to know you belong to something and you're here to help the people of Montana.”

She said she has a lot to do and much to learn during the next 90 days. She is one of nine members of the American Indian caucus, one of the most representative Native legislative bodies in the country. Her committee assignments will call on her to debate proposed laws that will come before the Education, Fish, Wildlife and Parks and State Administration committees. While she has not submitted any bills for debate, she is working with Sen. Carol Juneau, D-Browning, on a proposed elder abuse bill. The bill is being currently being drafted.

“The elders are our wisdom,” said Calf Boss Ribs. “We need to have our generations and the younger generation respect all elders. They're our guides for the future. We need to set priorities for our young ones to always respect them.”

Nationally, upward of 6 percent of the elderly are abused. But scant research exists in tribal communities, with only three of 567 federally recognized tribes having participated in scientific studies, according to the National Indian Council on Aging.

Elder abuse is a form of mistreatment of older people, and can include physical, psychological, financial and sexual abuse. It also includes domestic violence, neglect from caregivers and self-neglect, according to the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.

Calf Boss Ribs said she is working on the elder abuse bill after listening to and acting upon concerns of people in her community. Abuse of elders often correlates to poverty levels - the poorer a family, the higher the risk for mistreatment. Unemployment rates on the Blackfeet Reservation can reach upwards of 80 percent in winter months when job opportunities decrease.

During her campaign, the Blackfeet woman's top issues focused on education and job creation.

She hopes her legislation will educate people about the need to protect elders. Representatives from four of the seven reservations in Montana have met in Browning discuss and support the elder abuse bill.

Calf Boss Ribs lives on the Blackfeet Reservation with her husband of 34 years, Pat Calf Boss Ribs Sr.

She arrives at the Legislature with 24 years' experience as an elementary teacher in the Heart Butte school district. She was named a Who's Who Teacher of the Year in 2002, 2005 and 2006.

Her legislative district stretches from Glacier National Park to Arlee in the Flathead Valley. She ran unopposed in the general election.

Reporter Jodi Rave can be reached at 1-800-366-7186 or at jodi.rave@lee.net. Or read her blog at www.buffalopost.net.

 

Forestina ‘Frosty' Calf Boss Ribs

District: House District 15

Political Party: Democrat

Home: Heart Butte

Committees: Education; Fish, Wildlife and Parks; State Administration

E-mail: frostycbr@hotmail.com
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