Crow Agency, MT

The first quarterly meeting of the 2008 Montana Indian Business Alliance convened in Billings, Montana on January 24, 2008. A cross-section of educators, business people, community members and leaders, organizations, Tribal college staff, state and local departments of  Commerce and Economic Development to explore youth outreach strategies. Four innovative programs that work successfully with youth were called upon to show case their project in a best practices presentations. The Crow Youth Leadership Cadre, Aak Bacheeitchilewioosh, was featured as a best practice project. The Leadership Cadre is a Crow culturally relevant project  that has worked with a cross-age group of Crow students for the past four years. It was determined by the group present at the day long meeting that a standing committee on Youth Entreprenuership be establish and volunteers were solicited. Latonna Old Elk and Sharon Peregoy Horizons Project co-facilitators volunteered for the standing committee. 

Little Big Horn College Extension Office sponsored training for individuals interested in establishing their own business on and near the Crow Indian Reservation. The course was taught by Robyn Vallie, the founder of Itchik Teas, Inc. Classes began on February 14 and ended on May 1, 2008.  All participants who completed the course recieved four college credits, a certificate of completion and an opportunity to submit their business plan to the State Department of Commerce for review in a competitive entreprenuer start-up grant.

A cadre of thirty individuals representing the City of Billings, Crow Agency and Crow Tribe gathered May 30, 2008 on the Little Big Horn College campus. This meeting was called to explore ways the Crow Tribe and Billings community could establish a mutually benefical economic relationship. The day long meeting was facilitated by Linda Beck of Montana State University-Billings and Tim Real Bird of the Crow Tribe’s Office of Economic Development.  The Crow Tribal members recalled that historically, the Crow Tribe has had a significant impact on the economic viability of Billings thru cessation of land and patronage. During the late 1950’s and 1960’s, Billings Mayor Willard Fraizer initiated Crow cultural exchanges and exhibitions for the City of Billings. At the end of the day, the participants decided that a steering committee should be established with mission, goals, and action plans. It was determined that the next meeting would be held on June 11, 2008.

The Crow Environmental Planning and Protection office coordinated a community wide clean up on April 15, 16, 17, 2008. The Horizons Project, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Montana State Crime  Control Board, Montana State C.A.R. E and the Crow Tribal Administration/Executive Branch provided supplies, funding and/or  manpower to ensure that the greater Crow Agency area  looked real spiffy for Spring!!!   

The Apsaalooke Center was filled with parents, youth, children, program staff and community members on May 8, 2008 to “Celebrate a Healthy Crow Community”.  This annual event is designed to cultivate wellness in the four spheres of a human being. These spheres are the spiritual, physical, emotional, and social/cultural. This year the Apssaalooke Head Start Program held their Cultural Parade and Mini Powow in conjuction with this event.  A special performance was given by local Crow Rapper, Supaman. Christine Good Luck, Director of the Apsaalooke Systems of Care was very happy about the large number of participants and the support of the partners that provided assistance, set up information tables and sponsored speakers through out the day.  

During a Horizons planning today(April 4th), the group discussed the upcoming Celebration of a Healthy Crow Community.  This event will take place on May 8th from 9:00 unitl 3:00 pm at the multipurpose building in Crow Agency, MT.

Gustine Old Bear, Horizons steering committee member coordinated the Gathering of Native Americans (GONA) event held at the Crow Community Baptist Church on April 14 thru 16, 2008.  GONA is a community wellness model that is culturally based. The goal of each GONA event is to bring community members, leaders, tribal, school administrators and local behavioral health service providers to support or enhance community and personal healing/wellness and build a common vision for a strong healthy community.  A total of 150 people participated in this event. The Native Aspirations Project cosponsored this activity with the Crow Tribe’s Wellness Center.