In a closely-watched congressional race in Montana, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy is under fire after audio recordings were obtained and published by Char-Koosta News, revealing his controversial remarks about Native Americans. Tribal leaders across Montana are now calling on Sheehy to apologize for his racially insensitive comments.

The recordings, reportedly from fundraising events held in Montana last November, feature Sheehy making derogatory comments about Native Americans. Sheehy, who is backed by former President Donald Trump, is challenging three-term incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Tester.

In one of the recordings, Sheehy is heard referring to his ranching partnership with a member of the Crow Tribe, with whom he works on the tribe's southeastern Montana reservation. "Great way to bond with all the Indians, to be out there while they're drunk at 8 a.m.," Sheehy is heard saying. Another recording captures him describing a horse ride in the annual parade at Crow Fair, where, according to him, "Coors Light cans flying by your head riding by" indicate whether the crowd likes you or not.

Montana is home to seven Indian reservations and approximately 70,000 Native Americans, comprising around 7% of the state's total population. Historically, this voting bloc has leaned towards the Democratic Party. However, in recent years, Montana Republicans have been making efforts to court tribal leaders in hopes of gaining their support in elections.

The Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council, representing 11 tribes and First Nations in the western U.S. and Canada, has condemned Sheehy's comments as perpetuating harmful stereotypes about Native Americans. Council Chairman Bryce Kirk has written a letter to Sheehy, obtained by The Associated Press, demanding a formal apology. Kirk emphasized that Sheehy's remarks not only diminish and dishonor the Crow people but also offend Native Americans as a whole.

Sheehy's spokesperson, Jack O'Brien, claims that the candidate regularly associates with members of the Crow Tribe and even works with them on cattle branding. However, it remains unclear whether Sheehy intends to apologize or respond to the tribal leaders' letter.

Chairman Frank White Clay of the Crow Tribe has not yet responded to requests for comment, while Tom Rodgers, spokesperson for the tribal leaders council, predicts that Sheehy's comments will mobilize Native American voters against him in the upcoming November elections.

Char-Koosta News editor Sam Sandoval, whose publication released the audio recordings, highlights the significance of Sheehy's remarks, stating that they touch upon a sensitive issue that Native Americans have been striving to change for years.

The controversy surrounding Sheehy's racially insensitive comments has intensified the already closely-watched Montana Senate race, with tribal leaders urging him to take responsibility for his words and offer a sincere apology to Native American communities across the state.