Student Focused Activities
Institution Focused Activities
Featured Student
Every year ANLSAMP helps to fund student research projects at partner institutions. Faculty researchers receive funding through a sub-contract process that allows them to hire students to work on current projects. Students benefit from exposure to faculty mentors and gain research experience. Ultimately the school, the academic community, and tribal communities benefit from what is learned through these projects. Although many students present their findings at research conferences throughout the year, ANLSAMP likes to feature student researchers wherever possible.
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One such student researcher is Chris McLaughlin. Chris graduated in 2005 with two associate of science degrees from Fort Berthold Community College. He is Hidatsa from the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nations of Fort Berthold. The following is an ANLSAMP interview with Chris and a link to his project. |
1. Name: Chris McLaughlin, Young Soldier (Hidatsa) Red Thunder (Lakota)
2. Tribal Affiliation: Hidatsa from the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nations of Fort Berthold
3. Family: Karen Hartman (mother)
Krystal Hartman (sister)
Jaime Hartman (sister)
Taylin Journey McLaughlin (daughter)
TJ McLaughlin (father) Standing Rock
Renissa McLaughlin (sister) Cherokee, NC
Ambre McLaughlin (sister) Standing Rock
Freedom McLaughlin (brother) Standing Rock
Prairie McLaughlin (sister) Standing Rock
4. Moment of Obligation: When and why did you decide to go to college?
I always wanted to go to school, it wasn’t until my daughter was born did I start taking school seriously.
5. Where do you go to college and why did you choose that institution? I took classes at United Tribes and Minot State University, but due to living arrangements and location, I came back home to attend the Fort Berthold Community College.
6. What is your major? At FBCC it was Environmental Science and now back at Minot State University it is Education with a major in Biology.
7. Why did you choose that field? I enjoy and respect the living world around us, plus the fact there is a need for Native American teachers in the sciences.
8. What role if any has mentorship played in your education? Mentorship is important, we do need someone to show us different ideas, techniques, and avenues approach. My instructors at FBCC did this well.
9. What do you want to do professionally? I would like to teach at one of the BIA schools in the area, and possibly teach at a Tribal college in the evenings. I would also like to do some free lance research consulting for various people or organizations.
10. What has been your greatest obstacle in college? I would have to say the never ending search and paperwork for funding. I also think budgeting time to work, study, and childcare have been difficult, but not impossible.
11. What has been your greatest success in college? Learning about, and doing some quality research on our Juneberry project to help benefit our tribes. Also receiving the ANLSAMP research grant to assist me in this endeavor throughout the semester. Graduation from FBCC with two Associate of Science degrees.
12. What was the topic of your research? The re-establishment of Juneberries (Amelanchier alnifolia) on the Mandan, Hidasta, and Arikara Tribal Lands. Fifty some years ago the US Army Corps of Engineers flooded our reservation which resulted in a significant loss of our naturally growing juneberries. Research is being conducted to establish the ideal growing conditions necessary for optimum yields.
13. What is the most important thing you have learned from your research experience? The importance of taking accurate field notes.
14. What would you do differently? Take accurate field notes.
15. Who do you look up to and why? Teachers, students college graduates, administrators, career people, and people who don’t practice nepotism. Because of their integrity, lack of selfishness and sacrifices for family and community.
16. A snapshot in ten years: What are you doing? What impact has your education had on making those dreams happen? I may still be teaching or working in some type of environmentally beneficial job. I hope when my daughter is 11 or so, she will begin to see the importance of education and environment through me.
17. What's in your CD player right now? The Doors “Absolutely Live”.
18. What are a few book recommendations (pleasure, work and anything in between)? Custer died for you sins, by Vine Deloria, Jr.
Peace, Power, Righteousness: An Indigenous Manifesto Tribes, Treaties, and Constitutional Tribulations, by Vine Deloria, Jr. and David E. Wilkens
19. What websites do you go to often (work and personal)? www.indianz.com and www.coasttocoastam.com .
20. What is your greatest hope for tribal people? That tribal politics would evolve into an platform that actually represents the people and their needs rather then a platform fro personal gain, mismanagement and nepotism that only benefits the few.
21. Quick piece of advice for Native people starting college. Sign up for as many things as you can. Don’t get discouraged if not selected or chosen the first time, do it again and again until you do.