"The final summation was unanimous: “We need to do this more often.”

On Wednesday, I had the honor of joining Native women of all tribes - peers, mentors, students and professionals - on the University of Montana campus to talk about careers, culture and college life.

“It's nice to see us all together,” said Laura John, a UM clinical psychology doctoral student. “It's so easy to get caught up in our own little corners on campus and it can feel isolated.”

John said the UM women's get-together left her feeling energized, reminding her of an eons-old tradition in which gatherings of Native women were the norm, a societal tradition now often ignored. “It charged my battery,” said John, who is Blackfeet. “I hope they keep doing this. It acknowledges our humanness and our strengths.”

Organizers of the “Imparting Wisdom to a Younger Generation” panel and luncheon said that's exactly what they plan to do. “The feedback is, we have to do this more often,” said Fredericka Hunter, UM director for American Indian Student Services Program. “You would never know there are more than 600 students on campus.”

As one of five invited panelists, I applaud the coordinators - AISSP, the Student Assault Resource Center and the group, LISTEN, for bringing us together. We all need to have friends and mentors who will encourage and push us to do our best. That's precisely why people such as Hunter, Ciara Hansen, Kate Pruitt-Chapin and Erin Scott organized the panel and luncheon."

Get the Story:
Jodi Rave: Native women's gatherings should be more common (The Missoulian 4/17)

Also Today:
Reflecting spirit: Blackfeet artist's work on display in Missoula for next month (The Missoulian 4/17)

More Jodi Rave:
Jodi Rave: Montana Indian Business Alliance conference (4/15)
Jodi Rave: Film to share story of Wyandotte sisters (4/10)
Jodi Rave: Ward Churchill as Indian impostor (4/8)
Jodi Rave: DOJ announces $248M in tribal grants (4/8)
Jodi Rave: Young artists, waterfowl flock to refuge (4/6)
Jodi Rave: AIHEC brings tribal colleges together (3/31)
Jodi Rave: AIHEC hosts conference in Montana (3/30)
Jodi Rave: Salazar won't talk about Cobell case (3/26)
Jodi Rave: Undercover probe targets eagle trades (3/25)
Jodi Rave: Molly Murphy claims top award at art show (3/16)
Jodi Rave: U.S. Attorney candidates for Montana (3/12)
Jodi Rave: White House official opens door to tribes (3/5)
Jodi Rave: Natives disproportionately jailed (3/2)
Jodi Rave: Rep. Rehberg joins House Native Caucus (2/26)
Jodi Rave: Oglala artist brings beauty through beads (2/25)
Jodi Rave: Tribes await naming of BIA nominee (2/23)
Jodi Rave: Bond provision will help Indian Country (2/19)
Jodi Rave: Carl Venne a man with 'great vision' (2/17)
Jodi Rave: The Indian news not so good for everyone (2/16)
Jodi Rave: Boys and Girls Clubs grow on reservations (2/12)
Jodi Rave: NCAI president calls for economic stimulus (2/11)
Jodi Rave: Indian stimulus projects called 'pigout' (2/10)
Jodi Rave: White House hire also a champion dancer (2/9)
Jodi Rave: Letter-writer hates the Indian news (2/5)
Jodi Rave: Star quilt ready to be sent to Obama (1/29)
Jodi Rave: Senate bill includes $2.8B for tribes (1/28)
Jodi Rave: Series on Indian lawmakers in Montana (1/26)
Jodi Rave: Indian Country seeks $3.58B stimulus (1/23)
Jodi Rave: Crow Tribe heads home after inauguration (1/22)
Jodi Rave: Indian Country optimistic for Obama (1/21)
Jodi Rave: Montana man rides Whistle Stop Tour (1/19)
Jodi Rave: Series on Indian lawmakers in Montana (1/16)
Jodi Rave: Series on Indian lawmakers in Montana (1/15)
Jodi Rave: Series on Indian lawmakers in Montana (1/14)
Jodi Rave: Series on Indian lawmakers in Montana (1/9)
Jodi Rave: Series on Indian lawmakers in Montana (1/8)
Jodi Rave: Series on Indian lawmakers in Montana (1/7)
Jodi Rave: Montana tribes lobby Gov. Schweitzer (1/7)
Jodi Rave: Series on Indian lawmakers in Montana (1/6)
Jodi Rave: Denise Juneau takes top education post (1/6)
Jodi Rave: Series on Indian lawmakers in Montana (1/5)
Jodi Rave: Montana governor hosts all tribes (1/5)