Speakers

I currently serve as the Language and Culture Specialist with the Tribal Student Achievement and Relations Unit at the Montana Office of Public Instruction. Alongside my team, we assist educators and education officials regarding Indian Education for All and help teachers create the spaces for all students to learn. We understand relationships are the foundation of the learning process and seek to build them within each community and across the state.

Oki, my name is Pookitsoa’aakii Jocelyn Big Throat-Vielle. I am a proud member of the Blood

Tribe (Kainai), located in Southern Alberta — one of the four tribes of the Blackfoot Confederacy. I come from the Fish Eaters Clan, the Many Children Clan, and the Water People.

My parents are Justine and Cletus Big Throat.

I am married to Francis Vielle of the Amsskáápipikani (South Peigan), and together we have

three daughters: Iinaakii (Little Woman), Apoyaakii (Light-Haired Woman), and Aasokinaaki

(Medicine Woman).

For the past 8 years, I have been teaching the Blackfoot language with Browning Public Schools, with the lower grades little learners, Kindergarten ,and 1st grade. I recently

graduated with a Master’s degree in Integrated Indigenous Education – Curriculum and

Instruction from Salish Kootenai College. I also hold a Bachelor’s degree from the University of

Montana Western.

My deep connection to the Blackfoot language and culture comes from my upbringing in a

fluent-speaking family. My grandparents — Annabelle and Max Big Throat, Ben and Sarah

Scout, Victoria and Ron Blackplume, Dan and Philomena Chiefmoon, Gus Chiefmoon, and Jim

and Margaret Young Pine — all raised us to speak our language and live by our traditional

cultural ways. I am passionate about preserving and teaching our Blackfoot language and culture.

Okii my name is Marci Burd. I'm from the Blackfeet Reservation. I am a 1st Grade Immersion teacher. I specialize in incorporating Blackfeet Language and Culture across the curriculum. 

Ramey Growing Thunder, Phd, - Dakota/Dine from the Fort Peck Reservation. 26+ years in education, working to preserve and maintain the Dakota and Nakoda Languages and Cultures, and expanding her PhD model of The Thipsinna Dakhod Wichonhan Wakhan (Turnip Dakota Way of Life is Sacred Model) by developing a Tribal K-12 School currently. 

Robert was born and raised on the Blackfeet Reservation. He is the Blackfeet Native American Studies Director at the Browning Public Schools. He enjoys teaching Blackfoot language and playing with his daughters.

Crystal Rondeaux Hickman is an enrolled member of the Apsaalooke (Crow) Tribe and of Northern Cheyenne descent. She is a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother. She values spending time with her family above all else. Crystal has worked in the human services and education field for over 20 years. She is passionate about uplifting the resilience of tribal people, empowering youth, and giving voice to those who have none.

Kahee’ My name is Reva Little Owl-Not Afraid. I have taught at Crow Agency School for 35 years and Dual Language for eight years before my retirement. Crow Language was my first language and I have lived on the Crow Reservation all my life. I have a BA in Elementary Education and a MS in Reading and Literacy. I am still involved with Crow Language in the local schools, colleges and the community. Aho’

I am Apsaalooka and Crow is my first language. I have been teaching for 21 years and taught dual-immersion for the past 10 years. I have a BA in Elementary Education and Special Education.  

Burt Medicine Bull, Setovaatse, is a member of the So'taa'e band of the Northern Cheyenne people. Professor of Cheyenne Language and Culture at Chief Dull Knife College in Lame Deer, MT. Teaching experience includes 4th grade through college level in Montana and South Dakota. B.A. from Montana State University, Billings in elementary education with a Minor in Native American Studies. Received M.A. in Leadership/Elementary Administration and graduated with honors, Magna Cum Laude from Oglala Lakota College.

Velma is an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe. Her Indian name is

Bili’taashisshewaaxpa, Sacred Butterfly, which was given to her by her late

Great-Grandfather George Reed, Sr. Velma is a member of the Whistling Water Clan, and

a child of the Bad War Deed Clan. Velma was raised by a traditional Crow family, and is

a first-language speaker. This has shaped her worldview and dedication to Indigenous

language and culture. She is also a member of the Tobacco Society, the NightHawk

Dance Society, the Native American Church, and participates in the Crow Sundance.

Velma not only designs and beads traditional Crow outfits, she is also a Crow-style

traditional dancer. She has traveled extensively throughout the globe, dancing with

various Indigenous dance troupes.

Velma is a certified teacher and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary

Education-Business Education from Montana State University-Billings, and a Master’s of

Science Degree in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire

University. She also attained a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership and

Organizational Innovation at Marymount University. She is a Crow language and Crow

culture educator who has many years of experience teaching Crow Studies. She has

developed curriculum for Indigenous language programs, a Crow language proficiency

scale, and revised the Crow Language Standards. Velma translates children’s publications

and conducts recordings for the Crow Dictionary, Crow books, and an E-Learning

platform. Currently, Velma is employed with Billings Public Schools and is dedicated to

celebrating, educating, and enriching students with Indigenous language and culture.

Crystal Redgrave is Nakona (Assiniboine) from Fort Peck.  She is an educator and has served Indigenous communities for the past 30 years.  She is the co-founder of Nakona University, a non-profit education organization that teaches the Assiniboine language, culture, and history. 

Winona Rose Runsabove-Killegle. “Little Wolf Woman/ Pretty Flower”

Tituŋwaŋ, Hudeshana, Sisitoŋwaŋ

Nakoda Researcher/Instructor

Fort Peck Tribal Language Culture Department

Class 7 certified Nakoda Language Educator in the state of Montana.

My goal in Language and Cultural Education is to help our relatives learn who they are and where they come from. By teaching our values, sacred rites and sharing stories from our elders our relatives are beginning to speak and remember the language and culture.

My name is Willamina Campbell Tailfeathers,  I am the 5th grade Immersion teacher at Napi Elementary in Browning, MT.  I've been an Immersion teacher for eight years now.  Every year just keeps getting better.  This is my 29th year of teaching, all in Browning.  My husband and I have 3 daughters and four grandchildren. I have a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from MSU-Northern.  My Masters degree is in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Montana.  

Currently, I am also a Noyce Fellowship in STEM teaching recipient from MSU-Bozeman.  This year I was also accepted as a Teacher Leader in Montana History.  Another opportunity came up, so I applied for the Teacher Leadership Institute through the MFPE.  I was chosen to join this leadership opportunity too. In addition to all of this, I am also a Mentor Teacher in my buidling. Needless to say I like to keep busy.

Ōk̇i nitṫǎnikk̇oō eeksuegahwutdanakii (Good Shield Woman). Nitṫīyǎaṗiitsin´k̇ǎasim Shaylea Tatsey. Nō´m˝ṫoōṫoō Amskapi Pikuni. Nittsiṫō´ṗii miisinssk̇iisis˝ṫǎa. Ãiss•skssiniimǎttsṫō ̋kii iitoyno•p. Niiksissṫǎ ǎanissṫǎa mǎatsoōwǎak̇ii (Beautiful Woman) 

Ninnǎ ǎanissṫǎa Ni•tsiṫǎ•ṗāaṗo´yi (Stands Alone) Rusty kii Lorrie Tatsey. Nookoowaah ǎanissṫǎa Ksistikoom Saahkoomaapii (Thunder Boy) kii Natoyii ootsimoh’ okiitopii (Holy Sorrel Horse Rider). Naaus ǎa˝siiṫoōmō´o (Good Leader) Cynthia Kipp kii Leo Davis naauhs ǎnnǔṫǎak̇ii (Pretty Woman) June Bullshoe kii Peter Tatsey.

Hello, my name is Shaylea Tatsey. My Blackfeet name is Good shield Woman . I am Amskapi Pikuni residing on the Blackfeet reservation. My home and family came from Badger creek. My parents are Lea and Rusty Tatsey and a mother of two sons Thunder️ and Buck. I am a Blackfeet Native American Studies Teacher at Browning High School as well as a rodeo coach and cultural leader. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and a Masters of Arts in Instruction and Learning. I have taught for about eight years from 5th grade homeroom teacher, 1st grade Blackfeet Studies teacher, and  6th grade immersion, and now a high school Blackfeet teacher. I am a fourth generation Blackfeet Language Learner and continue learning and pushing myself to learn more about my people, my language, and our history so that I can share that knowledge with our next generation of learners.

Háu mitákuyepi taŋyáŋ yahí hello my relatives. My name is Ethan Three Stars I am from the Fort Peck Reservation and live in the Fort Kipp community. I went to school in Poplar, Montana my whole life and graduated from there in 2016. I have been teaching Dakȟóta language at Poplar Middle and High School since 2017. I have also been teaching Dakȟóta language at Fort Peck Tribes Language and Culture Department since 2011 as a summer youth work til now as their Dakȟóta Instructor/Researcher. I attended Fort Peck Community college to obtain my Associates of Arts degree in Native American Studies in 2018. I obtained my Class 7 Teaching Licenses in 2016 so I would be able to teach in the public school system.

I was raised around the Dakȟóta Ianguage my whole life but I started learning the Dakȟóta language intensively in 2007. I took many Dakȟóta language classes offered here in Poplar. I started to spend all my evenings after that with my grandparents as well as my aunties learning as much Dakȟóta language, culture, philosophy, and stories as I could. I know implement all these teachings and stories in my curriculum because I was always taught this isn't my language and culture, its yours.

Tansi kahkiyahw! kitatamiskatinawaw niwahkomakanak. Whitney TopSky nisikahson, tahkohci kisik niwihowin. ahsiniywahcisik ociniyah, nichahyik niwikin. kitatamihinawaw ayhay

Whitney TopSky has served as the Nehiyahw language teacher at Box Elder Schools for the past seven years. Before this role, she taught Art at Chinook Schools and worked as a Native American tutor at Lincoln McKinley Primary School in Havre. She earned her degree in Art Education from the University of Montana, where she developed a strong interest in cultural curriculum. To further her teaching path, she completed summer courses to earn her Class 7 teacher license. As a second language learner of Nehiyahw, Whitney finds joy in both teaching and continuing her own personal journey of learning and revitalizing the language.

Oki, my Blackfoot name is sooyipiksi which in the Blackfoot language. means waterbird. I

have been working in the field of Education for over 40 years. I first got involved in teaching

by accident. I was taking a break off an oil rig for Comanche Drilling. My relative June Tatsey needed a Substitute Teacher so I volunteered. I was hired as a Teacher Assistant and went back to school on the teacher training program and received my teaching degrees. I am a Blackfoot elder Immersion Class 7 Teacher. I am one of the remaining Full Blood Blackfoot speakers on the Blackfeet Reservation. I have nine children two deceased. For the past seven years during the summer, I worked as a Forestry Technician. Though the years I have fought forest fires all over the northwestern United States. I also worked for the United States Park Service Two Medicine Trail Crew (tree faller). This past summer I worked as a Range Rider for the Blackfeet Tribal Land Department. However my real passion is teaching our youth the nitsipohwahsin (real speak) language.