In the early 1990s, Little Flower Catholic Parish Council and Pastor, along with Blackfeet Elders from the larger community, voiced their concerns about the well-being of their children. Their children were struggling because of the challenges that stemmed from generations of conflict, complex identity issues, and community struggle resulting from the colonization of their ancestral lands. It is nothing short of miraculous that the Blackfeet People continue to work towards their success in the face of the historical destruction of critical resources, their massacre at the hands of U.S. Army officials, the establishment of the reservation and boarding school systems, and the introduction of alcohol and a western mindset favoring an individualism foreign to the Niitsitapi (“The Real People'' in the Blackfeet Language). 

Now in its twenty-third year, De La Salle Blackfeet School (DLSBS) continues to bridge the Blackfeet, Lasallian, and Catholic communities to unite a family of prayerful people. The emergence of De La Salle Blackfeet School marked a long overdue compassionate response to the needs of the Blackfeet Community. DLSBS's education approach focuses on fostering community collaboration and support. We seek to educate all of our stakeholders to uphold justice, heal traumas of colonization, and build a future where all people are respected. Most importantly, this work is accomplished through the accompaniment of our students’ growing their own sense of identity, self-confidence, and power to shape their communities. The story of De La Salle Blackfeet School underscores the importance of community agency and our accompaniment in protecting and celebrating the Blackfeet People’s heritage, transcending the limitations and traumatic effects imposed by history.

De La Salle Blackfeet offers a quality, dynamic education with small, culturally responsive classes promoting interactive experiential learning. Students are equipped with iPads and Chromebooks for modern instruction, and the extended school days (8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.) are filled with engagement and enthusiasm. Our extended school day includes silent study & tutoring time as well as enrichment club activities to encourage development of students’ passions.

To educate others about the realities of tribal life, especially within the Lasallian World, DLSBS initiated the OKI-NI-SOO-KA-WA (“Come and See”) Blackfeet Immersion Program. This program invites student groups of 10-14 people for a one-week experience, during which participants tour Blackfeet cultural sites, engage in discussions with tribal leaders, and support DLSBS students while sharing their own dreams. The program not only exposes volunteers to the rich culture and heritage of the Blackfeet but also transforms the participants who live in and experience this dynamic educational environment.

Despite its success, DLSBS faces financial challenges. The school requires the assistance of a larger, caring community to provide resources for students including school supplies, a 1:1 technology program, facilities maintenance and improvements, transportation needs, educational and social-emotional support, and adequate compensation to teaching staff. The donations provided to our school ministry have a demonstrable and immediate impact on the lives of our students and the larger Blackfeet Community.

Thank you for your support of our school ministry and the success of our students!

St. John Baptist de La Salle….. Pray for Us!

Live Jesus in Our Hearts….. Forever!!!

Mission and Philosophy

Mission Statement

De La Salle Blackfeet School serves young people on the Blackfeet Reservation offering accessible Catholic education with extended school days, small class sizes, and a community focus.

In this work:

• We support our students in all they hold dear as Niitsiitapii.
• We see the face of Creator God in students and one another.
• We believe that each student can excel through varied ways of learning.

Therefore:

• We bridge the Blackfeet, Lasallian, and Catholic communities to unite a family of prayerful people.
• We educate our stakeholders to uphold justice, heal traumas of colonization, and build a future where all people are respected.
• We accompany our students in growing their power to shape our communities.

Philosophy and Approach to Education

De La Salle Blackfeet School is a Lasallian San Miguel school dedicated to creating an environment that recognizes the reality of God’s living presence and nurtures the dignity of each student within a supportive community of teachers, parents, and guardians. We aim to develop individuals who are:

• Strong in self esteem, cultural identity, competence and faith.
• Sensitive to the poor and to the sacredness of all life.
• Inspired to bring their full creativity to their personal lives

Our innovative, student centered curriculum uses culturally sensitive methods to nurture each student’s imagination and creativity while challenging them to develop critical thinking and academic skills in the areas of reading, writing, and math. We keep classes small: a maximum of 16 students. We provide an extended day from 8:15 AM – 4:30 PM with plenty of experiential enrichment, sports activities, and weekly Blackfeet/Pikuni Studies class imparts to students a strong sense of their cultural heritage.

San Miguel Schools

De La Salle Blackfeet School is part of a network of schools following the San Miguel Model of Education. There are 11 San Miguel schools throughout the country. DLSBS is the only Network school in a rural area, and the first serving primarily Native Americans.

All San Miguel schools are Catholic, serve predominantly at-risk populations, are not tuition driven, have extended school days, small class size, and extend support to students beyond graduation.

The Mission of the San Miguel Network of Schools is to enhance the viability and vitality of member schools and strengthen their capacity to deliver a uniquely effective, faith-based education to the middle school students in their care.

From the President

Welcome to the De La Salle Blackfeet School website. Established in 2001 by the Midwest District of the Christian Brothers, DLSBS stands alone in many regards. Uniquely among the Lasallian Schools, it serves a remote region on an Indian Reservation bordered by Canada to the north and Glacier National Park to the west. Furthermore, it is the only San Miguel school providing quality Catholic educational advantages to the economically disadvantaged in a rural setting. To strengthen its Catholic identity, the school forges a supportive relationship with the Diocese of Helena along with the Christian Brothers. De La Salle Blackfeet has the privilege of being the only Catholic School on an Indian Reservation in this Western Montana diocese.

As a school surrounded by the above characteristics, De La Salle Blackfeet depends on the generosity of so many individuals. Since the beginning, the school has been heavily staffed by volunteers coming from virtually every region of the country as demonstrated by Jeb Myers. He was the first principal who served for five years with other members of his family. With a sprinkling of paid employees, the school staff has produced almost one hundred alumni. Nearly all have graduated from high school and many are continuing professional studies.

As is true of other San Miguel Schools, parents contribute toward their children’s education. Since seventy percent of our children are raised by adults other than their parents, it might be difficult to assume responsibility for our minimal tuition. For those who cannot, we ask them to provide some form of service to the school. This collaborative effort is essential for the education of this Pikuni generation. (Pikuni is how the Blackfeet call themselves.)

Finally, we depend on people like you to provide the bulk of the financial obligations to operate this rare educational opportunity for the children entrusted to our care. You, and the foundations that you represent or with whom you partner, have assured our success in the past and can continue to provide necessary support well into the future. Enjoy the information provided on this web site. I ask you to continue following your heart and give of your resources so that, together, we can prepare children for their future and ours.

Thank you,

Brother Dale J. Mooney

President

LaSallian Tradition