The FPT ANA EAGLE Native Leadership Academy Project will help Native youth earn high school diplomas through alternative education and Native Elder mentorship. - Project Title: FPT ANA EAGLE Native Leadership Academy Project Applicant: Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes Address: 501 Medicine Bear Road, Poplar, MT, 59255 Phone: (406)768-2318 Email: rena.lambert@fortpecktribes.net Website: https://fortpecktribes.org/ The Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes (FPT) propose the FPT ANA EAGLE Native Leadership Academy Project, a 36-month initiative designed to increase educational attainment among Native youth on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation through an alternative high school completion program grounded in Native Elder mentorship, cultural learning, leadership development, and preparation for continued education and employment. The project will serve thirty (30) Native youth, ages 14–24, who have completed the eighth grade but have not earned a high school diploma or equivalent, enrolling ten (10) youth annually. Five (5) Native Elders, aged 50 or older, will participate annually as mentors, cultural instructors, and advisors. The project responds to documented educational and community needs affecting Native youth. Montana Office of Public Instruction data demonstrate persistent disparities in graduation, dropout, and attendance outcomes for American Indian students, while Fort Peck Tribal Court data document local concerns related to school attendance and broader family and community conditions that can affect youth well-being and educational engagement. FPT project planning process also identified barriers including chronic absenteeism, school disengagement, poverty, unstable home environments, violence, substance misuse within households, bullying, transportation challenges, and limited access to individualized educational support. Community survey findings demonstrated strong support for additional educational options and an alternative education model incorporating Native Elder mentorship. Participating youth will enroll in Penn Foster's accredited online high school diploma program and receive tuition assistance, laptops, internet/Wi-Fi assistance, school supplies, academic monitoring, tutoring, individualized case management, and other supportive services. Youth will have access to in-person academic assistance through FPT Student Advocates and evening tutoring at Poplar Schools. The project will work toward at least 60% of participating youth earning a high school diploma during the project period and will assist graduates with transitioning into employment, Fort Peck Community College, vocational training, or other postsecondary opportunities. Native Elder mentorship will be central to the project. One hundred percent (100%) of participating youth will be matched with a Native Elder mentor, with two youth assigned to each Elder. Youth and Elders will participate in ongoing mentorship, cultural learning, talking circles, storytelling, Native language activities, traditional arts, community service, leadership development, career-readiness activities, and family and community engagement. By the end of the project period, at least 80% of participating youth will report an increased connection to Assiniboine and Sioux culture and strengthened positive relationships with Native Elders. Through this integrated approach, the project will provide an alternative pathway to high school completion while strengthening intergenerational relationships, cultural identity, leadership, community connection, and preparation for adulthood.
