Greetings!

We are the Browning High School Close Up Club based on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Browning, Montana. Our group of 10 high school juniors is working hard to raise money to attend the 2025 American Indian and Alaskan Native Youth Summit through the Close Up Organization in Washington, D.C. during the last week in April.

The American Indian and Alaskan Native Youth Summit is a unique opportunity for Native students to develop important skills to become active citizens in their tribes and communities. During a six-day/five-night trip to Washington, D.C., our students will engage in workshops with other Native students from around the country to address pressing current issues, examine historical relationships between tribes and the U.S. government, and ultimately create Tribal Action Initiatives to be presented to tribal leaders, policy experts, and policymakers in D.C.

These 10 students applied and were selected for the program based on essays concerning local issues and their goals to address these issues through civic engagement and action. This is an incredible opportunity for these students to see one of the most exciting and historically rich cities in the United States while engaging in academically challenging and culturally relevant activities all week long.

We are actively working on a variety of fundraising efforts locally, but our total goal of $25,000 requires some outside sources as well. We graciously and humbly are seeking any donations to help us reach our goal. Thank you for considering donating to our goal!

Sincerely,

Colin Sibbernsen

Browning High School Teacher and Close Up Club Advisor

Kari McKay

Browning High School Vice Principal

Students: Aiyahna Green, Sophia Guerrero-Gobert, Kalani SunRhodes, George Trombley, Jacob Burns, Hailey HeavyRunner, Rylynn Harwood, Ronelle Calf Boss Ribs, and Jazlyn NewRobe