The O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West at The University of Montana has received $40,000 to operate the Indian Leaders Institute for a second year.

The Helena-based Student Assistance Foundation http://www.safmt.org/SAFHOME/ made the grant to help the institute continue efforts to enhance tribal self-governance, strengthen American Indian/state relations and encourage opportunities for future Indian leaders now graduating from post-secondary schools.

"I congratulate the Student Assistance Foundation for its willingness to fund and partner with the institute, tribes and colleges," said Pat Williams, senior fellow at the O’Connor Center http://www.crmw.org .

In its first year, the institute conducted two symposiums for the state’s elected Indian legislators. It also sponsored or co-sponsored three conferences on the following topics: the Indian Self-Determination Act, the Indian Education for All Act and the effects of the special session of the Montana Legislature on K-12 education generally and the education of Indian students particularly.

In 2006 the institute intends to hold two governance seminars on the Fort Peck and Blackfeet reservations. New to this year’s offerings will be the creation of the state’s first wide-scale effort to provide professional development to graduating Indian post-secondary students. In this pilot year, the Salish Kootenai College and UM will work with select students in their transition from school to work or advanced degrees.

Contact: Pat Williams, O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West, (406) 243-7700.

Full Story: http://news.umt.edu/index.asp?sec=1&too=100&eve=8&dat=2/13/2006&npa=1069