De La Salle Blackfeet School, Browning, MT

www.delasalleblackfeet.org

Lasallian Volunteers serve the Blackfeet community as middle school teachers, coaches, and provide many other support services. They participate actively within the school community to form students who demonstrate character, leadership and service to others. Volunteer teachers work specifically with a lead teacher to share eventually in half the teaching load for that specific grade.

There are no volunteers serving at the school this year.

De La Salle Blackfeet Middle School opened in 2001 and is the only San Miguel school serving a rural and primarily Native American population. The reservation has a largely Catholic population of about 10,000. Browning is a remote place with few employment opportunities. Unemployment runs near 80% and most families live below the poverty level. Alcohol and drug abuse run rampant through the reservation. The education system struggles against overcrowding, and the high school dropout rate is nearly 60%. 3% of Blackfeet residents pursue higher education and 1% attain a bachelor’s degree.
De La Salle Blackfeet assists these at-risk students from an early age, breaking the cycle of poverty and helping the Blackfeet to advance as a people. It offers grades 5-8 as well as many extra-curricular activities including many sports and drama.