Fort Belknap Reservation

The Fort Belknap Indian Reservation is home to the Gros Ventre (Aaniiih) and the Assiniboine (Nakoda) Tribes. Fort Belknap Indian Reservation encompasses 675,147 acres, including the communities of Fort Belknap Agency, Hays, Lodge Pole, and Dodson. Fort Belknap has a tribal membership of 7,000 enrolled members. The main industry is agriculture, consisting of small cattle ranches, raising alfalfa hay for feed, and larger dryland farms.

Each year, our priorities reflect the dynamic nature of the community’s needs. In 2023, efforts were directed at drought management strategies, the development of home-based food forests, and new directions in nutrition education. Additionally, faculty and staff provided leadership and resources to implement programs such as the 2023 Fort Belknap 4-H Fair, school-based nutrition education, and expanded collaborations with new partnerships.

Within the framework of MSU Extension’s directives, we are working to bring trusted resources to families, businesses, ranchers, and communities, as we have seen the power of education, diversity and community. Our outreach and program efforts have largely developed into a hybridized model of virtual, in-person and one-on-one approaches. We have been able to return to in-person activities such as gardening, rancher/farmer consultation, and 4-H programs.

Agriculture & Natural Resources

Tribal Producer Outreach

Fort Belknap current and future producers gathered at the Rancher Roundup in February 2023 at Aaniiih Nakoda College. Eighteen local producers/youth participated in NRCS Drought Management Programs/Strategies, Record Keeping, Management, program updates with FSA, Intertribal Agriculture Council programs, lending agencies: Akiptan, Native Growth Fund, Nakoda Aaniiih Credit Agency, and Tribal Land Programs. One-on-one consultations and virtual workshops occurred throughout the year on drought responses and resources, and application training and support for agriculture loans and assistance. Fort Belknap MSU Extension assisted youth producers and new producers with the Montana Department of Agriculture Rural Assistance Loans and Junior Agricultural Loans. Producers were provided with any additional information that aided in solutions to their needs.

Community Vitality

Tribal Leadership

As community vitality agents, Liz Werk and Hillary Maxwell are beginning work on the development of a tribal leadership training model. Sharing insights with partners regarding native leadership issues and gathering feedback and direction from local leaders is critical to the success of developing the model. Earlier in 2023 and based on the recent MSU Extension needs assessment results, a leadership project at Fort Belknap supported a new innovative effort called Tribal Leadership Forums Project. This project was led by community vitality agents with guidance from five selected Fort Belknap adult community members and assisted in creating a space and support that values collaborative process. Our training model development is unique in that it can be implemented in tribal communities, with the flexibility of engaging neighboring, non-tribal communities. We see this project also as supporting a long-term potential model of cross-cultural leadership that may bridge the gap between previously unengaged or disconnected communities. Extension agents Werk and Maxwell are proposing a continuation of the project, focused on youth leadership in communities. Results from the youth forums will be integrated into the tribal leadership training model.

Overlooking the community of Hays, a road leads into the valley.

Caption: Overlooking the community of Hayes.

Credit: MSU Extension

Family & Consumer Science

SNAP-Ed

A few of the SNAP-Ed PSE (Policy, Systems, Environment) projects on the Fort Belknap Reservation were standouts. In the second year of working with junior and senior High School students in their greenhouse, some were able to grow vegetable starts and donate them to the surrounding community and village gardens. With help from a few high schoolers and the support of the community, our community and village gardens helped increase local access to fresh produce.

Community Vitality

Reimagining Rural

Coming together to create something for your town that makes it a little nicer is what often happens when communities participate in Montana State University Extension's Reimagining Rural program. In Hays, participants of Reimagining Rural created Ne’Wah’s Garden in the center of town, which features native plants commonly used for medicine and food. As the garden was built, participating grandmas passed on their knowledge of native plants to the next generation. The project has created a beautiful spot in the center of Hays where people can enjoy time outdoors. Thanks to a generous gift from AgWest Farm Credit, we captured some of the great accomplishments that happen in communities through the efforts of MSU Extension Agents and the MSU Extension Community Vitality Program.

A drone image looking down onto a structure of poles over Newah's Garden

Caption: Overlooking Newah's Garden from above.

Credit: MSU Extension

4-H & Youth Development

Tribal 4-H

In the five years since it’s start, Fort Belknap 4-H continues to grow in experience. The 4-H Lucky Charms Club 14 members continued to learn important life skills. The top priority of 4-H programs at Fort Belknap is the health and safety of our youth, families, volunteers, faculty, staff and supporters. We continue to encourage our future 4-H leaders to learn resiliency and to grow community support. In 2023, Lucky Charm’s leaders focused on 4-H showmanship, animal health, and archery. The Aaniiih Nakoda 4-H Show and Sale was held in August at the Wasay Wakpa Rodeo Arena in Lodge Pole, where youth presented seven steers and two swine projects. All the 4-H projects and the fair were supplied, organized, and judged by community volunteers, parents, and families with support at the sale from local tribes, businesses, and families.

4H members stand in front of the panels of the riding arena at the fair.