Billings pharmacist Kyle Austin, running as a Libertarian for the U.S. Senate, sparked controversy at a community forum hosted by the Eagle Seeker Community Center in mid‑October. While discussing Native maternal and infant health, Austin said, “If someone is a pet of society, they will always be a pet of society for the future.” The remark was immediately condemned by Native leaders as dehumanizing.
Candidate stands by his remarks
Austin told reporters he would not change his wording, adding, “I don’t think I’d answer it any differently.” He later offered an apology for how the comment was received, saying, “I would have to apologize. I’m sorry I came across that way. I’m sorry you might have took it personally.” He framed the phrase as a broader critique of federal dependence rather than an attack on any one group.
Policy focus on tribal sovereignty
According to Austin, his point is that the federal government’s role in tribal affairs creates dependency. “I’ve used ‘pets of society’ as a generalized term across the board. It’s not focused towards one culture or one group or Native Americans,” he said. He advocated for reducing federal restrictions, pointing to existing treaties and calling for “fewer federal restrictions” on tribal nations.
“We have treaties in place, and we have agreements with the tribal nations. But what we’ve seen is the government coming in and actually controlling the tribal nations where they don’t have the independence,” Austin explained. He urged the removal of what he called “red tape,” proposing that tribes receive funding directly and decide how to use it without federal micromanagement.
Native leaders push back
Crow scholar Shane Doyle emphasized the distinct political identity of Native peoples, noting that historic treaties were based on the promise of perpetual federal healthcare. “When tribes relinquished millions of acres of land, they did so with the understanding that the federal government would provide healthcare for their communities in perpetuity,” he said.
Tribal healthcare provider Amy Stiffarm countered Austin’s dependency argument, stating, “It’s not about dependency. It’s really about responsibility. Federal healthcare for Native people, that’s not charity.” Birth worker Misty Pipe added, “We’re not pets. Obviously, we’re human beings; birth is a really sacred thing to us.”
Candidate’s vision for tribal self‑determination
Austin reiterated his belief that reservations should be treated as sovereign nations capable of making their own decisions. “I look at the reservations as being a sovereign nation, an independent government within our society,” he said. “If they ask for help, I’m there to help them, but to let them make the decision on what is best for their community.”
He concluded that the “pet of society” label is intended to highlight a problem created by government, not to insult any community. “I think that the term ‘pet of society’ is not a negative thing. It’s a spotlight on a problem that our government has created,” Austin said.
Original reporting: KTVQ Q2 Billings (local) — read the source article.
