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The Coeur d’Alene Reservation is located in the lakes country of Northern Idaho and is home to nearly 7,000 community members. Included in the Reservation’s nearly 350,000 acres is a significant portion of Lake Coeur d’Alene and the submerged lands beneath it.

Activities

University of Idaho Extension on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation helps area citizens by providing unbiased, locally relevant, research-based education programs in 4-H youth development, agriculture and natural resources. Extension collaborates with a variety of programs on the reservation, including the tribe’s education department, career renewal, wellness center youth programs, community organizations, public works and the Plummer-Worley School District.

Highlights

MEASURING IMPACT

• “[FRTEP’s Nutrition Education is] how the Teen Cooking and More class came about. Those are the impacts that the Extension Office has had here….. last year, our three-quarter acre garden provided 8,800 pounds of produce”

FRTEP programs have had a major impact on individuals, families and tribal communities. Just how much impact has now been quantified thanks to a research project that used Ripple Effects Mapping (REM) and content analysis. The Indian Land Tenure Foundation (ILTF) engaged in a joint collaboration with an evaluation team and the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center to measure the long-term impacts of the Federally Recognized Tribal Extension Program (FRTEP) serving the Coeur d’Alene Reservation. Click the link below to read the report.

Read the report

Agriculture & natural resources

The One Sky One Earth Farmer’s Market was established in 2012 in partnership with the One Sky One Earth Food Coalition. The vision of the farmer’s market is: Healthy food + healthy people = thriving community. Featured products include home-grown produce, handmade crafts and other goods. Free food preservation and basic gardening workshops are offered. Community gardens in DeSmet, Plummer and Worley are maintained by volunteer community members.

4-H Youth Development

4-H is the largest youth organization worldwide, reaching all 50 states and 80 countries. Studies show that 4-H youth outperform their peers in academic performance, college attendance and contributions to their community. They are less likely to engage in risky, negative behaviors, more likely to do service projects and help others, and more likely to seek school and community leadership roles.

4-H at Coeur d’Alene specializes in after-school and school-day enrichment that include a wide range of program offerings such as Cloverbuds (kindergarten-1st grade), Success Center (2nd-5th), Coeur d’ Alene Tribal School Culture Day (4th-8th), Strengthening the Spirit (7th-8th), and Know Your Government and Ambassadors (9th-12th).

Success Center

Extension partners with the Plummer/Worley School District for the Success Center After-school program, which is open to children entering 2nd through 5th grade. Students have the opportunity to work on homework, attend field trips, engage in physical activity, participate in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education, and learn the Coeur d’Alene language and other life skills.

Summer Programming

Extension works in conjunction with the Tribal Wellness Center’s “Rock’n the Rez” summer program for children in grades 1 through 5. Camp curriculum focuses on the importance of water quality, identification of native animals and plants, ecological services and human-environment interactions.

Back to the Earth is a three-week summer program coordinated by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and the University of Idaho and made available to children in grades 1-6 from both the Coeur d’Alene and Spokane Tribes. Funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, the program is focused on STEM curriculum and in helping students develop an interest in natural resources.

Water Potato Week

Water Potato Week (“Sqigwts Ha’chesetq’it”) is celebrated during the third week of October. Water Awareness Week (“ul sitkwe”) is celebrated during the first week of May. Both events include outreach to local schools for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education held on the Coeur d’ Alene Reservation on topics such as native foods and plants, fish, water quality issues, traditional tools, aquatic invasive species, cultural and language activities, and more.

The following article was published in the Spokesman-Review newspaper in Spokane, Wash.

Coeur d’Alene Tribe hosts water potato harvest

HEYBURN STATE PARK, Idaho – When the long summer days waned, the women of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe headed out to the mudflats to gather water potatoes. Stomping barefoot through the marshy ground around Lake Coeur d’Alene, they severed the tubers from the vines, allowing the water potatoes to float to the surface.

Mackenzie Hammond, 11, took part in the centuries-old tradition Tuesday, though she came dressed in waders. “I found six,” said the Harrison Elementary School student, displaying grubby hands and a baggie of the starchy tubers. “I’m going to take them home and eat them.”

About 120 local schoolchildren joined the Coeur d’Alene Tribe for its annual Water Potato Celebration at Heyburn State Park. The event is a tribal holiday, marking the tuber’s importance in the tribe’s culture. “It’s the last food harvested in the gathering cycle,” said Raymond Brinkman, a language specialist for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.

The arrow-shaped leaves of water potato – Sagittaria latifolia is its scientific name – are withered and brown this time of year, but the pink-tinted and grayish-lavender tubers were easy to spot in the mud.

Shrieking kids used shovels and their hands to scoop out the tubers, treating each like a treasure. The sticky mud was part of the attraction. It sucked away boots and mired ankles in muck. “Don’t stand in one place too long. You’ll get stuck,” adults admonished the kids.

The dig took place at Hawley’s Landing on the southern end of Lake Coeur d’Alene, where the water potatoes are free of heavy metals. The tribe has stopped gathering the tubers in some areas of the lake because of historic mining pollution, said Heather Keen, a spokeswoman for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.

Digging for the tubers that the Coeur d’Alenes call sqigwts was serious business, Vince Peone told the school kids. The tribe’s ancestors dried meat, fish and roots, storing up food for the winter, said Peone, a wildlife technician. “It would have been all work and no play,” Peone said. “Every day, there were survival chores that had to be done.”

Peone got his first taste of water potatoes at a meal where traditional foods were served. “I had to eat them the traditional way: no salt or pepper,” he said. Now, “I like them with a little bit of brown gravy.”

Water potatoes are eaten fresh, roasted, boiled or dried. Consumed raw, they have a crunchy texture similar to chestnuts. “It’s a beautiful root and it truly defines the Coeur d’Alene people,” said Paulette Jordan, the tribe’s enrollment director.

The Coeur d’Alenes are the only indigenous tribe in the region that lived along lakes and harvested water potatoes, she said. Jordan, 33, brought her 4-year-old son to Tuesday’s celebration, which was his first time to gather the tubers. Jordan recalled her first water potato harvest. She was in middle school when her dad took her family on an outing to collect them.

Tribal elder Felix Aripa’s memories go back even further – to the 1930s, when his family and other friends and relatives camped at Benewah Lake in the fall. An old man from the tribe offered up prayers before the harvest began. Aripa’s mom used a special digging tool to find the tubers. It was a staff with elk antlers attached.

While the women gathered water potatoes, Aripa fished with his dad. They saw a muskrat gathering the tubers for his winter store. “He’s putting his water potatoes away,” Aripa’s dad told him. “Don’t steal from him.”

Aripa was an honored guest at Tuesday’s celebration, providing a link to the tribe’s past with his vivid stories. “Maybe this is my last water potato harvest,” Aripa said, eliciting an immediate chorus of “No, no!” from those gathered around him.

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The traditional territory of the Nez Perce covered some 17 million acres. Today the Nez Perce Reservation encompasses approximately 750,000 acres in the Idaho Panhandle comprised of cropland, grazing land and forestland, and the proper management of land and natural resources remains paramount for the Tribe.

Activities

The overall goal of the University of Idaho Nez Perce Extension program is to increase the quality of life on the Reservation through agriculture and natural resources education and life skills development for youth and adults. The objectives include  development and implementation of education programs for youth, related to life skills development, leadership, equine science, agriculture and natural  resources; development and implementation of educational programs for adults related to managing small acreages profitably, natural resource stewardship, land tenure issues, and parenting; providing horticulture and food safety education for youth and adults to improve the nutrition and health of Reservation residents; and being the center of education outreach efforts on the Reservation.

Highlights

MEASURING IMPACT

• “My focus is sort of food is medicine…. And so the community garden has been a great project. [FRTEP Agent] has done some different curriculums in the garden with kids of various ages and she’s done some tours. I find that the children come through and learn about the garden, but then later they come back and they bring their parents or their siblings or their grandparents to the garden. Sometimes we see three generations picking tomatoes or picking raspberries, which is great.” 

• “I feel like [FRTEP Agent] and her program is very cutting edge to what’s going on around us and in the world…”

FRTEP programs have had a major impact on individuals, families and tribal communities. Just how much impact has now been quantified thanks to a research project that used Ripple Effects Mapping (REM) and content analysis. The Indian Land Tenure Foundation (ILTF) engaged in a joint collaboration with an evaluation team and the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center to measure the long-term impacts of the Federally Recognized Tribal Extension Program (FRTEP) serving the Nez Perce Reservation. Click the link below to read the report.

Read the report

Youth horseman program

The Tribe owns 60 horses and has the facilities for an equine science, management and horsemanship program for youth and adults. The horseman program has been a long-term success, even developing a new breed of horse along with a registry. The program includes numerous education and internship opportunities, particularly for youth and young adults, to learn & apply workforce skills. Participants in the horsemanship program learn how to safely handle a horse on the ground, including grooming, picking up feet, saddling, and bridling. They gain confidence and skill in controlling a horse and many have improved their balance and riding skills. Some have even purchased horses as a result of their participation. Dozens of students, ages 2 to 50. have taken part.

Agriculture and natural resources

Soil health, water quality and crop productivity are major concerns to those feeding the world. University of Idaho Extension programs support small grains and alternative crops, which are key to the Nez Perce economy. The Tribe has a tremendous land and natural resource base that provides a variety of outdoor learning opportunities. Ten acres of land was set aside for use as a demonstration site for education in land management, farming, livestock production, and 4-H project activities with emphasis on life skills development for youth and young adults.

Landowners are learning how to better manage soil fertility, improve production methods, and reduce weeds for more sustainable use. More families are growing their own food, making healthier food choices, and making better use of traditional foods. As the community develops a locally grown food system it is increasing long-term food security.

4-H Youth Development

4-H is a leader in guiding Idaho youth to become responsible, productive citizens who make positive contributions to their communities and meet the changing needs of a diverse society. Youth who participate in 4-H programs gain confidence and demonstrate improved leadership, decision-making and communication skills. Both the young people and adults who take part become healthier due to the physical activity involved. Participation also fosters interest in careers related to science, technology, agriculture and natural resource related fields, and students are more likely to pursue higher education.

 

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The Fort Hall Reservation, located in the eastern Snake River Plain of southeastern Idaho, is home to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.

Activities

The Fort Hall Tribal Extension program develops and leads innovative, research-based agricultural, youth and community leadership and educational programs for the Fort Hall community. Programming includes 4-H youth development, livestock, Tribal Youth in Agriculture, natural resources, range management and gardening. Programming sustains and improves agricultural practices, works to improve the viability of Tribal farming and ranching, and improves the quality of life through access to higher education resources and opportunities.

Highlights

MEASURING IMPACT

• “They had some really good people speak on trees, very informative, very interesting, all about the soil and what type of trees grow best here for the climate. And how to water them. Very good, very good class, very interesting.” 

• “It [4-H] changed the way that I act with my responsibility, because I always have soccer, and dance practice, and school and homework. It brings our family together. Because we’re always outside together working out in our fields and in our garden and sheep.”

FRTEP programs have had a major impact on individuals, families and tribal communities. Just how much impact has now been quantified thanks to a research project that used Ripple Effects Mapping (REM) and content analysis. The Indian Land Tenure Foundation (ILTF) engaged in a joint collaboration with an evaluation team and the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center to measure the long-term impacts of the Federally Recognized Tribal Extension Program (FRTEP) serving the Fort Hall Reservation. Click the link below to read the report.

Read the report

Gardening program

Fort Hall Extension offers a wide variety of horticultural programming. All classes are hands-on so that participants can return home and actually implement the practices they have learned. Classes have included:

• Planting windbreaks
• Designing outdoor floral pots
• Planting gardens
• Watering lawns

Range and Natural Resources
Fort Hall Extension coordinates natural resource programs and projects with local, state and federal agencies. These programs include:

• Range monitoring – Training is available on starting range monitoring before and after prescribed burning, which can limit wildfires. Monitoring can also be used for livestock grazing and grazing management.
• Range seeding – Extension develops and runs seeding plans to help rangeland recover after major fires. Staff coordinates these efforts with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and other tribal departments.
• Noxious weed identification and control – Noxious weeds are plants that are a nuisance, are hazardous or cause injury to people, animals, landscapes and crops while competing for water, light and nutrients. They can adversely affect human and animal health, the environment, and the quality of crop, forage, hay, aesthetics, recreation and economics.

Community garden

The community garden infrastructure was completed in 2014. Through grant funding a contractor was hired to haul soil and compost to the garden location in Fort Hall. The ground was leveled, a water system installed and walkways and fencing were constructed. Community members and families continue to enjoy this beautiful garden.

4-H and Tribal Youth in Agriculture

4-H is the largest youth organization in the world, reaching all 50 U.S. states and 80 countries. Tribal 4-H Program Director Nola Cates manages and teaches 4-H classes year-round and conducts extensive outreach to local schools and reservation districts. The 4-H program focuses on the following:

• Agriculture
• Science
• Nutrition
• Food safety
• Life skills
• Arts and crafts

The Tribal Youth in Agriculture program was developed and implemented by Nola Cates and Danielle Gunn in 2014. The program is taught in local schools throughout the school year and focuses on helping youth learn about agriculture and the essential role it plays in our lives.

Livestock programs

• Annual Beef Schools – Agents meet with producers to identify their concerns and educational needs. Additional livestock programs are conducted as industry issues and topics of concern arise.
• Cowboy Schools – These fun, informative programs include two hours of lecture followed by two hours of practical application in the corral or laboratory.
• Bull Grading Program – More than 150 bulls are graded each year to ensure that all bulls running on a particular range unit meet minimum quality standards and other factors.
• Farm and Ranch Management – Record keeping, marketing and analyzing the business aspect of farming and ranching is covered in an 18-week farm business management program offered each year to producers.
• Pesticide Licensing and Training – Fort Hall Extension offers an annual Idaho State Pesticide Applicator Training and Licensing Program.

COVID-19 Activities

• Maintained contact with 4-H parents, grandparents, and youth by phone, text and social media regarding available programs and projects during the mandatory tribal shutdown.
• Distributed project supplies and detailed instructions to 4-H families and youth.
• Maintained contact with other 4-H professionals by Zoom regarding 4-H programming, the local fair, and 4-H camp.
• Maintained contact with the Fort Hall Reservation Recreation Department to discuss youth programming for spring and summer months.
• When allowed by tribal directives, taught 4-H programming and the Tribal Youth in Agriculture Program at the tribal afterschool program facilities that were conducive to COVID-19 safety protocols.
• Initiated and maintained constant contact with producers regarding animal health programs and issues via phone calls, texting, and small group meetings which were approved by University of Idaho administration.
• Evaluated 178 bulls for Extension programs to maintain the integrity of cattle quality on the Fort Hall Reservation.
• Authored popular press articles for the local tribal newspaper.
• Initiated, developed, and implemented estrus synchronization and artificial insemination programs for tribal producers.
• Designed and planted a community windbreak with a limited number of volunteers that aligned with COVID-19 safety protocols.
• Addressed community member questions about lawn care, weed identification, and gardening by phone.
• Distributed a letter and flyer regarding the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to approximately 175 individuals and answered questions from producers regarding CFAP.
• Developed and implemented COVID-19 safety procedures for the Fort Hall FRTEP office.
• Discussed and provided examples on how to follow COVID-19 safety protocols with 4-H youth, producers, and other stakeholders.