Starting the year with a new president, the Native American club is preparing for several changes.

“This year we are really trying to inform people about our culture,” Native American Club President Tony Vielle said.

Vielle, a senior, said that one of the major goals for the club is to have a wider population getting involved whether they are Native American or not.

“We can open this club for more than just the Native American families involved in it; it’s more open for anybody who wants to learn about Native American culture,” Vielle said. “If you just want to learn to learn how to Native American bead, all you have to do is come to one of our meetings.”

Club advisor Charelle Beatty said the club is all about diversity.

“When you have 30 different tribes being represented in one city, that’s a lot of diversity that maybe some people don’t know about but are willing to learn about,” Beatty said.

Vielle also said the club is making an effort to become more involved within the school as well as trying to get students more involved in the club.

In addition to trying to gain more recognition, other changes include assembling a tipi at football games and selling fry bread. Vielle said the club has also begun organizing several fundraisers in an effort to raise money for a year-end bus trip to historic Native American sites around Montana.

Lakota club member Brandon Craft, a sophomore. said that this years club is increasingly becomeing more open to the culture.

“Students this year like to open up and talk more about our culture than before,” Craft said.

Vielle said he has hopes that the club members are taking more pride in their Native American heritage.

“I have taken a ton of pride in my culture over this year, especially when I became the president of the club,” Vielle said. “When you do get into a group and everybody is a part of the same culture you’re a part of, everybody is more prideful.”

Beatty said that coming from a Native American background herself not only inspires but in many ways helps her teach and advise the students about the culture.

“I try to give them cultural experiences and opportunities to explore the culture and learn more about it,” she said.

Beatty also noted that the club has decided to actually study the heritage and history of not only themselves, but each other as well.

“There’s a lot of students in the club that are involved and contribute to the club and their culture and heritage,” Craft said.

Craft said it is really cool seeing how many people show up to the meetings and embrace the Native American culture.