Source: Aaniiih Nakoda College submitted to
ESTABLISHING AND OPERATING A CULTURALLY-BASED 4-H PROGRAM ON THE FORT BELKNAP INDIAN RESERVATION
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1009831
Grant No.
2016-47002-25518
Cumulative Award Amt.
$170,000.00
Proposal No.
2016-04098
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2016
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2018
Grant Year
2017
Program Code
[NK]- Extension Tribal College Program
Project Director
Morales, M.
Recipient Organization
Aaniiih Nakoda College
269 Blackfoot Ave - Agency
Harlem,MT 59526
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The goal of this project is to promote youth development on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation by establishing and operating a culturally-based 4-H program. In cooperation with a network of reservation-based community partners, project personnel will carry out a project plan that will result in a thriving and sustainable 4-H program specifically designed to meet the identified needs, interests and values of the Fort Belknap community. Major elements of the project plan include: (1) community outreach, (2) organizational development, (3) youth program activities, and (4) project presentation and dissemination. Specifically, the project will recruit and train local volunteer leaders, establish 4-H clubs in three reservation communities, support club members' project work, develop culturally-based project guides, host summer camps, conduct workshops, and facilitate public presentations of club members' project work. As a result of these activities, participating youth will (1) acquire new skills and knowledge, (2) cultivate attitudes and behaviors that result in improved decision-making and lifestyle choices, and (3) demonstrate a positive sense of personal/cultural identity. Achievement of these participant-centered outcomes will be assessed using multiple indicators and measures. At the end of the two-year project period, ANC's Extension program will have established the organizational framework, community support and program leadership that will provide a solid foundation for the sustained delivery of culturally-based 4-H programs at Fort Belknap for years to come.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
80660993020100%
Knowledge Area
806 - Youth Development;

Subject Of Investigation
6099 - People and communities, general/other;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
The goal of this project is to promote youth development on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation by establishing and operating a culturally-based 4-H program. Located in northcentral Montana, the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation is the home of the Aaniinen (White Clay People or Gros Ventre) and Nakoda (Assiniboine) tribes.Research shows that 4-H programs have a positive impact on the lives of youth across the United States, resulting in improved academic performance, higher participation in STEM study and careers, healthier lifestyles, and greater civic engagement (Lerner, Lerner et al. 2013). Unfortunately, no 4-H programs currently operate on the Fort Belknap reservation, and off-reservation 4-H clubs in the area are not attracting youth from Fort Belknap. The proposed project will address this gap by providing reservation youth with opportunities to participate in culturally-based 4-H programs that will result in the positive academic, behavioral, and civic outcomes associated with 4-H in other areas of the country.In order to achieve this goal and its associated outcomes, project personnel, in cooperation with stakeholders from the Fort Belknap community, have developed a project plan that includes four general activities: (1) community outreach, (2) organizational development, (3) youth programs, and (4) project presentation and dissemination. In the following paragraphs, each general activity is re-stated, followed by a description of associated tasks.As a result of these activities, participating youth will (1) acquire new skills and knowledge, (2) cultivate attitudes and behaviors that result in improved decision-making and lifestyle choices, and (3) demonstrate a positive sense of personal/cultural identity. Achievement of these participant-centered outcomes will be assessed using multiple indicators and measures. At the end of the two-year project period, ANC's Extension program will have established the organizational framework, community support and program leadership that will provide a solid foundation for the sustained delivery of culturally-based 4-H programs at Fort Belknap for years to come.
Project Methods
The ANC Extension Program Director, Manuel Morales, will serve as project director and provide administrative oversight. ANC will recruit and hire a full-time 4-H Project Coordinator who will be responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the project. The project coordinator will be assisted by one ANC student intern, who will work part-time during the academic year and full-time during the summer. The intern will participate in all aspects of the project, provide support for project staff and volunteers, and gain hands-on experience in the areas of STEM education, leadership development and community service.The success of the project depends on the active role played by community partners and volunteers. All project goals and strategies have been developed in cooperation with the current Capacity project's stakeholder group, which includes the local FRTEP Agent, Tribal Health Educator, Diabetes Prevention Program Coordinator, ANC staff, and at-large community representatives. These stakeholders will continue to play an active role on the project's advisory board and participate in project implementation and evaluation activities. In addition, local volunteers at Fort Belknap Agency, Hays and Lodgepole will play a key role as 4-H group leaders and mentors. These individuals will be included in project planning, implementation and evaluation activities, and the project will invest significant time and money to ensure that they receive the training and support needed to develop their leadership skills and experience success.

Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/18

Outputs
Target Audience:The goal of the project is to promote youth development of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation by establishing and operating a culturally based 4-H program. By implementing a 4-H program on Fort Belknap we will instill a positive impact on the lives of the youth in this community encouraging academic improvement, participation in STEM learning, promote better careers, healthier lifestyles and more civic engagement. Fort Belknap has no 4-H programs in place to involve and engage youth from the three community's. It is our goal to develop a 4-H program in the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Our community outreach efforts have entailed reaching out to Extension programs from outside the community across Montana and develop a network of resources to assist with establishing a 4-H program in the Fort Belknap communities. Meetings with these essential people will be important in our planning, information and sharing their knowledge of their obstacles they went through. Building a foundation with their support will provide a great relationship between our 4-H programs and allow us to move forward and be successful in our endeavors. We have media outreach in all communities, the schools have been accommodating with giving students the information we supply for them. With the assistance of personnel from the Blaine County Extension office our first meetings in the community were fruitful with information and questions and answers for the community in attendance. There is great interest in 4-H clubs in each community, we are struggling with identifying leaders as volunteers to start the clubs with the youth. We feel that this is due to their lack of knowledge of what 4-H is really about. Blaine County has agreed to help with training our volunteer leaders, prepare them in these roles proficiently and anything else that is required. We will keep having meetings to inform and educate parents and youth and how important it is for them to be involved as a whole and what they can offer to the youth. We feel the more we educate them in the 4-H activities and what it all entails they will be more comfortable with the volunteer role as a leader. The youth are ready to start a club in their community. We are planning summer day camps with STEM on campus for the youth and will reach out to the two communities off campus as well. This will provide awareness in the community and with prospective parent leaders and prospective youth. Advisory Board members play an important role in planning and informing community of the 4-H program's development. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Summer 2017 we attended the National Western Heritage Conference, Fort Benton, MT. hosted by Montana State University Bozeman Extension 4-H program. We will be taking students to this event. Fish and Wildlife program will do a presentation with students in the art of fishing in the Snake Butte reservoir. Fort Belknap Extension office does a presentation in canning of vegetables and fruits for our students. Blaine County Extension office has been instrumental in training and support of the 4-H program and able to extend their services when needed. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have utilized the local radio station (KGVA 88.1), ANC facebook, flyers and posters with information to the public. Letters are sent to local school Superintendents and Principals to be disbursed to students of upcoming events and activities. In February of every year Tribal Extension hosts a Mid-Winter Fair for all the tribal departments, local schools and college, and the public to display their arts and crafts, informational material for the public's knowledge to utilize. This is a huge event for the community and is attended by all ages. This is a great time for us to interact with new and old community members and share what every program has accomplished, going to accomplish and projected projects. We set up a booth with 4-H information, material and pamphlets for the community to read and learn about what 4-H has to offer them. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In Summer 2018 we have scheduled STEM 4-H day camps on Aaniiih Nakoda College campus and in outlying communities on Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. We will be partnering with ANC interns who will be mentors for these youth. 4-H students will meet with Fish and Wildlife on the parts used of the buffalo. Visit Sacred sites around Fort Belknap that is culturally essential to our traditions. 4-H students will assist with the Medicinal garden and harvest medicinal plants and process them for shelf life. They will make, teas, lotion, and poultices that will be demonstrated on how to use for wounds. 4-H will be instilled in their way of life and come to understand the significance and value of being a 4-H member.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Planning, organization and networking has been put in place in the communities for the 4-H program. Networking is valuable and beneficial when implementing activities. Community outreach into local schools on Fort Belknap has been implemented. We developed an after school program with 5th and 6th grade youth. Interns have been essential in projects and activities with our 5th and 6th grade youth. Students are learning the fundamentals of cooking and preparing foods, as well as learning mathematics with using measurements. They will also be doing some canning of foods and understand the importance of food preservation. Summer is full of "bugs" and students are learning about insects (entomology), body parts, habitats. Students are learning about photography and doing "photo shoots" and scenery photos. These photos are used for their scrapbooking project. Leather crafting projects are fun and learning where all the diverse hides come from was certainly amazing to the students. Exposing students to techniques of painting on canvas with flowers, geometric shapes and various designs. Students are working with electricity in making Lighted canvas art projects. We took our students' to the greenhouse and discussed the operation and the purpose for the greenhouse. Then we showed them the soil and what nutrients it contained for the plants and they were able to pick the flower seeds they wanted and they planted some flowers for their mothers. We are now gearing up for a garden project that they will be involved with, there are some starter plants available and they will also start from seed. Students will assist with the medicinal garden and learn the benefits of the plants for medicine by making teas, cream, mosquito spray and lip balms. Kids love hands on projects and get excited to see their efforts grow into something beautiful. Kids are easily influenced by others so we have spent considerable time showing them that they too can be a leader in their community. We are developing their personal skills towards leadership in a positive manner and showing them ways they can help each other, respect one another other as well as their peers. We want them to understand what it takes to function as a leader and understand the role they take when they do become a leader. Instilling that "I can do it" attitude with a confidence that enables them to demonstrate leadership and gain that trust and loyalty from fellow 4-Hers.

Publications


    Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/18

    Outputs
    Target Audience:The goal of this project is to promote youth develpment on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation by establishing and operating a culturally-based 4-H program. In cooperation with a network of reservation-based community partners, project personnel will carry out a project plan that will result in a thriving and sustainable 4-H program specifically designed to meet the identified needs, interests and values of the Fort Belknap community. Major elements of the project plan include: (1) community outreach, (2) organizational development, (3) youth program activities, and (4) project presentation and dissemination. Specifically, the project will recruit and train local volunteer leaders, establish 4-H clubs in three reservation communities, support club members' project work, develop culturally-based project guides, host summer camps, conduct workshops, and facilitate public presentation of club members' project work. As a result of these activities, participating youth will (1) acquire new skills and knowledge, (2) cultivate attitudes and behaviors that result in improved decision-making and lifestyle choices, and (3) demonstrate a positive sense of personal/cultural identity. Achievement of these participant-centered outcomes will be assessed using multiple indicators and measures. At the end of the two-year project period, ANC's Extension program will have established the organizational framework, community support and program leadership that will provide a solid foundation for the sustained delivery of culturally-based 4-H programs at Fort Belknap. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Summer 2017 we attended the National Western Heritage Conference, Fort Benton, MT. hosted by Montana State University Bozeman Extension 4-H program. We took interns to this event. Fort Belknap Fish and Game program did a presentation with students with regulations and the importance of aquatic habitats. Fort Belknap Extension held a canning of vegetables and fruits for students. Blaine County Extension office has been instrumental in training and support of the 4-H program and able to extend their services as needed. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?KGVA 88.1 radio station has been instrumental in putting information on the air, ANC Facebook media, flyers and posters with information to the public. Letters are sent to local teachers to be disbursed to students of events and activities. The Tribal Extension hosts the Annual Mid-Winter Fair for all tribal departments, local schools and colege, and the public to display their arts and crafts, informational material for the public's knowledge to utilize. This annual event is attended by the community of all ages. This is a great opportunity to interact with new and old community members and share what every program has accomplished and projected projects. A booth is set up with 4-H information, material and pamphlets for the community to learn about what 4-H has to offer. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Planning, organization and networking has bee put in place in the communities for e 4-H program. Networking is valuable and beneficial when implementing activities. Community outreach into local schools on Fort Belknap has been implemented. We developed an after school program with 5th and 6th grade youth. Interns have been essential in projects and activities with our 5th and 6th grade youth. Students are learning the fundamentals of sewing that involves science, technology, especially math and designing. Students are learning about electricity and building their own night lights with mason jars. We took the 4-H students' to the greenhouse and discussed the operation and the purpose for the greenhouse. We discussed the purpose of various soils and the nutrients it contains to feed the plants, then they planted flower seeds for Mother's day. Students planted potatoes in one of the raised beds and angelica medicinal plant in another raised bed. They have learned the importance of medicinal plants and how they can be used for teas, skin healing cream, mosquito spray and lip balms. Children love hands on projects and get excited to see their efforts grow into something beautiful. Students started their scrapbooks of many themes and they became familiar with the camera and basic skills for taking pictures. They learned how to choose a background that will enhance their picture for specific scenery shots. They learned about lighting; is it too dark? Too light? Washed out? Or just right! A fun activity they had fun with. Students enjoyed having the sportfishing activity and we had the Fort Belknap Fish and Game Department speak to them about the types of fish that are in the local rivers, lakes and streams. They learned of the aquatic environment effects on the fish population and the interaction between people and fish habitats. We want them to have fun but learn the importance of regulations and environmental concerns of our fishing spots. Children are easily influenced by others so we have spent considerable time showing them they too can be a leader in their community. We developed their personal skills towards leadership in a positive manner and showing them ways they can help each other, respect one another as well as their peers. We want them to know what it takes to be a leader and they should understand the role they take when they do become a leader. Instilling that "I can do it" attitude with confidences that enables them to demonstrate leadership and gain that trust and loyalty from fellow classmates.

    Publications


      Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17

      Outputs
      Target Audience:The goal of the project is to promote youth development of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation by establishing and operating a culturally based 4-H program. By implementing a 4-H program on Fort Belknap we will instill a positive impact on the lives of the youth in this community encouraging academic improvement, participation in STEM learning, promote better careers, healthier lifestyles and more civic engagement. Fort Belknap has no 4-H programs in place to involve and engage youth from the three community's. It is our goal to develop a 4-H program in the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Our community outreach efforts have entailed reaching out toExtension programsfrom outside the community across Montana and develop a network of resources to assist with establishing a 4-H program in the Fort Belknap communities. Meetings with these essential people will be important in our planning, information and sharing their knowledge of their obstacles they went through. Buildinga foundation with their support will provide a great relationship between our 4-H programs and allow us tomove forward and be successful in our endeavors. We have media outreach in all communities, the schools have been accommodating with giving students the information we supply for them. With the assistance of personnel from the Blaine County Extension office our first meetings in the community were fruitful with information and questions and answers for the community in attendance. There is great interest in 4-H clubs in each community, we are struggling with identifying leaders as volunteers to start the clubs with the youth. We feel that thisis due to theirlack of knowledge of what 4-H is really about. Blaine County has agreed to help with training our volunteer leaders, prepare them in these roles proficientlyand anything else that is required. We will keep having meetings to inform and educate parents and youth and how important it is for them to be involved as a whole and what they can offer to the youth. We feel the more we educate them in the 4-H activities and what it all entails they will be more comfortable with the volunteer role as a leader. The youth are ready to start a club in their community. We are planning summer day camps with STEM on campus for the youth and will reach out to the two communities off campus as well. This will provide awareness in the community and with prospective parent leaders andprospective youth. Advisory Board members play an important role in planning and informing community of the 4-H program's development. Changes/Problems:We are struggling with identifying parent volunteer leaders, this is a new concept for them and will need more encouragement. Our goal is to inspire an interest with their children and instill motivation for projects that their children can learn and they can interact with them and help them reach their goals. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?No training has occurred as of this date. We are currently networking with Blaine County Extension officeand they have agreed toprovide the training for the volunteer leaders and youth leaders in our community. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have utilized the local radio station (KGVA 88.1), facebook, flyers andposters with information to the public.We have met with local school Superintentends andPrincipalsinforming them of our intention with students andasked permission to use their schools for meetings with parents. In February of every year Tribal Extension hosts a Mid-Winter Fair for all the tribal departments, local schools and college, and the public to display their arts and crafts, informational material for the public's knowledge to utilize. This is a huge event for the community and is attended by all ages.It is agreat time to interact with new and old community members and share what your programhas accomplished, going to accomplish and projected projects. We set up a booth with 4-H information,material and pamphlets for the community to read and learn about what 4-H has to offer them. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In Summer 2017 we will have STEM 4-H day camps on Aaniiih Nakoda College and in outlying communities on Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. We will still keep on going into the communities and recruit and inform parents about 4-H.

      Impacts
      What was accomplished under these goals? Planning and organization as to how we will develop this 4-H program is our beginning point. We havedeveloped a network of Extension personnel whose resources will be valuable to the implementation of a 4-H program on Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Community outreach in the three communities on Fort Belknap has been implemented with town meetings held at local schools. Informing, educating and recruitingprospective parent leaders and prospective youth on Fort BelknapIndian Reservation into 4-H programisa goal that is in place. Thatrequires developing a relationship with communitiesto gain the trust of the people and build a solid foundation for sustainability. We want to make sure we are all on the same page when it comes to implementing the 4-H program for our youth and making contributions for their learning experiencesandinteraction with other 4-H youth across Montana and beyond.

      Publications