Tester announces new Native American liaisons

Carla Lott, Sierra Howlett to lead Senator’s Indian Country outreach

(U.S. SENATE) – Senator Jon Tester today announced that Carla Lott and Sierra Howlett will lead his outreach to and work with Montana’s Native Americans.

Lott, who will be based in Helena, is the first member of the Blackfeet Nation to receive a commission in the U.S. Army. She joins Tester’s staff with a wealth of Indian Country and community development experience, having served on numerous Indian education, economic and veterans’ committees.

Howlett will serve as Legislative Assistant for Indian Affairs in Tester’s Washington, D.C. office. A member of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes, Howlett attended the University of Montana and Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Prior to joining Tester’s policy team, Howlett worked on tribal issues both in Montana for CSKT and nationally for the Early Head Start National Resource Center.

“Carla and Sierra are two talented Montanans and leaders in Indian Country who know how to bring folks together to get things done,” said Tester, Montana’s only member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. “They’re a tremendous team, and I look forward to working with Carla and Sierra to respond to the needs of Montana’s Native Americans.”

Tester, a member of the Indian Affairs Committee since his first day in the Senate, recently brought Indian Affairs Chairman Maria Cantwell to Montana. He is also backing bipartisan legislation to recommend new ways to reduce childhood poverty and abuse in Indian Country.