 Celebrating the Strength and Resilience of Indigenous Women
The Indian Education for All Unit joins the nation in celebrating Women's History Month in March 2025. This year, we particularly honor the remarkable contributions of Indigenous women throughout history and into the present day.
Indigenous women have played a vital role in shaping their communities, preserving cultural traditions, and advocating for social justice. Their strength, resilience, and leadership have been essential to the survival and prosperity of tribal nations in Montana and across the country.
The IEFA Unit is committed to ensuring that the stories and contributions of Indigenous women are accurately and equitably represented in Montana's classrooms. We encourage educators to utilize the resources below to teach students about the diverse experiences and perspectives of Indigenous women.
Additionally, the IEFA Unit has developed a valuable resource with a daily lesson focused on Indigenous women for each of March's 21 teaching days, linked here. We invite all Montanans to join us in celebrating the strength and resilience of Indigenous women during Women's History Month and beyond.
100 YEARS is the story of Elouise Cobell and her 30-year fight for justice for over 300,000 Native Americans whose mineral-rich lands were grossly mismanaged by the US Government for over a century.
Resilience: Stories of Montana Indian Women is a compilation stories about Native American women across Montana history. The stories reflect their personal and cultural resiliency, highlight the diversity among Montana’s Indian Tribes, and provide a window into the impact of Federal Indian Policies and American political movements on Montana Indians. Their stories also show students that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.
Montana’s Office of Public Instruction (OPI) proudly announces the 18th Annual Indian Education for All Best Practices Conference, to be held on March 24th and 25th, 2025, at East Helena High School in East Helena, Montana. This conference, bringing together over 200 dedicated educators, focuses on building capacity to effectively implement Indian Education for All by sharing knowledge, skills, and vital classroom materials.
A highlight of this year's event is the prestigious Teresa Veltkamp Advocacy Award for Excellence in Indian Education, honoring outstanding contributions in the field. This year, the award recognizes the exceptional dedication of two individuals: Dr. Tammy Elser, Literacy Specialist / Director of the Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction at Salish Kootenai College; and Jonathan Windy Boy, MT Legislator instrumental in IEFA advocacy and development.
We will also be joined by students from the Ronan Native American Students Club for a powwow exhibition to close out the first day. This is a presentation not to be missed!
Indian Education for All in 2025: Building Capacity for Effective Implementation
At this conference, attendees can expect a dynamic program designed to facilitate capacity building learning experiences through Indigenous education. The schedule includes:
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Engaging Workshops: Interactive sessions emphasizing experiential learning methods to empower educators with effective teaching tools for Indian Education for All.
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Inspiring Keynotes: Insights from renowned experts and community leaders, Terry Brockie and Dr. Tammy Elser, dedicated to promoting cultural understanding and inclusion.
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Hands-On Experiences: Immersive cultural activities, art, storytelling, and more, deepening appreciation for Montana's Indigenous heritage.
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Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow educators, tribal leaders, and advocates fostering a more inclusive educational environment.
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Resource Sharing: Discover resources, curriculum materials, and best practices enhancing the teaching of Indian Education for All.
"The Best Practices in Indian Education for All Conference is an opportunity for educators and leaders to collaborate, share innovative strategies, and strengthen our commitment to honoring Montana’s tribal heritage in our schools. Ensuring that all Montana students have access to a rich and accurate understanding of our state’s tribal history and cultures is essential to their education.” -Superintendent Susie Hedalen, Montana Office of Public Instruction
Up to 11 professional development renewal units will be available.
The IEFA Team would like educators to know that all the resources available on our webpage under Classroom Resources have been vetted for use in the classroom. Montana Tribal Nations were involved in this vetting process along with the Montana Advisory Council on Indian Education. These resources are there for implementation into your curriculum. If educators have any uncertainty in using these resources, please reach out to the IEFA Team. From our website:
OPI curriculum resources for Indian Education for All have been developed in conjunction with the advice and assistance of cultural consultants from Montana Tribal Nations. In addition, members from the Montana Advisory Council on Indian Education have provided input and review of tribal specific materials that are about the Tribal Nations they represent.
PLEASE use these resources.
Join Executive Director Dimarco Barea to see how technology is opening new doors for Indigenous education, making learning more dynamic, immersive, and impactful for students across Montana.
In today’s digital age, engaging students in Indigenous Education for All (IEFA) requires innovative approaches that meet students where they are—on screens, in games, and through interactive experiences. This 50-minute presentation explores how modern technology, including educational video games, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence, is transforming Indigenous education, making it more immersive, accessible, and exciting for students.
Using Uuwatisee: Big Metal as a case study, we’ll explore how game-based learning is bridging cultural knowledge with classroom instruction, enhancing engagement and retention while meeting objectives and standards. We’ll also discuss how AI can support language preservation, personalized learning, and interactive storytelling in ways never before possible.
Designed for Montana educators and administrators, this session will provide practical insights into integrating technology into IEFA curriculum while ensuring cultural authenticity and community involvement. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how cutting-edge tools can enrich Indigenous education and inspire the next generation of learners.
Key Takeaways:
1) How educational video games can enhance Indigenous education
2) The role of AI in language preservation and cultural storytelling
3) Practical strategies for integrating technology into IEFA curriculum
4) Lessons learned from the development and deployment of Uuwatisee: The Journey of Big Metal
The IEFA Team worked hard to put in place a new Online Survey tool through Qualtrics thanks to the support of the very awesome Tristen Loveridge. If your school would like the IEFA Team to support you in any way (working through the Framework developing policy, reviewing resources, curriculum mapping/scoping, etc.), please use the link in this section. Our goal is to use this information to provide individualized and relevant support to your district. Additionally, this support will be ongoing as we move away from a one-and-done model of delivery. This survey can also be found on our IEFA Website.
We look forward to working with you!
IEFA Professional Development Request Survey
IEFA Professional Development Opportunities 4p.m. - 5p.m.
- No registration required
- Earn 1 professional development renewal unit
- 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month
Please stay warm and come to one of our virtual sessions to earn renewal units and increase your IEFA Knowledge!
IEFA Energize Webinars
1st Tuesday of each month
Join OPI's IEFA staff on the 1st Tuesday of every month to hear important announcements; dive into model lessons; learn about new resources, play games, earn prizes, and more!
IEFA Across the Content
3rd Tuesday of each month
Indian Education for All implementation strategies provided by K-12 educators both on and off-reservation. Content areas covered: ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, Health Enhancement, FCCS, CTE, Music, and Art. These webinars are recorded and available to watch on our IEFA YouTube channel, too!
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YouTube Channel
Are you looking for engaging and informative resources to improve your IEFA background knowledge and improve your teaching? Check out our YouTube Channel for engaging IEFA content and a wealth of classroom materials to deepen understanding and enhance your teaching.
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IEFA Finance Reporting Update FAQ
IEFA ANB Reporting Guide
HOW TO - IEFA PAYMENT: REPORTING GUIDE
If you have any questions, please reach out to one of the IEFA team members. Contact information can be found here.
The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.
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