Native American Studies
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/51
The Department of Native American Studies was established to provide and advance quality education for and about American Indians of Montana, the region, and the nation. In fulfilling this mission, the Department is committed to meet the changing needs of Montana's Indian tribes and all Montana citizens through excellence in teaching, research, and service. In its academic program, the department provides concentrated study through an undergraduate minor, the first online graduate certificate in Native American Studies offered, and a Master of Arts degree in Native American Studies. Students in any major can also gain a multicultural perspective through NAS offerings in the University's core curriculum. The Department, through its research and other creative efforts, actively pursues interdisciplinary scholarship in the field of Native American Studies.
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Item Contextualizing CBPR: Key Principles of CBPR meet the Indigenous research context(2009-06) LaVeaux, Deborah; Christopher, SuzanneThis paper addresses two questions regarding the use of Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR) approaches with tribal communities. First, how do “gold standard” CBPR principles hold up when applied to Native American communities and what additional contextual information is necessary to understand and work with these principles in this setting? Second, what additional principles or recommendations are helpful for researchers interested in conducting research using a CBPR approach with tribal communities? We studied a variety of literature sources on CBPR and Native health research to answer these questions. We are unaware of any publications that contextualize CBPR principles for working with specific populations. This information has direct application for conducting research with tribal communities, and confirms the importance of using CBPR approaches in this setting.Item Measuring work conditions for teachers of American Indian students(2008) Erickson, Joanne L.; Terhune, M. Neil; Ruff, William G.The purpose of this study was to re-validate the Quality of Teacher Work Life Survey (QTWLS) with a population of 404 teachers in Montana schools with predominant American Indian student enrollments; and to describe the job-related stress and satisfaction of those teachers. Factor analysis showed nine satisfaction and eight stress factors with this population compared to eleven satisfaction and 10 stress factors in Pelsma, Richard, and Harrington’s (1989) original study with primarily Caucasian teachers and students. Knowledge of these results on the QTWLS could lead to interventions that contribute to an improved work life for teachers of American Indian students and increased learning among the students.Item The strengths and weaknesses of the Montana Step Program as reported by participants(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 2000) Burton, Anna M.; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Nancy G. DoddA telephone survey was conducted of the 1994-2000 STEP NSF Teaching Scholars in order to gather demographic information and current employment on the scholars as well as to gain information about the scholars' perceptions of the STEP program structure. The survey also examined the scholars' perceptions of various supports and barriers to the successful completion of the scholars' undergraduate teaching program. The survey responses (109 out of the 127 scholars) were collected and summarized. Eighteen scholars were not contacted due to the fact that their current address and/or telephone numbers were not listed or unknown. The gender representation of the respondents was 69% female and 31% male. Approximately 50% of the scholars were Native American. No other minorities were represented among the scholars completing the surveys. There were nine (9) different tribal affiliations reported among the Native American scholars. A large number of Native American scholars (69%) reported being parents, which was in contrast to the relatively low number of non-minority scholars reporting themselves as parents (22%). When asked to describe barriers encountered while pursuing a higher education degree, the scholars cited financial struggles (48%) most frequently. Among Native American scholars, adjustment to a new environment was also cited quite often (40%). Information pertaining to support systems both formal and informal, was also gathered in the survey. For formal support, 77% of the scholars reported the STEP Project was a helpful campus support. Individual staff (65%) and individual students (51%) was also a highly regarded support systems among the scholars. The informal support systems acknowledged were family (88%), friends (73%), and for Native American scholars, spiritual support (82%). Scholar involvement in professional development opportunities and service projects was assessed via the survey instrument. The majority of scholars indicated that they had been offered the opportunity to participate in professional development opportunities as well as service projects and that these opportunities were beneficial. Participation in service projects was encouraged among the majority of the scholars. The results of the telephone survey of the NSF teaching scholars indicated that the scholars program has been quite influential and successful in supporting these teaching candidates through financial assistance as well as through academic, cultural, and emotional support systems. Thirty-six percent of the graduated scholars are currently involved in an educational program or as a teacher in a school system. It is recommended that continued support from the STEP Program can be modified or shifted to address the needs of the scholars from the information that was gathered from the survey.Item Intelligent countermeasures in ungulate-vehicle collision mitigation(Montana State University - Bozeman, 2002) Farrell, Justin Edward; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Lynn R. IrbyItem Community assessment of cancer screening services for women in Cascade County and perceptions of American Indian women regarding those services(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 2001) Rowell, Nancy Jo; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Therese SullivanItem Perspectives of registered nurse cultural competence in a rural state: Part I(2007) Seright, Teresa J.Inferences have been made from recent research that there is a correlation between lack of cultural competence and the incidence of health disparity. As our society becomes more global and more diverse, it is apparent that culture can no longer be considered as solely associated with ethnic/racial/cultural groups. Nurses permeate all areas of health care and are therefore in a position to have positive impact on cultural competency. This paper describes the 5 constructs of cultural competence as described by Dr. Josepha Campinha-Bacote: cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural skill, cultural encounters, and cultural desire. She emphasizes, as do others in the literature, that cultural desire and awareness are antecedents to knowledge acquisition and skill. Is mere cultural awareness enough? How do healthcare providers in homogenous rural states attain cultural competence when cultural encounters and cultural knowledge may not be readily accessible? This is the first in a series of two articles which explores Cultural Competence of health care providers in a rural state. The first article in the series provides literature review and definitions related to cultural competence as well as the impact of cultural competence. The second article reveal results of a cultural competence self-assessment survey of registered nurses in North Dakota, a sprawling rural state described as 9th in the union for percentage of caucasions and 5th in rank for the most American Indians.Item Barriers to women in educational leadership roles in Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 2004) Brown, Linda Elaine Hunt; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Joanne EricksonThe problem addressed in this study was a shortage of women, especially American Indian women, in educational leadership in Montana. This study was designed to identify the barriers that might exist for three identified populations; women school administrators, administratively certified women teachers, and American Indian teachers. Because there is national and Montana shortage of educational leaders, a compelling need is evolving for competent educational leaders in all segments of the country. Since there is a declining pool of applicants, these underrepresented groups should become strong candidates if they are able to work past the barriers that have hindered them in the past. The major findings of the study are that barriers still exist which limit women in the pursuit of administrative positions. Some of the key barriers were lack of family mobility, lack of opportunities to gain administrative experience, the lack of professional networks, the lack of mentors, and the perception that women are not strong managers. Key constructs, which were identified in order of importance, were perceptions, opportunities, and prestige. In conclusion, women must actively and aggressively seek leadership experience. If they are willing to make personal and familial sacrifices, opportunities as school administrators are available. Recommendations to increase opportunities for women, especially American Indian women, included providing mentoring programs through district and university programs and encouraging successful women administrator to become role models for state and local school board associations.Item The Urban Indian community of Minneapolis, Minnesota : an analysis of educational achievements, housing conditions, and health care from the relocation of 1952 to today(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2004) Zimmerman, Leslie Ann; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Alexandra New HolyThis thesis critically evaluates the improvements in educational achievements, housing conditions, and health care needs for the urban Indian population of Minneapolis, Minnesota. I specifically focus on the Relocation Policy and how that Policy, instead of assimilating American Indians into mainstream society, became a vehicle for elevating the population of American Indians in Minneapolis to a level of “visibility.” As well, I discuss how this once “invisible” urban community formed an urban coalition, the American Indian Movement (AIM), to actively seek social justices in education, housing, and health care for the urban Indian population of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The intent of the research is to determine whether the extensive funding and programs directed toward the urban Indian population of Minneapolis throughout the last four decades have brought about significant improvements; to determine the degree of, and changes in educational achievements, housing conditions, and health needs of the urban Indian population of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This project is the first evaluation of whether conditions within the urban Indian community of Minneapolis have improved since Relocation. I think this project was needed to critically evaluate a metro area like Minneapolis that has such an extensive history of programs and funding for the urban Indian population.Item Rural generalist : community based nursing(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 2000) Troyer, Linda ElisabethItem Middle school science classroom practices in Crow and Northern Cheyenne schools(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 2004) Woolbaugh, Walter Harold; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Robert Carson.This study first identifies the teaching and learning practices that have shown to be effective in producing achievement gains with K-12 Native American students. In order to identify effective practices, policy guidelines and research studies focusing on achievement gains among Native American students were reviewed. This information was then mapped to the National Science Education Standards and aligned with a widely used mathematics and science observation instrument. The instrument was used by the author to gather data from 13 teachers by observing 68 lessons in 11 middle schools on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Reservations in Southeast Montana. Interviewing and surveying the observed teachers generated further data. To complete the study, administrators and community members, including tribal elders, were interviewed. The literature reveals that Native American students achieve more when student centered teaching methods are used. These methods include the use of visual teaching aids, cooperative learning, and practical applications all interwoven in culturally relevant lessons. The literature supports building community support, including involvement from tribal elders. Data gathered by the researcher revealed that the teachers on and near the two reservations have more teaching experience, more science credits, and attain higher ratings for observed lessons than a national sample of teachers. A factor analysis indicated that Crow and Northern Cheyenne region teachers scored especially high in student / teacher relationships, classroom management, and content knowledge. Even though 43 percent of class time was spent in hands-on paired activities, teachers scored lower on indicators pertaining to creating classroom environments that engaged students in rigorous, meaningful learning experiences. Teachers reported on not feeling prepared to include cultural applications and meanings during instruction. Teachers attaining lower scores during classroom observations tended to cite low student motivation as their major barrier, while teachers receiving higher ratings cited external factors like the size of their classroom. The teachers described colleagues and professional development opportunities as particularly beneficial. Recommendations for further studies include additional research on effective classroom practices that produce achievement gains with Native American students, and stronger professional development focused on specific advanced teaching skills, including methods of embedding culture and community in the science curriculum.