College Fund Donors Visit Colleges

American Indian College Fund
Saturday, 1 August 1998

(August, 1998) The College Fund's 4th annual donor tour traveled to northern Montana in August to give 14 visitors a first-hand look at four tribal colleges. The donors came from coast to coast—from New York to California and states in between.

There were foundation and corporate donor representatives, an anthropologist, a nurse, doctor, Native art aficionados, retired teachers and others with interests in Indian education.

Over 10 days, the guests interacted with students and professors, met tribal leaders, participated in classroom activities and even danced in a community powwow. In between visits to museums and historical sites, the donors heard many "thank-you's" from scholarship recipients.

Stone Child College

After arriving in Great Falls, Montana, the first stop was Stone Child College on the Rocky Boy's Reservation. The group gathered in the Chippewa-Cree tribal council chambers for a welcome and question-and-answer session with Bert Corcoran, the chairman.

"The faculty really does a super job," Dean of Academics Bobby Small told the visitors. "It's like a big family." In all, 10 staff members were on hand to answer questions, before there was a tour of the campus.

In a spontaneous gesture, one instructor thanked a donor with a hand-made dream catcher that she took down from her office wall and presented to the visitor.

Fort Belknap College

The next day, the mini-bus drove to Fort Belknap College on the Fort Belknap Reservation of the Assiniboine and Gros Ventre tribes. At the college's front door stood a student drum group, who sang the Flag Song, or tribal anthem, to begin the day.

"The potential that is here is awesome," said Dr. Liz McClain, a science professor. The donors heard that 80 percent of the college's students receive College Fund scholarships.

After greetings by tribal council members and the chairman of the college's board of regents, several students rose to introduce themselves. They spoke of their studies and future goals and of how important scholarships are to them.

"Going back to college was real scary for me," recent graduate Roberta Blackcrow told the group. "I think of Fort Belknap College as a stepping stone. It's really helped me." With her husband also an FBC student, Blackcrow begins work on a bachelor's degree in secondary education this fall.

A tour of the campus followed, including science labs, a child care center and radio station. Buildings and classrooms are named after tribal leaders and clan names, and visitors saw traditional regalia on display in hallways.

Later, the group got a close-up look at the tribe's buffalo herd. One of more than 45 tribes working to restore buffalo to Indian reservations, Fort Belknap College natural resources students work with the herd.

At each of the colleges, guests had traditional meals such as Indian frybread and soup. Sometimes there was a special dish, like berry pudding. During meals, college staff and tribal workers visited with guests about local reservation issues and programs.

Blackfeet Community College

After a travel day (Montana is "Big Sky Country"), College Fund guests visited Blackfeet Community College on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.

Dean of Students Bob Tailfeathers led a roundtable discussion among students, staff members and members of the college's board of regents. Visitors heard about new computer and tribal management degree programs. The need for reservation economic development came up repeatedly. A graduate, Florence Bostwick, told of raising her children, sending them to college and then obtaining her own education. She's now a business owner

The visitors later toured the campus, including a biosphere where local plants are grown. Instructors plan to use the tobacco plant as an example of teaching Indian students with a dual academic and cultural form of study.

Additionally, donors themselves took part in a Plains Sign Language class. Historically, different tribes on the Plains used common signs and symbols to communicate with each other. The language is still in use today.

There also was a tour of an Indian-owned bank and a pencil factory which was once tribally-owned but is now owned by employees. That night, everyone went to a community powwow in Heart Butte.

After an "Indian taco" dinner, organizers gave a special acknowledgement to the special guests and a few brave souls joined the dance circle for a round dance.

The college sits in the shadow of the northern Rocky Mountains, and the Blackfeet's traditional homelands include beautiful Glacier National Park. The visitors stayed in East Glacier; and Curly Bear Wagner, a Blackfeet tribal historian, guided the tour for a couple days and shared local stories. The tour leader was Dr. Wayne Stein, the director of the Center for Native American Studies at Montana State University. A former tribal college professor, Stein has worked with tribal colleges for two decades. The College Fund's executive director, Richard Williams, and two other staff members spent rotating days with the tour, offering further perspectives.

Salish Kootenai College

After a weekend in the Rockies, the donor tour ended at Salish Kootenai College on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Founded by the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes, the college is one of the oldest tribal institutions and its tree-shaded facility near Flathead Lake is regarded as the one of the most beautiful tribal college campuses. Visitors saw the new student union, the television production facility and a business assistance center.

SKC offers accredited bachelor's degrees in human services and environmental science, and the college is popular for Indian students who transfer from other tribal colleges. The school's dormitories are full, as dental and nursing programs are very popular. Twenty nursing students had just graduated, the visitors were told, and that program has a 99 percent job placement rate on the reservation. The college soon plans to offer a four-year registered nursing degree.

"The tour ended on a very high note," said the College Fund's Williams. "The donors saw the incredible potential of tribal colleges, given the modest resources that Salish Kootenai is fortunate to have but most other schools do not."

Dr. Joseph McDonald, the president, hosted the gathering. Students joined the group for two dinners, and graduate Juan Perez spoke of his experience as president of the AIHEC Student Congress, an inter-collegiate student group. The college invited community members to a closing dinner, and about 100 people joined donors for their last evening.

"This trip was one of the most worthwhile I have ever taken," said one donor. "Thanks to all."

For more information, or to contact American Indian College Fund, see their website at: www.collegefund.org