Jonathan Windy Boy
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
from the 32nd district
Assumed office
January 2, 2017
Preceded byBruce Meyers
Member of the Montana Senate
from the 16th district
In office
January 5, 2009 (2009-Jan-05) – January 2, 2017
Preceded byFrank Smith
Succeeded byFrank Smith
Personal details
Born (1958-08-28) August 28, 1958
Fort Belknap, Montana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
Residence(s)Box Elder, Montana, U.S.
Alma materNorthern Montana University
ProfessionBusiness 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]

References

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