About Montana's Indigenous Heritage

Lailani is a journalist, filmmaker, educator, entrepreneur, and tourism leader dedicated to elevating Indigenous voices, cultural preservation, sustainable tourism, and fostering communities.

Lailani earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Entrepreneurship from Salish Kootenai College and studied Photojournalism and Environmental Science and Natural Resources Journalism at the University of Montana. Her professional work spans Indigenous tourism development, media production, Indigenous-led conservation, community engagement, and strategic partnerships.

As the founder of Iron Shield Creative, she offers land-based learning and experiences that connect visitors to Indigenous perspectives of place, history, stewardship, and community. Her work combines media, tourism, conservation, and education to foster deeper understanding between people and the landscapes they visit.

She serves on the Board of Directors for Western Montana Glacier Country and the Montana Wildlife Federation and is a member of the Montana Tourism Advisory Council, Yellowstone People's Advisory Council, and the Blackfoot Tourism Alliance (cross-border U.S. and Canada). Through her leadership, MITA works alongside Montana's tribal communities to strengthen Indigenous tourism economies, promote authentic visitor experiences, and support cultural preservation through community-driven storytelling.

A U.S. Army veteran and lifelong advocate for Indigenous communities, Lailani believes tourism can be a powerful tool for sharing authentic stories, bridging understanding, and creating opportunities for future generations. In addition to being the MITA executive director, she is the project manager for MITA’s First People's Montana Project, leading statewide efforts to strengthen Indigenous-led tourism and cultural stewardship.

Outside of her professional work, you'll often find her hiking mountain trails, camping, traveling, and documenting stories on the landscape. Most meaningful to her is spending time with her children, grandchildren, and friends and sharing the love for the outdoors. Lailani Upham is an Amskapi Pikuni (Blackfeet) tribal member and descendant of the A’aninin, Nakoda, and Dakota nations. An adventurer, filmmaker, photographer, freelance journalist, and educator, Lailani founded Iron Shield Creative, a media and consulting platform that elevates Indigenous stories and offers cultural workshop hikes rooted in place-based understanding.

Brian King has dedicated his career to strengthening Tribal communities through service, leadership, education, and nonprofit management. As Chief Financial Officer of the Montana Indigenous Tourism Alliance (MITA) and Finance Operations Manager of the Montana Indigenous Tourism and Trails Project (MITTP), he provides financial oversight, operational leadership, and strategic guidance to support Indigenous-led tourism and community development initiatives throughout Montana. H is a member of the Amskapi Pikuni (Blackfeet) Nation.

Brian began his professional career directing the first AmeriCorps program on the Blackfeet Nation. After a yearlong fellowship in Washington, D.C., he spent more than a decade supporting a nationwide portfolio of Tribal AmeriCorps programs, helping communities succeed through sound financial management, program development, and community engagement.

He later spent six years at Montana State University, helping Native students navigate higher education and achieve their academic goals. After returning home to the Blackfeet Nation, Brian joined the Board of FAST Blackfeet, where he served as co-chair of the nonprofit organization dedicated to food sovereignty, sustainability, and community wellness.

Brian attended the University of Arizona before transferring to Montana State University, where he earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology. Along the way, he also completed an unofficial minor in "noon ball" at the North and South gyms. Go Bobcats!

Brian is married to Grace Goss-King, the owner of the Sparkles Beauty Salon. They are the proud parents of two talented daughters who work as artists in the film and television industry. Above all, Brian's favorite title is "Dad." Throughout his life, Brian has been fortunate to learn from mentors, community leaders, family members, and good-hearted people who have shaped his path. He strives to carry that tradition forward by encouraging and empowering others on their journeys.

In his spare time, Brian enjoys weightlifting, supporting his daughters' creative work, and practicing traditional lifeways, including hide tanning, drum making, and rattle making, as well as spending time with family and community.

As a journalist, Luella Brien was able to share the triumphs and tragedies of her people, which she feels is the natural evolution of the Native storytelling tradition. She also believes strongly in serving her community. Has worked as a media consultant with the tribe, a communication arts instructor at Little Big Horn College, and an outreach coordinator and tribal tourism manager. She is now serving as the First Peoples Montana project coordinator.

Brien’s Apsáalooke name is Akbaaítchesh, or One Who Keeps Things Good. Her name was given to her by her maternal grandfather Benjamin Big Man Sr., as a tribute to his own mother. She is the descendant of powerful healers, educators, leaders, and most importantly, storytellers. She is a 2006 graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism, where she received a BA in print journalism. She is a 2002 graduate of the Freedom Forum's American Indian Journalism Institute, a 2004 Chips Quinn Scholar, a 2004 Associated Press Diverse Voices Scholar, and a 2024 Maynard200 Fellow.

Brien believes that storytelling and Apsáalooke history are the foundation of our tourism industry. Crow Country is the only place in the world to learn about the Apsáalooke people. Brien believes that keeping the door open to guests will be the only way to bring understanding between cultures.

Brien lives on the Crow Indian Reservation in southeastern Montana, where she is the executive director of Four Points Media and the editor-in-chief of Four Points Press. She is the mother of twin boys, who are in graduate school, and a high school-aged daughter.

Brien beads, sews, and constructs Apsáalooke-style moccasins. She primarily produces items for her daughter, sons, and nieces and nephews. Brien learned most of her craft as a youth observing her mother and paternal grandmother, as well as by taking items apart and reassembling them. Once she had children in 2003, her passion for creation was renewed.