10/18/2026
A couple of weeks ago, we had the privilege and honor being selected to present at the National Indian Education Association.
Our session titled, "From Student Voice to Sustainable Practice- Building Strategic Partnerships" consisted of just over an hour lone learning session in circle format with educators from across Turtle Island.
In our session, we honored the journey by walking through the history briefly of our program, starting back at the very beginning, where grandparents, parents, aunties & uncles began the much needed conversation of bringing Indigenous Education in the Bismarck-Mandan area, to where it stands today.
We talked about real history. We talked about the tireless advocacy from those before us, we talked about the realities of the impact of a variety of events- both fortunate and unfortunate in and surrounding our region. We shared the dark history of Bismarck/Mandan area and also the battles that still exist today.
We then shared what we saw needed to happen for our schools & community to begin the journey of healing.
We shared solutions that have continued to show great impacts not only for educational outcomes -
but for changing the narrative of the educational experience.
We shared about how we brought in the very best experts to assist us with continuing the uplifting and building of supports for our students, teachers and school communities.
Who are the experts?
Our students.
Our families.
Our elders.
We shared the beginning building blocks of our now existing elder mentors & knowledge keepers programs, Mens (and Womens soon) healing circles, Professional Development open to all teachers, staff, administration & learners - ALL ideas and foundations set by the youth, for the youth.
Not a check box.
Not a one and done event.
Sustainable supports that continue each year, with intention and purposeful impact across all schools, now-as of today, serving over 1700 Indigenous students, descents of or members from over 50 Federally Recognized Tribal nations.
We shared the journey with our many collaborations, partnerships & meaningful connections with Youthworks, All of our elders, knowledge keepers and mentors, ND DPI, Circle Bridge with ND Indian & Multicultural Education, United Tribes Technical College, Theodore Jamerson Elementary UTTC Monarch Project University of North Dakota, North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission, WOZU - Planting Seeds of Change, ND Heritage Center, Sacred Pipe Resource Center, Bluebird Cultural Initiative, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, MHA Nation, Sage Coulee, Good Road Recovery Center, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa ND Housing, Native, Inc. Bismarck State College, University of Mary- Humanities, private donors, community members who volunteer their time, and so many more who we may have missed.
Finally, we got to highlight what we have learned from our very own Horizon Middle School learning cohorts with testimonials from a couple of our leaders in that work at their school - Dr. Oban & Mrs. Sala.
We ended our session sharing about the consistent push for a better future for our students & families - and the non-negotiable need for COMMUNITY to come together, while listening to the voices that matter most. No one person, department, or organization can carry this alone- it takes all of us.
Because when we do come together, nothing is impossible to create, grow or nourish for our children. All of our children.
There is still so much more to be done, systems arent perfect, and we will continue to serve our students, families and schools in the very best way possible.
-Bismarck Public Schools - Indian Education Programs
Song by: Stoney Park
