The Blackfeet Nation, whose reservation borders Glacier National Park, is maintaining a two-week quarantine order and lodging restrictions for non-residents. And I think it's really frustrating on our end because I personally think social distancing enforcement is more realistic than total shutdown," St. Goddard said. Blackfeet Tribe 2021 NonMember Moose and Elk Hunts Information. Glacier attracted a little more than 3 million people last year. ... but it seems like having the park open would help their economy. Blackfeet Reservation (and thus East Side of Glacier NP) closed for entire 2020 "tourist season" Close. For more than 25 years, tribal member and owner of the Lodgepole Art Gallery and Tipi Village Darrel Norman has set up about a dozen tipis on his property, providing guests with a unique place to stay as they explore Glacier National Park about 30 miles away. Still, he understands the tribe's caution in attracting tourists to the reservation. The Blackfeet Nation, whose reservation borders Glacier National Park, is maintaining a two-week quarantine order and lodging restrictions for non-residents. Aaron Bolton/Montana Public Radio But roughly $110 million was spent in Glacier County, which encompasses the Blackfeet Reservation. The ordinance also closed vacation rental sites on the Blackfeet reservation to non-residents or people returning from infected areas. For NPR News, I'm Aaron Bolton reporting from the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. He owns Johnson's of St. Mary restaurant and campground, perched on a hill overlooking Glacier National Park's currently closed east entrance. The St. Mary entrance into Glacier National Park, which borders the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, remained closed on June 5. Montana has one of the country's lowest coronavirus infection rates, and it is throwing the door back open to tourists. He adds that if the reservation doesn't open back up to tourists or the east gate to the park doesn't open, he'll likely have to shutter the business his grandfather started 70 years ago for good. "I can't tell you we're going to open up fifth of July, fourth of July, sixth of July. For more than 25 years, tribal member and owner of the Lodgepole Art Gallery and Tipi Village Darrel Norman has set up about a dozen tipis on his property, providing guests with a unique place to stay as they explore Glacier National Park about 30 miles away. BLACKFEET TRIBE PHASE 2 – RESTRICTED OPENING. It's impossible for me to say that.". Costs, just all the things considered, it would probably not be the wisest thing to do.". Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Browning: Tickets, Tours, Hours, Address, Blackfeet Indian Reservation Reviews: 3.5/5 "It's the million-dollar question as far as I'm concerned," DesRosier said. Costs, just all the things considered - probably not the wisest thing to do. Despite loosened COVID-19 restrictions by the state of Montana, the Blackfeet Nation is still exercising caution. The reservation, which borders the park’s eastern region, bumped its scheduled reopening date of June 30 through the end of the 2020 tourist season “for the protection of the residents of the Blackfeet Reservation,” the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council announced this week. Earlier this month, it dropped a two-week quarantine requirement for out-of-state visitors put in place in March. The roads on the east side of the park are closed, as is typical for this time of year. Still, he understands the tribe's caution in attracting tourists to the reservation. … Tribal leaders say restrictions are protecting reservation residents with limited access to healthcare, particularly elders, who commonly live with their children and grandchildren. Earlier this month, it dropped a two-week quarantine requirement for out-of-state visitors put in place in March. Montana Is Open But, For Now The Blackfeet Nation Is Closed ... Not all of those people crossed or stayed on the reservation, but Blackfeet COVID-19 Incident … DesRosier says he understands the tribe's decisions are causing economic pain, but he says it's his job to look at this as an issue of protecting human life and not an economic crisis. It's normally bustling with tourists this time of year. Montana is welcoming nonresidents back to the state. In 2017, he agreed to move some of the park’s Native America Speaks programs onto the reservation for the first time and decided to open the tourist season with a Blackfeet blessing ceremony. Restrictions are set to expire at the end of the month, but tribal leaders have already extended them once and could do so again. BOLTON: But tribal member Nathan St. Goddard says local leaders aren't listening to the economic concerns of businesses like his.