The three project stories have been identified in collaboration with tribal elders, council members and educators.

 

Assiniboine: Rocky Point is a true story about resilience in the face of a deadly epidemic. This resonates with younger generations in the contemporary context of Covid-19. The story concerns the last smallpox epidemic that ravaged the upper Missouri River tribes from 1836-1840. The Assiniboine, who were eventually placed on the Fort Peck Reservation along with the Sioux, tell of how their people ran from the disease and the resulting struggle of their families and relatives. This story is ultimately one of survival and resilience, and demonstrates the need to preserve—and learn from—nearly forgotten Native histories.

 

Sioux: The White Buffalo Calf Woman is an ancestral story emphasizing the value of tradition and continuity. The story relates how, during a time of great famine, two scouts sent to hunt buffalo in the sacred Black Hills of South Dakota saw something approaching in the distance. At first, they thought it was a white buffalo calf; but as it came closer, they saw it was a beautiful young Indian woman. She reminded the people to always walk in a sacred way upon the Earth, respecting the environment, and shared the significance of the sacred pipe. This story is the heart of the values of the Sioux people.

 

Chippewa: As yet untitled, this is a true story of change and accommodation, exploring the meaning of “home.” It offers a contemporary reflection of Chippewa history, and depicts how colonialism negatively impacted an already struggling and marginalized Native population. Many displaced Chippewa settled on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation when it was established in 1888. Some intermarried with the Assiniboine and Sioux in the four reservation communities that ran along the upper Missouri River—however they often lived as outcasts, with little to no political and economic power. Through this story, students will explore issues of discrimination, identity and integration.