10/16/2026
Announcing the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Workforce Warrior Series!
This video and poster series celebrates the many ways Native people are building strong futures in Montana’s tribal communities - through education, skilled trades, apprenticeships, union careers, entrepreneurship, certifications, and more. To download, or check out more of our Workforce Warrior's stories, check out the link in the comments.
We are honored to introduce:
Christopher “Chris” Burns
Mookoan'ssiistsi Pooka (Belly Butte Child)
Chippewa Cree, Blackfeet, Navajo
Chris is an entrepreneur and the owner of Burns Construction. He holds certifications in spray foam installation, field cultural surveying, and accounting. Through his work and continued professional development, Chris exemplifies what it means to be a Workforce Warrior.
By forging his own path through entrepreneurship, Chris demonstrates that career success can take many forms. Whether pursuing an education or certification, entering a skilled trade, joining an apprenticeship or union career, or starting a business, Native people across Montana are creating meaningful opportunities for themselves, their families, and future generations. Chris’s journey is a powerful reminder of the innovation, resilience, and leadership that strengthen Montana’s tribal communities.
