TULSA, Okla. — I’ve lived in several states — Idaho, Colorado, Utah and Nebraska — led by boring governors.

Sure, these are fairly practical states. But shouldn’t elected leaders at least have a pulse?

My husband and I moved to Montana last summer during the governor’s race.

On a reporting trip to the Flathead Reservation, I visited the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe’s headquarters. The tribal council’s schedule included a visit by candidate Brian Schweitzer.

Many of us sat in the chambers and waited — and waited. With each passing minute, I was becoming more unimpressed.

Finally, Schweitzer entered the building like a ball of fire. He made his rounds of handshakes. He apologized for his tardiness, explaining the delay at the previous campaign stop.

Then he began to address tribal leaders, quickly slipping into the vernacular of tribal sovereignty and self-governance. It was rare to hear a local non-Native politician so well-versed in tribal concerns.

The Montana governor shared a similar message Tuesday when he addressed a crowd of more than 1,000 during the annual conference of the National Congress of American Indians, the country’s oldest and largest Native advocacy group.

As Schweitzer stood before congress members, he talked about his actions to include Natives since taking office. Today, for instance, tribal flags fly next to the Montana and U.S. flags at the state Capitol.

The audience interrupted with applause.

And he acknowledged the eight elected Natives in the Montana legislature, the largest per capita legislative representation in the country.

More applause.

He spoke of past governors’ frail efforts to include tribal leaders in state matters. It wasn’t enough, he said, to get tribal leaders from Montana’s seven reservations — Crow, Rocky Boy’s, Fort Peck, Blackfeet, Fort Belknap, Flathead and Northern Cheyenne — in the same room for 20 minutes at the Capitol.

Their needs are vastly different, he said. Tribal leaders deserve individual meetings in the governor’s office. And if the state was to adhere to a true government-to-government relationship with tribes, he said, it’s only right he travel the state to meet with tribal leaders in their offices, too.

More applause.

When Schweitzer campaigned across the state, he told tribes he would appoint Native people to high-level jobs in his administration. He’s followed through. There are now more Natives working in Helena than in any other time.

More applause.

The governor also told congress members about Montana’s support for teaching Native culture and history in public schools. He said the state was leading the nation in Native education.

More applause.

That statement deserves a little more interpretation. Indeed, Montana has the country’s only constitution requiring the state to preserve the cultural integrity of Native peoples — and to teach all students about indigenous culture and history — through education.

But for more than 30 years, legislators ignored the constitution and provided no money for teachers to fulfill the mandate.

A lawsuit finally forced the Legislature to take action this year. And for the first time since 1972, legislators have committed more than $3 million to teach contemporary Native culture and history in the state’s schools. That still falls $18 million short of what a consultant recommended last month.

Despite the historical lack of funding, Montana’s Native educators have used federal money in many cases to develop teaching materials for schoolteachers.

As Schweitzer stood on stage, it was clear he believed he needed to bring Native people into the state arena for the good of everyone. And it’s notable he accomplished so much in his first year.

At the conclusion of his address, everyone in the convention center was on their feet, applauding. I later talked to Schweitzer about his speech. It wasn’t possible to get a written copy because he doesn’t like to read from a script.

He patted his chest and said he prefers to speak from the heart.

Schweitzer might be a politician, but he’s proven he can deliver on promises.

He also brings a bit of spice to politics. Rolling Stone named him the nation’s “hot governor.”

With a title like that, he certainly can’t be called boring.

Jodi Rave covers Native issues for Lee Enterprises. Reach her at (406) 523-5299 or jodi.rave@lee.net.