MDU Awards Funds To Bigger Sky Kids

Grant To Fund Class In Nakoda Dance

Bigger Sky Kids has been awarded a grant from the Montana-Dakota Utilities Resources Foundation in support of its class on Nakoda dance, stories and history. The MDU award matches¬ a Montana Arts Council grant made in July, 2020, which funded 50 percent of the project cost, according to BSK president Char Matejovsky.

The class, taught by Winona Runsabove of Frazer, will introduce students to the steps for traditional Nakoda dances, with the goal of mastering at least two of them. Runsabove will also share the story and protocols involved and recount the history of each dance as she introduces them.

This is the second MDU grant in support of Bigger Sky Kids’ artists-in-residence. In 2020, MDU matched an Arts Council grant for Cathryn McIntyre’s class in studio art. “A shout out to Therese Long and her colleagues at MDU who sponsored our application,” said Matejovsky. “Our grassroots organization relies on community support. It makes all the difference.”

Bigger Sky Kids’ serves Wolf Point children from grades four through eight. Its program is cost-free to participating families. There are no ethnic, gender, means or other tests for participation. For more information about this class or the program in general, visit biggerskykids. org or contact Barbara Olson at Northside School.