Kevin D. Carignan 
(Riverton, Wyoming) – Tribal Education Coordinator Ivan Posey launched the Tribal Wisdom Society this semester at Central Wyoming College to introduce students to the contributions of tribal peoples and communities through governance, history, and contemporary issues.
10 students were selected through an application and interview process to participate in this inaugural semester, including Darious Tillman, Larami Azure, Constance Lehi, Natasha O’Neal, Melanie Oldman, Skyla Shakespeare, Shatoni Shoyo, Zariah June, Burdette Mesteth and Wiyakaskawin Brown. .
Students will attend rallies this semester, both locally and in New Mexico and Montana. The gatherings will include meetings with tribal elders, the history of tribal governance, visits with tribal historians and spiritual leaders, and learning about tribal stories and teachings, among others. Their agenda for each gathering depends on the pandemic.
“By learning the traditional values of the tribal community, students will learn about individual responsibilities through their own medicine and contributions,” the program outline reads. “These values, which include kinship and relationships, will help them in their life journeys, wherever they choose to contribute.”
Inspired by the American for Indian Opportunity Ambassador program for which he was selected 30 years ago, Posey has worked to create this program at the CWC for the past few years.
The Ambassador Program has been life-changing, he noted.
“Not just for the exposure, it has propelled me into a life of public service for my tribe. I am sure this program will have an impact on the participants and I hope they will contribute some of it through reciprocity and redistribution.
The students of the Tribal Wisdom Society will also carry out a community project to give back. A student submitted a plan to build greenhouses on the Wind River reservation to grow food year-round. Another student came up with the idea of starting a film program for reserved schools to document culture and history.
The students had their first gathering this week with representatives from the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes. Presentations on history, education, language, etc. were covered in just a few days. Next month they will meet in New Mexico. The program is currently funded by someone in Jackson.
