Released March 21, 2008

BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Representatives from all of Montana's tribal colleges will share the living history of their people at a symposium set May 1-2 at Montana State University's Museum of the Rockies.

Representatives from the seven tribal colleges will deliver tribal histories commissioned two years ago by Gov. Brian Schweitzer and the Montana Legislature. The legislature requested that each tribe use its appropriation to purchase equipment and to develop the histories, according to Matt Herman, MSU professor of Native American Studies and coordinator of the symposium.

Herman said the tribes individually developed both the form and content of the project materials, which range from DVDs, research monographs, and Websites, to a large collection of essays and various archives of primary documents.

"All of these projects are unique," Herman said. "They are creating a greater awareness of the significance of tribal knowledges, and just as importantly, they will play a big role in shaping the future of Indian education in Montana."

After the materials are presented at the symposium, they will be delivered to the Montana Office of Public Instruction where they will be used to develop curriculum for Montana schools, Herman said. The symposium will open at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 1, at the Museum of the Rockies' Hager Auditorium. Tribal colleges presenting the first day include Blackfeet Community College, Stone Child College, Salish-Kootenai College, and Fort Belknap Community College. Films from Salish-Kootenai College and Blackfeet Community College will be shown at 7 p.m.

Presentations on Friday, May 2, include Fort Peck, Little Bighorn College and Chief Dull Knife College.

There is no charge for the symposium. Light refreshments will be served throughout the day. However, participants will be expected to have lunch on their own.

The symposium precedes the 33rd annual MSU American Indian Council Pow Wow to be held May 2-3 at MSU's Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.

For more information, contact MSU's Department of Native American Studies, (406) 994-3881.

-30-

http://www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=5720

Contact: Matt Herman (406) 994-3992, mherman@montana.edu