To kick off Native American Week last week, students in Mrs. Christy Morse’s class began working with Dimarco Barea of the Wyld Foundation to:
*Learn digital storytelling and technology skills
*Explore Apsáalooke history, language, and landscapes
*Co-create content for The Village: Uuwatisee game
*Build future pathways in STEM and creative careers
Field Trip – September 24, Fort Smith, MT
Students visited the Medicine Wheel, Grapevine Creek Buffalo Jump, MK Hill, and Pretty Eagle Point.
Last week, staff also participated in a Professional Development session led by Dimarco Barea, Executive Director of the Wyld Foundation. The training introduced Uuwatisee (Big Metal)—an immersive educational video game designed to connect culture, curriculum, and storytelling for students. The session included:
*An introduction to the game’s purpose and Indigenous-centered design
*Reflections from early adopters and student testers
*Classroom strategies for aligning the game with IEFA essential understandings
A special thank you to Mrs. Christy Morse, Counselor Autumn Whiteman, presenters Les Left Hand and Tim McCleary.
Ahóoh to our Teepee helpers CJ Other Medicine, Holman Real Bird, and Scotty Dawes for setting up the teepee last week!
This is the day all our 7 schools come together in one location, over 1500 students, along with our staff and our community, to honor Native American Day. Our District Royalty and visiting princess did an amazing job. Shoutout to Intermediate Princess Ivory Walks Over Ice for voluntarily preparing a variety of delicious salads for the hospitality room, and to High School Princess Rosalie Morrison for graciously presenting gift bags to honor all the princesses at the end of the Powwow.
Our outstanding young leaders include:
Kindergarten Readiness Center Princess: Luna Meeks
Crow Agency School Princess: McKenzie Charette
Primary Princess: Coulee Brown
Intermediate Princess: Ivory Walks Over Ice
Middle School Princess: Lilly Robles Diaz
High School Princess: Rosalee Morrison
Big Horn Academy Princess: Shandi Harjo
Behind every powwow and event are the dedicated individuals in each building who volunteer their time, often outside of their regular duties, to recruit, support, and prepare our student dancers and our royalty. We’re grateful for them.
KRC – Tina Prettyontop
CAPS – Sunny Gardner
HPS – Mary Iron & Amy Hanson
HHS – Jonathan Stands & Robin Shield
HIS – Jamie Chandler
HMS – Lana Stands
BHA – Autumn Whiteman
We look forward to continuing our beautiful tradition and celebrating with everyone again at the next event! Ahóoh
Junior Boys
1st Kaven Whiteman
2nd Aramis Cloud
3rd Skylar Rides Horse
4th Tuff Not Afraid
Junior Girls
1st Camelia Old Elk
2nd Name Pending
3rd Arleen Rock
4th Kelsey Passes
Teen Boys
1st Danger Black Eagle
2nd Braxton Real Bird
3rd Haven Plenty Hawk
4th McKennon Takes Horse
Teen Girls
1st Mary Jane Birdinground
2nd Name Pending
3rd Andi Herrera
4th Dazzlyn Hugs
Adult Men
1st Dominic Eastman
2nd Levi Black Eagle
3rd Beau Watunee
4th Kenneth Deputee Sr.
Adult Women
1st Amber White
2nd Sicily Glenn
3rd Aldean Good Luck
4th Starry Knight Round Face
Huge Thank You to Our Amazing Sponsors! We’re incredibly grateful for the generous support from all of our sponsors who made this event possible. Your contributions helped us celebrate and uplift our community in a big way!
Special Thanks To:
4 Points Media – Luella Brien
Amber Cummins
Brylei OldBull
Charla TakesEnemy
Cody Meeks
Crow Tribal Health
Edward & Dorcella Eastman
Family Engagement Center - Tara Bird & Mary Leda Good Luck
Gale ThreeIrons
Lammers – Gayle & Carla Lammers
Little Big Horn College Student Services - Amber White
Mahalz Plenty Hoops
Pat Alden Jr
Vance Takes Enemy
Velma Pickett
Your support makes a difference, and we couldn’t have done it without you. Ahóoh
Thank you to everyone who made this year’s Native American Day Powwow unforgettable!
Master of Ceremonies: Tilton Old Bull
Opening Prayer: Cheyenne Elder James
National Anthem: Shakira Glenn
Flags Presented by Northern Cheyenne Honor Guard, Les Bird Chief, Sunshine Curlee, Daryl Medicine Bull & Crow Flag, Harry Rock Above
Arena Directors: Konolly Shane, Kevin Shane, & Acorn Holds The Enemy
Drums: Night Hawk Jrz, Wolf Bear, Cheyenne Boys, Black Whistle
Catering: Jane Holds - Holds the Enemy Catering
Tara Bird & Mary Leda Good Luck, Family Engagement Center for sponsoring Tiny Tot Special
We also had a special Apsaalooke honoring for Scott Flatlip, who SHAPE Montana recently awarded High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year. Congratulations, Mr. Flatlip. Your dedication to our students and community makes us proud!
A special thank you to our honored guests:
School Board Chair Jodeen Marston, Superintendent Tobin Novasio, Crow Tribal Official Levi Black Eagle (also provided his sound system), Northern Cheyenne Tribal Education Norma Bixby, and Crow Education Staff Loretta Three Irons, Gary Dawes & Alberta Wall
Your presence and support helped uplift our traditions and bring our community together in a powerful way. Until next time, Ahóoh
This year we were honored to recognize our neighboring friends, the Northern Cheyenne Nation.
Flags: Northern Cheyenne Honor Guard – Les Bird Chief, Sunshine Curlee, and Daryl Medicine Bull
Drum Group: The Cheyenne Boys, who sang the Cheyenne Flag Song.
Special thanks: Norma Bixby and the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Education Department for their support and partnership.
A special thank you to those who helped behind the scenes: Jamie Chandler, Sunny Gardner, Acorn HoldstheEnemy, Robin Shield, Kenny Shane, Kevin Shane, Konnolly Shane, Jonathan Stands, Lana Stands, and Tina Pretty On Top. Huge shoutout to Sunny Gardner for lining up the sponsors for the contest and to Kenny Shane for organizing the drum groups. Ahóoh!
Please see the attached agenda for a Special Board of Trustees Meeting:
Agenda
Please note that this meeting will take place at the District Office at 401 Park Road.
Get ready! This Friday is our Powwow!
We can’t wait to see everyone come together for an amazing celebration. Bring your friends, your family, and your best energy to enjoy the heartbeat of our community and celebrate in true powwow style. See you there!
*Don’t forget your chairs and shades (aka Canopy)
Call Family Engagement Center to sign up! Classes will be at Crow School Cafeteria!
Night School begins tonight at Big Horn Academy. This program provides students with an additional opportunity to complete coursework, recover credits, and receive academic support in a structured learning environment. Night School is designed to help students stay on track for graduation while offering flexible scheduling and a supportive space for learning outside of regular school hours.
Classes will run from 4:00–7:00 p.m., and bus transportation will be available with a drop-off at Crow Agency Public School. Adults interested in receiving Hi-SET instruction are encouraged to contact Big Horn Academy at 406-665-9326.
For more information, please visit our website: https://www.hardin.k12.mt.us/page/big-horn-academy
Reminder of our Powwow this Friday, September 26, 2025
Grand Entry: 9:30 AM
Location: Hardin High School IMER Football Field
Everyone of all ages is welcome to dance, celebrate, and honor this important day together.
* Stadium seating is open to the public
* If you plan to sit on the field, please bring your own chairs and shades (If you have extra shades bring those too)
* Water will be provided for students in the field
* A Community Feed will follow the Powwow
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
We would like to express our gratitude to all of our sponsors. Your generous support makes the 3rd Annual Powwow possible and helps us come together to honor tradition and celebrate together! Ahóoh
Special thank you to our Family Engagement Center for sponsoring the Tiny Tot Special every year. Ahóoh
We’re thrilled to share that Hardin Indian Education for All is teaming up with Sunny Reed-Gardner (Apsáalooke), Physical Education teacher at Crow Agency Public School and bead artist, to create Traveling Trunks for our teachers and classrooms to check out!
The trunks will highlight Native history, culture, and traditions through hands-on resources, including:
Northern Cheyenne Tribe Trunk
Crow “ Apsáalooke” Tribe Trunk
Buffalo Trunk
One special item featured in the Crow "Apsáalooke" trunk is a beautiful beaded cradleboard handcrafted by Sunny Reed-Gardner, Apsaalooke Artist
“Crosses the River” Apsáalooke name (given by late SonnyJoe Reed)
Sunny is a Physical Education teacher at Crow School and has been teaching & coaching for 16 years. She taught herself to bead by watching her mom and sister bead. She gets inspiration from her daughter who loves to powwow, parade and participate in Apsáalooke cultural activities. Creating one of a kind pieces takes a lot of time, from researching, creating the design/pattern, picking out color schemes, and putting all the parts together. Sunny loves beading and creating art through her beadwork.
We’re excited to bring these meaningful resources into classrooms across our district so stay tuned for checkout details. Ahóoh
