Indian Education Awards honors the best in the business

By Alyssa Kelly

Octave Finley was awarded a Cultural Preservation award at he 14th Annual Tribal Education Awards, which honored staff, students, and parents who are dedicated to Indian education and academic improvement. Salish and Pend O’reille Culture Committee director Tony Incashola looks on as Octave addressed the group. (Alyssa Kelly photo)

PABLO - "We have the opportunity to take our education system and make it something great," says instructor-turned-councilman Terry Pitts. "As a teacher we spend a lot of time preparing and when it's all said and done, it's about the students and their success."

Pitts was one of many education enthusiasts to partake in the 14th Annual Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Tribal Education Awards Ceremony last week at the Joe McDonald Health and Fitness Center. Celebrating tribal students, teachers, parents, and cultural leaders for another year well done, the ceremony was made possible through the efforts of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the Tribal Education Committee, and the Indian Parent Committees.

To begin events, Cultural Preservation Awards were given to Salish elder Adam "Octave" Finley and Kootenai elder Erma "Sophie" Matt for their dedication to preserving traditional values, languages, and offering spiritual guidance. Both have been actively involved in assisting schools with presentations, historical insight, and teaching the language throughout the year.

Lifetime Achievement Awards were given to Tribal Education Director Joyce Silverthorne and Darryl Dupuis for their lifelong dedication and service to education through improving the schools, providing youth guidance, and for being overall community role models.

The Student of the Year Award is given to students who are actively involved in representing strong leadership qualities through academics, community involvement, and cultural involvement. The Parent of the Year Award is given to parents who demonstrate dedication to children's education through offering support of their own children as well as others in the community.

The Staff of the Year Award is given to a teacher or staff member who has demonstrated their dedication to education through going that extra mile for students' success. Providing inspiration to all who teach or work on the reservation, staff of the year is chosen by teachers of the district.

The following are the students, parents, and staff of the year as listed by school districts:

Arlee School District - Elementary student of the year: Aaron Fisher;

Middle school student of the year: Albert Plant; Parent of the year: John and Becky Malatare; and Staff of the year: Sibley Ligas.

Polson School District - Cherry Valley Elementary student of the year: Morningstar Wise Spirit; Linderman Elementary student of the year: Kade Auld; Middle school student of the year: Malia Hamel; Parent of the year: Cheryl Mathias and Wain Lefthand; and Staff of the year: Theresa Velknap.

Ronan School District - KWH Elementary student of the year Megan Caye; Pablo Elementary of the year: Joseph Salois; Middle School student of the year: Francis Burke Jr.; Parent of the year: Nichole McClure-Krahn; and Staff of the year: Linda Jones.

St. Ignatius School District - Elementary student of the year: Mariah Durgalo; Middle school student of the year: Nikko Aleander; Parent of the year: Jackie Spidel and Charlie Morigeau; Staff of the year: Marsha Frey

Two Eagle River School - Middle school student of the year: Charlene Conica

Parent of the year: Natalie Kenmille; and Staff of the year: Louie Charlo.

No one was left behind as the Small School Awards were given to Camas Prairie, Charlo, Dixon, Hot Springs, Nkwusm Language Immersion, Upper West Shore-Dayton, and Valley View school districts.

The most anticipated award of the evening came from the High School Student of Year, which is given to one student throughout the entire reservation. Su-San Perez-Tenas from Polson High School was selected through a "blind" essay contest that described her dedication to education as well as cultural preservation. Aside from recognition, Perez-Tenas was also given a $200 incentive courtesy of the Tribal Education Department.

Runner-ups for the contest included: Matea DePoe, Mariah Friedlander, Melinda Smith, and Xavier Streets.

"We were very pleased with the turnout for the occasion," says Tribal Education Director Joyce Silverthorne. "Education is very important and when the community can come together in celebration of that, it's always a good thing."