By Peggy Poitra, TMC Adult Education Director
To encapsulate the experience of the Turtle Mountain of Chippewa Indians in North Dakota, is to first recognize our unique history. We are a people of Chippewa (Anishinaabe or Ojibwe), Cree, and French heritage. We have many facets to our stories.
With respect to our past, we move forward in our community with values we can assert through the Seven Grandfather Teachings: Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility, Truth, and Wisdom. The teaching most exemplified in our Adult Education Program is Wisdom – Nibwaakaawin.
Our program, by default, is intergenerational. Our students are at different stages in their lives, and we welcome them all. Some are teens, parents, or grandparents. We will meet them where they are in their educational journey. This breadth of knowledge and experience makes for a rich environment of Wisdom – Nbawaakaawin that we all can benefit from and that, in turn, strengthens our community in many ways – economically, educationally, and culturally.
Taking a strength-based approach creates an environment that is safe for all learners as we respect and honor everyone who comes through our door, embodying the teaching of Respect – Mnaadendiwin. Students are gaining the tools for the future seven generations and beyond, adding and growing to our circle. Do you recall an event or activity that made you truly believe in yourself? For some of our relatives, that belief has eluded them despite years and years of hard work. Yet, we can’t help but learn something even from those lessons and trials. We encourage our students by respecting their backgrounds and life stories.
We acknowledge the Bravery – Aakdewin, Honesty – Gwekwaadziwin, Love – Zaagidiwin, Truth – Debwewin, and especially Humility – Bbasendiziwin it takes for students to step toward a new future and for us to effectively support them. Together, we share our gifts, ideas, and dreams to lift each other up. We celebrate and honor the 16-year-olds, the 50-year-olds, the young mothers and fathers, and everyone who wants to do better. Bring your stories, bring your knowledge, and know that you belong here, as did our relatives from long ago. Aho. Bizindaweyag!
Turtle Mountain Community College’s first campus on Main Street in Belcourt circa 1975
Aerial View of TMCC campus nearing completion 1999
