In 1997 the College requested and was granted support from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation to invite representatives of Tribal College named as land-grant institutions in 1994 to attend the 1998 National MANRRS Conference in Iowa, hosted by Iowa State University.
Thirty-eight representatives from 17 Tribal Colleges attended the 1998 Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS). As a result of such a positive response, the Dean of the College, David Topel, named Professor Harold Crawford to chair a new committee -- the Tribal College Task Force.
"Our initiative with the Tribal Colleges began in 1998 in order to 'build the land-grant community.' The positive relationships created have resulted in mutual benefits such as student enrollments and exchanges and faculty collaboration for project and faculty development." --David G. Topel, Dean, ISU College of Agriculture, 1989-2000
Tribal College Task Force
The goal of the Tribal College Task Force, a volunteer committee, is to advance opportunities for collaboration between the College of Agriculture and the 1994 Land-Grant Tribal Colleges. The committee seeks to facilitate relationship building and to provide service to those interested in linkages with the 1994 institutions.
For information, contact Harold Crawford, 515-294-7725
Significant ISU Activities with Tribal Colleges
MANRRS Conferences 1998-2000
Through ISU’s invitation and W. K. Kellogg foundation support, over 100 students and faculty from 24 of the 30 land-grant tribal colleges attended one or more national MANRRS Conferences in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Faculty and students from Crownpoint Institute of Technology, Salish Kootenai College and Sitting Bull College participated all three years.
Initial Priority Setting Initiative 1998
ISU and South Dakota State personnel met with representatives from six Tribal Colleges in 1998 and identified top priorities to Tribal Colleges:
- Professional development and degree programs
- Curriculum and instruction in natural resources
- Technology advancement for institutional programs
- Grants and proposal writing
- Strategic planning and yearly work plans
- Student services to enhance leadership development
Building Relationships through Campus Visits
ISU personnel have learned about Tribal Colleges and established relationships through campus visits to 21 of the 30 Tribal Colleges.
Students or faculty from 13 Tribal Colleges in the North Central Region attended the 1999 Tribal Conference and Teaching Symposium and 8 Tribal Colleges were represented at the 2000 North Central Agricultural Administrators Joint Meeting. In addition several Tribal Colleges have visited ISU for field trips and collaborative activities.
Natural Resource Partnerships though Project Grants
USDA Higher Education Challenge Grant, $221,000, 1999-2002
ISU Project: "A Partnership for Curriculum Development Linking Iowa State University and Tribal Colleges"
Purpose: To strengthen the environmental and natural resources studies programs at four Tribal Colleges.
Iowa State University provided technical assistance for Tribal Colleges to offer their own courses on-line.
- Crownpoint Institute of Technology – Elk Herd Management
- Haskell Indian Nations University – Environmental Protection in Indian Country
- Oglala Lakota college – Bison Management
- Lac Coutre Oreilles Ojibwa Community College – Ethnobotany
USDA IFAFS Grant, $3,876,000, 2001-2006
ISU Project: "A Land Grant Network to Enhance Tribal college Community Natural Resources Education Programs"
Purpose: Iowa State University, through its Tribal College Task Force will provide leadership for a natural resource education program focusing on the needs of small to mid-size farms and ranches and Tribal College communities located in the upper Missouri River watershed area.
Partners:
- Fort Berthold Community College
- Nebraska Indian Community College
- Sinte Gleska Unviersity
- Sitting Bull College
- Iowa State University
- North Dakota State University
- South Dakota State University
- University of Nebraska
Capacity Building through Internships
Several Tribal College or Native American undergraduate students at other institutions have participated in the summer research internship program conducted by the College of Agriculture.
- Shawna Crispin, Southwestern Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque
- Dustin Thunder Hawk, Sittiing Bull College, Fort Yates, ND
- Rolanda Morris, Prescott College and Crownpoint Institute of Technology, Crownpoint, NM
- Miranda Hancock, Crownpoint Institute of Technology
- Robert Begay, Crownpoint Institute of Technology
- Waylong Red Tomahawk, Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Fort Totten, ND
- Warren Roan, Haskell Indian Nations University, Lawrence, KS
- Randy Two Crow, Oglala Lakota College, Kyle, SD
- John Waters, Oglala Lakota College
- Vicki Alberts, Fort Berthold Community College, New Town, ND
- Jenice Jim, New Mexico State University, Las Cruses, NM
- Jamie Harlan, Nebraska Indian College, Niobrara, NE
- Jordan Shell Track, Solan High School, Standing Rock Reservation, ND
- Nicoya American Horse, Solan High School, Standing Rock Reservation, ND
