It was the first day in more than a century that spiritual leaders from all 12 Montana tribes united for a single purpose.
They met at daybreak Friday morning to bless the ground of what will be the country's first full-scale Native American Center to be built on a college campus. The 19,900-square-foot building will house the Native American Studies Department, Native Student Services and other related campus programs.
Some 500 people - including Montana Board of Regents members, staff, faculty and students - gathered to witness the historic ground blessing and healing ceremony where the center will be built on UM's Oval, the last best place.
“Today, I thank the Creator and ask him to keep our young people moving forward,” said John Myers, who arrived with prayers on behalf of the Chippewa Cree on the Rocky Boy's Reservation. “There's a lot of good things to be thankful for.”
Joe McDonald, Salish Kootenai College president, gave thanks for UM's 528 Native students, a record number among the school's 13,961 students.
“I know that number will dramatically increase once the center is built,” he said. “It will be a meeting place for students, Indian and non-Indian.”
“It will be a place they can come, be welcome and be among friends,” he said. “The center will be a cultural exchange for students of different tribes. It will be a place for American Indian events. And it will be a great place for Indian alumni to meet.”
But millions of dollars are still needed.
“If we could have another
$4 (million) to $5 million in hand, we could begin construction immediately,” said Julia Horn, a UM Foundation fundraiser who is leading the Native American Center campaign. “Anybody that is interested in American Indians in this country should be interested in this.”
Advocates offer several reasons to invest in Montana Native pride.
For starters, Montana has taken a national and progressive lead in support of Indian education. The state has the country's only constitutional mandate requiring K-12 students to be schooled in Native history, culture and heritage.
Montana also leads all other states with a record number of tribal colleges - seven accredited schools, one on each reservation in the state.
Montana's Native leaders also have the highest per-capita representation in the state Legislature compared to the rest of the country. When the Legislature meets next year, up to 10 Native people could hold seats in the state House and Senate.
“This center marks a new era in our relationships on campus and in the larger community,” said Dennison. “Having such a center symbolizes and gives visible and structural form to our commitment to assure the development of indigenous leaders.”
When the building is complete, it will be filled with song.
UM's Yellow Eagle drum group sang at the break of day. When they finished, it was explained that Stan Pretty Paint, who leads the group, offered the song as a gift to Native students, given the special occasion. It will be theirs to sing at future events. The song was given to Pretty Paint 18 years ago from one of North Dakota's Mandaree singers.
From that point, powerful thoughts and prayers multiplied.
As the spiritual leaders stood together in a half-circle, they collectively began praying in low even tones. Then they all offered tobacco skyward - offerings so their prayers could be carried to the Creator.
And then one by one, each man or woman stepped forward and spoke to the people.
“After many years of hardship, we're at a new beginning,” said Salish elder Tony Incashola, who spoke while holding a white eagle feather in his hand. His relatives and ancestors lived on the land he stood on, long before any campus surveyors.
Later, he spoke of how the center would mend a broken circle.
“I feel Indian people have always been outsiders in their own land,” he said. “This will be bringing them back to a place where they've always been and belong.”
The morning wasn't lost on anyone.
“It was great to involve the Native community,” said Corky Old Horn, and make them “part of a new beginning again for Native American students.”
Students were awed.
“It was very beautiful,” said Leia Loonsfoot, president of the Kyi-yo student group.
“I feel like I'm a part of something big,” said Scott Azure, a UM junior. “It's an overwhelming feeling. It's a feeling you get when good things are happening, like when you go into a sweat (lodge) or hear an honor song.
“It's kind of like butterflies, in an Indian-type of way.”
Reporter Jodi Rave can be reached at (406) 523-5299 or at jodi.rave@lee.net
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)