Blackfeet Nation Addresses Montana McDonald’s Incident

It's been almost a week since major controversy sparked in Ronan, Montana. In case you missed it, the Browning Public School wrestling team was denied service at a McDonald's in Ronan.

Since then, both the McDonald's and Browning Public Schools have spoken about the incident and shared their sides. The McDonald's in Ronan said it was a "misunderstanding" while the district superintendent for Browning Public Schools, Rebecca Rappold, condemned the event and promised that this event wouldn't happen again.

Blackfeet Nation Addresses McDonald's Incident With Browning Public Schools

In a statement shared to Facebook on Wednesday (1/21), public relations officer Martina HeavyRunner condemned the McDonald's for refusing service to the wrestling team.

"This action was unacceptable and deeply concerning," HeavyRunner said in the statement, "Particularly given the long history of discrimination that Native people continue to face in towns across Montana, including Ronan."

READ MORE: Montana's Favorite Meat Is Officially Linked To Cancer

HeavyRunner went on to explain that this incident has nothing to do with other tribes and that they respect their community.

"We want to be clear: our concern is not with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, whose sovereignty and community we respect," the statement read.

Blackfeet Nation Makes A Request To McDonald's

HeavyRunner then directed the statement at McDonald's management in Ronan and requested that the incident not only be addressed, but also get handled.

"Businesses operating on tribal lands have a responsibility to treat Native people with faimess, dignity, and cultural awareness," HeavyRunner wrote.

"We expect McDonald's corporate leadership to address this incident promptly and take steps to ensure that discriminatory treatment does not occur again."

What do you think? Should the folks over at McDonald's in Ronan address this statement and do right by Blackfeet Nation? Let us know your thoughts HERE.