Center Pole

Social Enterprise/Work Force/Community Sustainability, Cultural Heritage Tourism:A volunteer force of disenfranchised reservation youth, young adults and families are trained in workforce, business skills and life skills at our social enterprises that include a coffee roasting business, a community radio station, a resale shop, a cafe and gift shop and cultural tourism projects. Interns learn about creating non-profit organizations and businesses, money management skills and setting personal, educational and career goals.

Youth Development and Leadership, Community Healing from Historical Trauma, Cultural Sustainability Activities:Reservation youth participate in enrichment activities that include Crow language, history and heritage; wilderness skills; Native skills; Native games; literacy and academic enrichment; community radio; life skills, sustainable living and other leadership activities. Promising youth participate in educational programs beyond the reservation and are assisted with college and career opportunities. They are provided tools to make change in their communities as well as learn to be successful in the greater global environment. Through intergenerational relationships with Elders and Culture Keepers, youth are mentored in Crow cultural ways and learn to lead community cultural events and eremonies that promote healing from historical trauma. A new pilot program places select preteen youth in an expeditionary education middle school environment, including trauma therapy and individualized mentoring. Approximately 3600 reservation youth are assisted by the Center Pole.

Basic Needs:Household and other donated items are gathered from estate sales in Wyoming in Montana and distributed to those in need in reservation communities to improve living conditions. These items included bedroom furniture, school supplies, washers, dryers, sports equipment, office supplies, office furniture, household items, vehicles, frozen food, equipment, tools, and clothing. Center Pole also transports and distributes these supplies to other reservations.