Red Shield 8 Nations (RS8N) is a multi-tribal nonprofit organization founded in 2024, governed by elected leaders and council designees from the eight Tribal Nations and the Urban Indian Organizations (UIO) in Montana.
It exists to address a fragmented system where Tribal nations and citizens are often denied access to and forced to choose between under-resourced local options or non-tribal facilities that fall short culturally, clinically, or geographically.
For American Indians facing substance use disorder and mental health challenges, access to quality and culturally appropriate care is nearly impossible.
“From the very beginning, our focus has been on making sure that our neighbors not only have what they need to live but also thrive and find new opportunities for health and happiness.”
Patricia Hibbard, Executive Director
Our Story
We formed Red Shield 8 Nations to advance a shared vision for culturally grounded, high-quality healing services that individual Tribes cannot sustainably deliver on their own.
RS8N was intentionally created to ensure continuity between planning, governance, financing, construction, and long-term operations of the Healing Center, while protecting tribal sovereignty and shared decision-making.
RS8N is governed by representation from Tribal Nations and UIOs across Montana. It exists to address a fragmented system in which Tribes are often forced to choose between under-resourced local options or non-tribal facilities that fail culturally, clinically, or geographically.