Boys and Girls Clubs in Indian Country

In late 2009 and early 2010, many Native Clubs had the unique opportunity to participate in a Summit designed to meet the needs and concerns of Boys & Girls Clubs in Indian Country. On December 15-18, 2009, the Northern Plains Tribal & Boys & Girls Clubs of America Summit was held in Billings, MT. On March 11-12, 2010, the Southwestern Tribal & Boys & Girls Clubs of America Summit, “Visioning Together for Indian Country,” was held at Santa Ana Pueblo, NM.

Clubs participated in teams comprised of Club, Tribal and community representatives. Both events sought to achieve the same goals, which were to help Boys & Girls Clubs and Tribes work together on funding, program and overall organizational development as true partners, and to develop a plan for how each Boys & Girls Club supports the goals of the community.

The curriculum for the Summits was led by Jeff Amy, Senior Vice President for Field Services and Executive Development at BGCA, and supported by BGCA National Staff, including many Regional Service Directors from the Southwest and Midwest Regional Offices, and FirstPic staff.

In Billings, the participants held a video conference call with BGCA President Roxanne Spillett. The discussion was lively, including Ms. Spillett’s comment that we’ve only scratched the surface with sharing Tribal culture with other Clubs in the BGCA Movement, such as when it occurs through performances by Native Club members at National Conferences. She said Native American culture is one of the best kept secrets in America.

Both Summits had an opening ceremony featuring traditional singers and/or dancers from nearby communities, and a closing circle event that allowed for each Club to recognize another Club for their service to youth in their communities.

Many thanks to BSNF Railway for funding the Northern Plains Summit, and BGCA for their commitment to implementing both Summit events.

Northern Plains Summit Participants:
Boys & Girls Club of the Bears’ Paw, MT
Boys & Girls Club of the Blackfeet Nation, MT Boys & Girls Club of the Crow Nation, MT Boys & Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation & Lake County, MT Boys & Girls Club of the Ft. Peck Reservation, MT Boys & Girls Club of the Little Rockies, MT Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Cheyenne Nation, MT Boys & Girls Club of the Spirit Lake Nation, ND Boys & Girls Clubs of the Three Affiliated Tribes, ND Boys & Girls Club of the Cheyenne River Sioux, SD Boys & Girls Club of the Grand River Area, SD Boys & Girls Club of the Three Districts Youth Services, SD Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe, WY

Southwest Summit Paticipants:
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Dine Nation, AZ Boys & Girls Club of the San Carlos Apache Nation, AZ Boys & Girls Club of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, CO Boys & Girls Club of the Mountain Ute, CO Kickapoo Boys & Girls Club in Kansas Boys & Girls Club of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, KS Boys & Girls Club of Gallup, NM Mescalero Apache Boys & Girls Club, NM Boys & Girls Club of Ohkay Owingeh, NM Boys & Girls Club of Taos Pueblo, NM Boys & Girls Club of Chelsea, OK Boys & Girls Club of Darlington, OK Boys & Girls Club of Green Country, OK Boys & Girls Club of Tahlequah, OK Chickasaw Nation Boys & Girls Club, OK