St. Labre integrates Native cultures and identities into the fabric of school life so that students deepen their connection to their tribal traditions as they build futures that are Proud, Prosperous and Free. From learning to prepare foods with traditional ingredients, to the training in handcrafts such as beadwork, sewing regalia and doll-making and the songs and dances we learn, St. Labre students are encouraged to joyfully embrace and celebrate their tribal identities as they connect with history and plan their futures.
After generations of systematic and intentional erasure of Indigenous people and cultures, the Northern Cheyenne language, like many Native languages, is on the verge of extinction with approximately 200 active speakers living. As a Catholic boarding school, St. Labre, in its early years, participated in misguided efforts to eradicate Native languages and cultures. However, as early as 1927, the head of the Capuchin Franciscans, who arrived at St. Labre in 1926, asked the Cheyenne men to wear their traditional regalia for the Corpus Christi procession, beginning a long and meandering path to the present day. Today, pushing back against the endangered status of the Northern Cheyenne and Crow languages and embracing their cultures is foundational to our identity. At St. Labre we strive to honor the unique traditions and heritages of both the Northern Cheyenne and Crow tribes — offering classes in tribal languages, histories and literature to honor and preserve cultural identities and traditions.
We not only embrace and emphasize Indigenous culture and tradition in our curriculum, but we also invest in the ongoing work of restoring the language as a solemn responsibility and a core tenet of our mission.
Over the years, we’ve translated children’s books and collected an archive of recordings of the spoken word and songs to use in our classrooms and to be shared freely. Learn more about language preservation at St. Labre and experience a little of languages for yourself.
Tsé-tsėhéstaestse –The Beautiful People
The Northern Cheyenne Tribe is located across 444,000 acres of land in Southeastern Montana. There are over 12,000 tribal members with over 6,000 people living on the reservation. With approximately 200 speakers remaining, the language is on the edge of extinction, adding urgency to St. Labre's participation in efforts to rejuvenate the language.
Apsáalooke – Children of the Large-Beaked Bird
The Crow Tribe is one of the most linguistically-intact Montana tribes today with a significant number of adults speaking Crow as their first language. Even so, loss of the Crow Language is of great concern since active speakers are concentrated among the 50 years and older category. The Crow Indian Reservation is the largest in Montana, covering around 2.2 million acres and home to our St. Charles Mission School, Pretty Eagle Catholic Academy and Áashbacheeitche Crow Language Immersion Preschool.
For generations, Native Americans have expressed themselves through art. Showcasing their ability and understanding of tribal colors, designs and patterns, students in the Beadwork Institute learn traditional beadwork techniques and create pieces using rawhide, soft hides and other natural materials.
For many tribal nations, the drum serves as the heartbeat of cultural expression, fostering unity, shared spirit and healing. At St. Labre, drumming and singing inspires students to embrace a sense of pride and honor, knowing they are contributing to the preservation and continuation of their culture and tribal nations.
