Crow Agency, MT

A workshop for local farmers and land owners was offered on June 13, 2008 at the Student Services Building, Little Big Horn College Campus. A collaborative effort between Agriculture Department at Montana State University-Bozeman and the Extension Office at Little Big Horn College. The workshop provided an overview on the various types of crops that can be grown successfully in South Centeral Montana. Also, the feasibility of developing a biodiesel fuel plant was discussed. As an alternative fuel option, biodiesel barely provides 3 percent of the overall fuel production in the nation. Food for thought???

The Apsaalooke Water Authority initiated Phase II of its water and sewer infrastructure improvement project for Crow Agency in March, 2008. Western Municipal Construction was awarded the contract for this project.  Phase II is funded by a variety of agencies such as U.S.D. A . and Mt. Coal Board grant,  to replace and upgrade the entire system. The town of Crow Agency had been utilizing an antequated system that was installed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs around 1905. James Real Bird, John Doyle and Larry Kindness are responsible for chartering the Water Authority and securing funds for this important project. It took this team seven years to get to this point. Although the residents and employees have to deal with detours, dirt, rough roads, and waterless days. It is well worth the inconvenience. When the entire project is completed by the end of 2009, Crow Agency will have a safe and sufficient water and sewer system that will meet all standards.  

Three Steering committee members from the Crow Agency Horizons Project attend the Govenor’s conference on Tourism & Recreation that was held in West Yellowstone, Montana on April 16-17, 2008.  In attendance were Latonna Old Elk, Sharon Peregoy and Jackie Yellowtail. The Montana Department of Commerce and  Montana Tourism Alliance provided conference scholarships which coverrd the cost of lodging and registration costs. The conference provided strategies for communities and entreprenuers on marketing their products and services. A trade show provided us opportunities to network with national vendors. Also, Sharon Peregoy met the personnel of Montana’s International Marketing Program located in China (Mei Mei Wang) & Japanese Market (Mako Sakaguchi) to share information about Geo tourism opportunities on the Crow Reservation.  

On June 11, 2008 the Bridging Cultures and Communities committee was officially formed at a meeting held on the Little Big Horn College campus. The Mission of this steering committee is:Building Bridges of reconciliation and respect between communities and cultures.

The objectives are: 1) To develop continuing, effective communication concerning economic development and other projects of mutual benefit; 2) To promote mutual understanding of and respect for cultural diversity and contributions; 3) to provide opportunities for shared experiences, education and partnership projects. Next meeting has been scheduled for July.

Dr. Megan Benson, researcher and professor at University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma was the keynote at the Crow Land and history symposium on June 1o, 2008.  She presented her research and findings regarding  the historical fight for Crow Water. In addition,  Dr. Barney Old Coyote, elder and oral historian, presented the social, cultural and economic impact upon the Crow Tribe in the governments decisions regarding Crow water. The format of the symposium allowed for small group discussion with the presenters. Crow Tribal Land owners, college students and youth recieved special intivations to attend. Aproximately 150 people attend this event. The purpose of the symposium is to provide background information that significantly impacts Crow land and use for the Crow land owner.This activity was co-sponsored by the Little Big Horn College Extension Office and the Horizons Project. 

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.