Boise State University engages students in Native American culture

November is “National American Indian Heritage Month,” initially designated by a joint resolution and passed by Congress in 1990 to recognize and acknowledge American Indians and Alaska Natives as a group. Recognizing and acknowledging American Indians and Alaska Natives is something that one Boise State University alumna takes very seriously every day of the year. 

Josephine Halfhide is a strong advocate for people indigenous to this country. Last year The Arbiter interviewed her when she received a National Association of Social Work scholarship for her 35-year commitment to working with Indian people. At that time she was a student working as a tribal liaison at the BSU Cultural Center, conducting research on “the Recruitment of Native American students at BSU” and attempting to get
approval to instruct an Indian education class for the BSU Social Work Department. 

It seemed appropriate, with this month being “National American Indian Heritage Month,” to re-visit with Josephine and see how she was coming along with those projects. This is what we found: 

With the support of Provost Sona Andrews, School of Social Work Director Roy Rodenhiser, Gretchen  Cotrell,  William Whitaker and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Council,  the course “SOCWRK 494/594: Health and Human Services in Indian Country,” has become a reality and was offered Aug. 9 to 13 on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in southeastern Idaho. 

This is the first time in Idaho’s history that any Native American tribe has allowed and collaborated with a university to conduct a class on its reservation. How was it that BSU, not Idaho State University (which is only 10 miles from the Fort Hall Indian reservation), arranged to provide this opportunity to students?

“This was very interesting and what I gained from this class is a greater respect for this tribe,” class participant Maureen O’Leary said.

 “It is all about building a trust relationship with individual Indian people and Indian tribes. For many years I have worked exclusively in Indian programs. I also grew up with the Shoshone-Bannock people, which certainly helped getting this class up and going. BSU was very supportive and wanted to make the attempt,” Halfhide said.

Beginning the morning of Aug. 9, students spent two full days in a classroom on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.

They met with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Services, Tribal Social Services, Tribal Police, Tribal Domestic Violence Program, Tribal Courts, Indian Gaming and several other departments.

Students were well rewarded after the first day, eating finely prepared barbecued elk steak for dinner.

After the second day they attended a buffalo feast sponsored by the Shoshone-Bannock tribes. 

Thanks to the hospitality of the tribes, students had the opportunity to sleep under the stars in a traditional tepee and to participate in three days of the “Shoshone-Bannock 2006 Indian Festival.” They mingled with Indian people from across the Northwest and Canada while listening to traditional drumming and singing and dancing. They also watched the competition and selection of Miss Sunni Bigday as 2006 Shoshone-Bannock Queen.

Students attended the all-Indian rodeo, Indian relay races, Indian Hand Games and Indian art show and browsed through the tribal museum. Some sampled Indian tacos; Indian fry bread; Navajo-mutton stew; buffalo, elk and deer jerky; various jams and many other traditional delicacies while others purchased jewelry and crafts.

Class participants included Roy Rodenhiser, William Whitaker, Gretchen Cotrell, Pamela Davis (Shoshone-Bannock tribal member), Leland and Theresa Manuelito (Navajo tribal member and Shoshone Paiute tribal member, respectively) and their three children, Rusty and Maureen O’ Leary, Ryan Stone, Grace Jo, Andrea Burnie, Jill Darrington and Suzie Kiesel. 

“It was such a great opportunity and reflecting back I realize how much I learned,” class participant Jill Darrington said.

Halfhide is hopeful that, if the Shoshone-Bannock tribes are receptive to continuing this class next year, other departments at BSU will consider offering the course to their program’s undergraduate and graduate students and that BSU officials will consider this experience as a requirement for faculty and administrators.

The research study Halfhide started on “the recruitment of Native American students at BSU” will be completed and turned in to Provost Sona Andrews at the end of November 2006 – “National American Indian Heritage Month.”

Arbiter Staff

Related Posts:

1. Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial scholarship awarded to grad student Josephine Halfhide
2. NCAA says tribal support will be a factor in Native American nicknames for university athletics
3. Indian Child Welfare Conference comes to Boise State
4. Native American Heritage Month concludes with panel discussion
5. Native American Heritage Month Highlights the “S” Word