In Fall 2024, Consensus Council partnered with the Central Regional Education Association to distribute five grants to North Dakota schools to increase student engagement, build community and connection, and increase cultural competence. Read about a few of these projects below!
South Central High School – Bismarck, ND
At South Central High School (SCHS), Bismarck Public Schools’ alternative school, educators used grant funding to introduce two powerful school-wide experiences focused on healing and self-expression.
Students participated in the Phoenix Bottle activity—named for the school mascot and symbolizing rebirth—by creating personalized sensory bottles that serve as grounding tools for managing anxiety and difficult emotions. Facilitated by school psychologist Dr. Alana Semchenko and social worker Leslee Webb, the activity provided a tangible way for students to explore and develop coping strategies.
Another transformative event was the Journey Stick Experience, where students decorated sticks with colors, symbols, and materials representing key people, experiences, and emotions in their lives. This reflective artmaking sparked storytelling, introspection, and meaningful conversations among students and staff alike.
Tate Topa Tribal School — Fort Totten, ND
Tate Topa Tribal School started a drum group, Teca Oyate, in their 21st Century after-school program. Drum/cultural teachers, Derrick Jackson and Leora Fox-White, connected students to the Dakota language, traditions, and culture through teachings surrounded around the drum. Teca Oyate has connected to the community through field trips to sing prayer songs at elders day events, community prayer day events, girls’ basketball home games, and school-wide events. The drum group program has been so successful, there is now a waiting list for both boys’ and girls’ groups.
To end the school year, Tate Topa 21st Century Program organized their first Native Youth Fashion Show to showcase the beautiful ribbon creations that were created by Leora Fox-White and Lorena Brown-Joshua for both the boys and girls. The parent advisory committee assisted in planning the event, and many parents were in attendance for the three fashion shows hosted in the after-school program and during the regular school day.
Circle of Nations — Wahpeton, ND
The Wahpeton Circle of Nations School launched a vibrant pilot program, the IDEA Club (Indigenous Discovery, Expression, and Art). This monthly after-school club provides a welcoming space for students to explore Indigenous heritage, make friends, and participate in hands-on cultural projects and crafts.