BLACKFEET ECO KNOWLEDGE

Ed Kennedy has been a successful private business owner and operator since 1985. During that time, he has managed multi-million dollar projects for various federal and tribal agencies. He currently owns and operates Edward Kennedy & Associates, which holds contracts with the Blackfeet Tribe and Glacier County. Ed employs over 50 individuals, primarily Blackfeet Tribal members or descendants, who possess a wide range of skills in construction. Before starting his own business, Mr. Kennedy was actively involved in grassroots organizing within Indian communities. He provided training and technical assistance to Indian tribes and tribal organizations, helping individual Native Americans to start their own business enterprises. Mr. Kennedy has served on regional and national task forces assessing the successes and failures of various American Indian laws. Notably, he participated in fieldwork alongside others during the development of the Indian Self-Determination and Educational Assistance Act. He also contributed to the legislation that created the Indian Education Act and the Administration for Native Americans, all under the auspices of the Senate Select Committee of the United States Senate. Edward holds a degree in Financial Management and Accounting.

John Murray is a respected elder of the Blackfoot Confederacy, alongside his distinguished wife, Carol Murray. Together, they have made significant contributions to the restoration, revitalization, and preservation of Blackfoot culture and ways of life. John currently serves as the Tribal Preservation Director for the Blackfeet Tribe and has championed efforts to repatriate sacred cultural items from museums and private collectors over the years. He advocates for the perpetuation of culture and language, continuing to teach generations about the way of life of their Nitsitapii ancestors.

Charlene Burns is a cultural elder of the Blackfoot Confederacy and a strong advocate for Indigenous rights. She is also a business owner, running one of the longest-standing successful businesses in Blackfeet country. Along with her husband, Bob Burns, she has hired and trained hundreds of Native people in hospitality and cultural pride. Her staff shares stories of the Blackfoot people with guests from around the world and is encouraged to highlight the resilience of their community.

Anna Armstrong, an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation, and has deep roots within the tribal education system. She holds an Associate of Arts in Elementary Education from Blackfeet Community College, furthering her studies with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Montana-Western and a Master of Education from Montana State University-Northern. With over 5 years of experience, Anna has served as a Culture and Language Immersion teacher for Browning Public Schools, holding a Class 7 License. Her role extends beyond the classroom as she provides district leadership in developing programming for culture and language curriculum. Additionally, she has demonstrated leadership as a team leader. Anna's journey into education followed 10 years of dedicated service in Blackfeet Tribal Gaming Management, where she facilitated the gaming board of directors and oversaw tribal gaming policies and operations. A prominent cultural leader, Anna is a member of the Stamaaksi Pookaaks Horn Society, actively involved in teaching language and culture throughout the community. She resides in Heart Butte, Montana, on the Blackfeet reservation along with her husband and three beautiful children.