Montana State University American Indian/Alaska Native Student Success

As Fall Commencement nears, we are excited to host our spring graduation ceremony on Thursday, December 11th at 4:00pm in the Great Hall. Undergraduate, Graduate, and Gallatin College degree candidates are encouraged to RSVP. In order to be gifted a custom stole, students must attend the celebration in person. This includes distance and online students. Because of limited space, we ask students to invite no more than 5 guest to the grad celebration.

RSVP by Wednesday, November 26, here: https://forms.gle/ZLGfmUS2uMRExWVz9

The American Indian/ Alaska Native Student Success Service welcomes Josie Kaufman as Program Coordinator of the Good Relations Learning Community! This Good Relations Learning Community supports incoming first year and transfer students by providing community, mentorship, academic, professional, and cultural identity development. Josie has been part of the AIH community for several years and is familiar with our commitment to kinship and culture in the services we provide to our students.

Josie comes from Sturgis in the Black Hills of South Dakota. She is a graduate of Montana State University with a bachelor’s degree in Cell Biology and Neuroscience where she started as a chemistry and writing tutor in the American Indian Hall. As a student, Josie was active in the Honors College and student government where she became an advocate for encouraging autonomy and lifelong learning at MSU. In her role here at MSU, Josie looks forward to coordinating the Good Relations Learning Community , a peer mentorship program for first year and transfer students. Josie desires everyone to feel welcome and supported with adaptable knowledge and a skillset built to last.

Welcome to the AIANSSS team! We are excited to have Josie contribute to the good work of being a Good Relative to our students, staff, and faculty. You can contact Josie:

[email protected]
Dan Voyich Student Commons, American Indian Hall 135F
(406) 994- 3337

Dear CLS Community,
I am delighted to announce that Dr. Meredith K. Hecker has been appointed Department Head of Native American Studies and Associate Professor of Native American Studies.

Dr. Hecker is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation and currently serves as the Co-Director of the Montana Space Grant Consortium and Co-PI of a $3 million grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). She earned her Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Montana where she was an Alfred P. Sloan Indigenous Fellow and the Tribal Liaison for the Yellowstone Ecological Research Center (YERC) located in Bozeman, MT Following her graduate studies, she served as an assistant and associate professor of mathematics at the University of Providence in Great Falls, Montana. Dr. Hecker previously served as the Chair of the Mathematics Department at Blackfeet Community College in Browning, Montana. She is a proud graduate of Montana State University where she majored in Mathematics and minored in History.

"I am honored to step into the role of Department Chair for Native American Studies at Montana State University," Dr. Hecker said, "As an alumni and current member of this institution, I am deeply committed to fostering an environment that uplifts Indigenous voices, supports our students, and strengthens our collective community. I look forward to building on the department's strong foundation and working alongside faculty, staff, and students to advance our shared mission."
Dr. Hecker is an active member of American Mathematical Society (AMS), American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), Montana Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM), and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES).

I want to thank the Search Committee members for their support, generosity, kindness, humor, respect, and hard work throughout this process, including Steven Davis for his leadership as Chair of this search committee, and members Kaja Anderson, Florence Garcia, Matt Herman, Anita Moore-Hall, Kristin Ruppel, Lisa Perry, Lisa Stevenson, and Sweeney Windchief.

NAS confers a minor, a Master of Arts degree, and a graduate certificate. NAS works with and supports more than 800 Native students at MSU representing more than 50 tribes. The department is the only Indigenous Studies/Native American Studies program in a R1 institution accredited by the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium (WINHEC). The Department is home to the American Indian and Alaska Native Student Success Services (AIANSS), providing programs and support for all Native students on campus. The Department supports two collaborative, Indigenous-led research and educational programs: the Native Land Project and the Buffalo Nations Food Systems Initiative.

As we celebrate Dr. Hecker's appointment, we also honor Dr. Walter Fleming who is retiring as Department Head of NAS and Professor of Native American Studies. He has served on the faculty at MSU for 46 years with generosity and distinction.

Please join me in giving a warm MSU welcome to Dr. Meredith K. Hecker!
All best,

William G. Thomas III
Dean, College of Letters and Science

Greetings!

Did you know, you are loved & valued? As you are getting settled into the rhythms and routines of a new semester, join us as the Department of Native American Studies sponsors lunch on Monday – January 27, beginning at 12pm in the Great Hall of AIH. We will begin our meal and time by inviting students, staff, and faculty into a Community Cedaring. Don’t feel pressured into taking part. Anxieties, unrest, distractions are a reality – however celebrating strength, community, our identity; enrolled, non – enrolled, descendant, multiethnic point to a much larger reality and practice we strive to model for our students empowering you with food, good medicine, and community that say you do belong, you are welcome, and you are loved. We hope you can make it!

The American Indian / Alaska Native Student Success is excited to have students back on campus! We welcome new students who are beginning or returning this spring semester. We invite all students to stop by as the semester gets going to check in with us. Beginning Monday, January 13th, American Indian Hall, and the Dan Voyich Student Commons will be open from 8am to 10pm, Mondays through Fridays. Be on the lookout for information regarding Talking Circle, Let's Talk, tutoring, cultural programming, student organizations, professional development and networking. AI/ANSS provides free printing, referrals and advocacy for scholarship / financial assistance, mental health, mentorship, and much more. Our team is here to serve you. Safe travels as you come back to campus!

Please stop in and let us know how you are doing. Look forward to seeing you all back on campus!

We are pleased to welcome and introduce our Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator Michael Hastert. Michael has been a resident of Bozeman since 2019, prior to that he was born and raised in the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Michael earned his Bachelor’s Degree in American Indian Studies from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. Michael began his teaching career working with urban Indigenous youth and has since worked in various leadership positions in public schools spanning fourteen years. Ranging from case management, family outreach, special education, administration, behavioral intervention and social/emotional support, Michael understands the value of building lasting relations. He is an individual that preserves the knowledge of our elders and encourages traditional ways for future generations. He has been a teacher in multiple communities, facilitating talking circles to encourage peace and understanding between numerous walks of life. When he is not at the MSU campus, Michael enjoys writing, watching movies, music production, audio and visual arts, hiking, camping, and exploring Montana with his wife and two daughters.

In his role with American Indian / Alaska Native Student Success, Michael will be leading recruitment efforts here on campus- collaborating with campus partners and engaging with tribal communities, rural and urban, throughout Montana and the region strengthening connections, building trust, and presenting prospective students and their families a vision of the vibrant amazing home away from home MSU is known to be!

Please stop in and say hello to Michael. His contact info is:

Michael Hastert
Recruitment & Outreach Coordinator
Location: 135 E, Dr. Dan Voyich Student Commons
Phone: (406) 994-1830
E-mail: [email protected]

We celebrate and honor Cultural & Outreach Communications Coordinator La'Trell Hendrickson as his tenure with our office comes to an end. A member of the Northern Cheyenne nation and MSU grad, La'Trell has been on staff just shy of two years. His endeavors and professional aspirations include attending law school. A role model, hard worker, La'Trell has been a great little brother to his colleagues and a trusted source of encouragement and empowerment to the students he served so well. This isn't goodbye. The NAS family wishes La'Trell well and we look forward to seeing him around in the future! We are proud of this exceptional young man.

Neaese La'Trell!

Hello Relatives,

We are excited to announce our upcoming Shawl-Making Workshop! Join our talented instructor for a hands-on workshop where you'll learn to create beautiful shawls from start to finish. Whether you're experienced or a beginner, we welcome you to join us! All material, instruction, and food are provided at no-cost! An RSVP is required to attend, so make sure to register!

RSVP Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdZGrLdhnDDjAEJyGU2tgj0acCLLuA2UnC1Ub4qWAm3R3as2g/viewform?usp=sf_link

Hello Relatives,

We are excited to announce our next language workshop as part of the Tribal Nations Language Series! These week-long, in-person classes are designed to teach basic conversational skills and connect you with language resources.

Please join Dr. Velma Pretty On Top-Pease for a week-long workshop where we will learn basic conversational Crow language skills and stories.

RSVP Link:

MSU Tribal Nations Language Registration Fall 2024 - Crow Welcome to the MSU Tribal Nations Language Series! (Please note, you are not required to attend all classes or stay for the entire time—feel free to come and go as your schedule allows.) These week-long, in-person classes are designed to teach basic conversational skills and connect you with langu...

Come visit with Daryan from Native Forward and learn more about their scholarship programs. She will be in the center today 9am-11am. If you have additional questions, please contact Daryan Singer at [email protected].

Hello Relatives,

We’re excited to invite you to a special workshop! Please join us for Star Quilt Creation with Grandma Barb! Join us for a two day workshop where we’ll learn how to make beautiful star quilts from start to finish. Space is limited to 15 students, so first come first serve. All material, instruction, and food is provided at no-cost!

(Opportunity only for MSU students!)

RSVP Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd3KXbYmnfOSBynD0If6TubZfLAA-a2dQJ21ksTTq_wLJ_hdw/viewform?usp=sf_link