Progress 08/01/07 to 07/31/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Horsemanship: I have implemented a comprehensive horsemanship program targeting adults and youth of all ages who have an interest in learning more about horses and improving their horsemanship skills. The emphasis of the program is on safety, ground handling, tack, and riding skills. I have been teaching horsemanship and providing riding lessons on an appointment basis - either individually or in small groups. In addition, three horsemanship courses were offered for credit: a 2 credit class was offered in basic horsemanship through the Northwest Indian College (NWIC) for Fall 2008 semester and six students completed the NWIC course; a 2 credit class was offered in horse science through the Lapwai High School vocational agriculture program during the '09-'10 school year, 13 students completed the course; the Lapwai High School vocational agriculture program offered horse science again for the '10-'11 school year, enrollment was limited to 6 students. My role as the co-instructor for the high school course was to provide the hands-on component with the horses and to organize educational field trips and guest speakers. The educator formed a new 4-H horse project group in Lapwai and was also the co-leader. Agriculture & Natural Resources: Several educational workshops were conducted on basic soil science: several Master Gardener soils workshops; soils education stations at three annual elementary school events in Orofino: Farm & Forest Day, Earth Week, and the 6th Grade Forestry Tour - where several hundred youth participated . In addition the educator provided soil judging education for the vocational agriculture (FFA) students at the Lapwai High School. A summer gardening series was offered in 2010, as brown bag lunch workshops, on several topics. Master Gardener volunteers from the Lewiston Extension Office also hosted plant clinics in Lapwai to provide advice and resources to home gardeners. In 2011 an online Master Gardener course was offered as well as two garden workshops. The educator provided technical assistance to the Tribe's enterprise office to install 6 raised beds (4' x 8') to grow vegetables. In 2009, the educator organized a community garden effort in partnership with another extension colleague and personnel from Nimiipuu Health and Water Resources. In 2010, the community garden doubled in size and in 2011, the Lapwai High School vocational agriculture program grew the seedlings of various vegetables for the community garden. In 2010 and 2011, the educator organized weed education workshops in Lapwai and Kamiah, with over 25 participants at each location. The weeds discussed were poison hemlock, bur chervil, ventenata, teasel, medusahead, and hoary cress. In partnership with the Lapwai High School vocational agriculture program, a local 4-H club, and with funding from the Tribe, a swine facility was constructed to house FFA and 4-H swine projects. The educator also developed the land management plan for the site. Community Development: In 2008 and 2010, educational programs were conducted on land tenure, estate planning, and the American Indian Probate Reform Act (AIPRA). There were over 50 participants total in these workshops. PARTICIPANTS: Valdasue Steele is the project director and FRTEP Educator for the Nez Perce Reservation Extension Program. Partner organizations included the Nez Perce Tribe, the Lapwai School District, Nez Perce and Lewis County extension personnel. Professional Development: Professional development efforts of the educator included improving skills as a horsemanship instructor through lessons with a local professional and getting certified as an instructor (Levels I & II) from Richard Shrake, a nationally and internationally recognized horseman. Professional development efforts in the agriculture/natural resources program area included getting Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Certification as both a private and professional pesticide applicator, attending a Fish Marketing Workshop, in Lapwai, and attending the Farmers Market Managers workshop, in Moscow, ID. Professional development efforts in the community development program area included becoming a certified cultural competency trainer. In addition, I attended several workshops: Building Social Capital,; Ruby Payne Poverty Workshop; Entrepreneurship,; E-Commerce Workshop; Cooperative Business Workshop; Community Development Seminar: The Indigenous Perspective, the Futures Game - The Rez,; and took Nez Perce Language, Northwest Indian College courses 101 and 102 (for CEU). TARGET AUDIENCES: The Nez Perce Reservation, both Tribal and non-Tribal residents, and both youth and adults. Educational programs wre delivered face-to-face and changes in knowledge and behavior are documented. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
The horsemanship education program had an average of 78 students annually, 75% were Native American, 78% were youth and 22% were adults. Many more youth and adults had a horse experience as part of ERWM's environmental education day, NWIC summer youth culture camp, and NPApHC spring break clinics which total well over 200 additional youth annually. In 2010, there were 6 club members who completed their 4-H horse project, in 2011 there were 8 youth who completed their 4-H horse project. The general impact of this program is that horsemanship participants increased their knowledge of good horsemanship practices and demonstrated how to safely handle a horse on the ground, including grooming, picking up feet, saddling, and bridling. In addition, participants have gained confidence and skill in controlling a horse. Many have decreased their fear of horses and have improved their balance and riding skills. Students learned first-hand the importance of being a good leader and communicating clearly when handling horses. Several students have made decisions about horse ownership as a result of their participation. Soils workshops participants were able to demonstrate their knowledge of how to use a soil survey, how to collect a soil sample, and how to interpret soil test results. Weed workshop participants received 2 ISDA pesticide recertification credits for their private applicator licenses. In 2010, the Nez Perce Tribe designated land for extension use in order to provide agriculture and natural resource related education and demonstrations. The community garden provided fresh produce to Indian Health diabetes clients and residents in the Tribe's senior housing units. One of the volunteers reduced her body mass index score as a result of her work in the community garden. Several participants in the estate planning workshops indicated they intended to write a will as a result of their attendance. The pre-post-class evaluations showed an increase in knowledge about AIPRA, the Nez Perce Inheritance Act, the Dawes Act (allotment), land fractionation, how land can be inherited, and how to obtain and read information from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) regarding their trust land.

Publications

• Business plan for a Nez Perce Tribe equestrian center, 2008
• Nez Perce Horse program management plan, 2008
• Nez Perce Horse program marketing/disperal plan, 2008
• Nez Perce Horse brochure, 2008
• 4-H Horse Project Guide, 2010
• UI Extension Horsemanship Program Guide, 2011
• Lapwai Farmers Market Guide, Rules, and member forms, 2008
• Master Gardener program brochure, 2010
• Prather, T., V. Steele, Ventenata Control Strategies Found for Forage Producers., UI Impact Statement, 2009.
• Schumaker, S., R. Brooks, J. Church, K. Hart, V. Steele, Clearwater Area Farm and Forest Fair., UI Impact Statement, 2009.
• Steele, V., Planning for the Passing of Reservation Lands to Future Generations, course notebook, 2008 & 2010 revision.
• Nez Perce Reservation Extension Program brochures, 2010
• General Nez Perce Reservation 4-H Information brochure, 2011

Progress 08/01/09 to 07/31/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The major programming accomplishments since August 2009 were the continuation of the horsemanship program, American Indian Probate Reform Act (AIPRA) education , financial education, and home horticulture education. The horsemanship education program has continued to flourish. The horsemanship program is for adults and youth of all ages who have an interest in learning more about horses and improving their horsemanship skills. The Educator has been teaching horsemanship primarily on an appointment basis. In addition, a horse science class, for credit, was offered at the Lapwai High School for the 2009-2010 school year and had fifteen students enrolled. The FRTEP Educator had a total of 80 students this year between the ages of 2 and 50 yrs old and nearly 300 hours of teaching time in the horsemanship program. The FRTEP Educator helped form a new 4-H horse project club & was the assistant leader. In June 2006, the federal government passed new legislation about how trust land can be inherited, the "American Indian Probate Reform Act" (AIPRA) and tribal members have questions. Therefore, an educational program "Estate Planning and Trust Land - Understanding Your Choices" was developed to target Native American adults and was delivered as a two part seminar series in Lapwai. The FRTEP Educator partnered with the Nez Perce Tribe's Office of Legal Counsel's summer law student intern, and the Fiduciary Trust Officer for the Office of Special Trustee in Lapwai to teach the classes, 21 people attended. A small acreage producer was identified and the FRTEP Educator is providing technical support in an effort to create a Community Supported Agriculture market. The FRTEP Educator partnered with the Nez Perce County Extension Master Gardeners to provide a plant clinic in Lapwai on a bi-weekly basis throughout the growing season. A "Let's Garden" brown bag lunch seminar series was offered as well. Topics included: soil mgmt, vegetable gardening, irrigation strategies, garden pests, season extenders and native plants. The Lapwai Community Garden Program was expanded this year. Gardens were established with volunteer help from the Nimiipuu Health, Tribal Enterprises, Nez Perce Tribe Water Resources, and the Nez Perce County Extension Educator. The Educator organized a financial education workshop series "Financial Fundamentals" that was taught by another UI Extension faculty member and offered in two locations: Lapwai and Kamiah. Topics included budgeting, managing debt, and predatory lending. 15 people participated in Lapwai and 8 people participated via video link in Kamiah. The FRTEP Educator was invited to teach several soils education workshops as part of adult horticulture classes (Cabin Fever series) and various youth natural resource and forestry education programs. The FRTEP Educator organized weed workshops on poison hemlock, bur chervil, and ventenata (wind/wire grass). Workshops were offered in Lapwai and Kamiah and were taught by UI Weed Specialist Dr. Timothy Prather. A total of 43 people attended these workshops. The FRTEP Educator is also the Nez Perce FRTEP website webmaster http://www.extension.uidaho.edu/nezpercereservation/index.htm PARTICIPANTS: Partners included Nez Perce Tribal departments and personnel, the Lapwai High School Vocational Agriculture Instructor, and other UI Extension Faculty. Professional Development includes: Richard Shrake Level 1 Horse Instructor Course, Redmond, OR, Professional horsemanship training, Tom Ordway, Lewiston, ID, Nez Perce Language, NWIC courses 101 & 102 (CEU), Lapwai, ID, Community Development Seminar: "The Indigenous Perspective", the Futures Game - The Rez, Lapwai, ID. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience is all residents, Indian and non-Indian, youth and adult, who live within the Nez Perce Reservation boundaries. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Participants in the horsemanship program increased their knowledge and demonstrated how to safely handle a horse on the ground, including grooming, picking up feet, saddling, and bridling. In addition, participants gained confidence and skill in controlling a horse. Many have improved their balance and riding skills. Eight students have purchased a horse in the last year as a result of their horsemanship education. In addition, participants improved their communication skills and increased their confidence. The Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee (NPTEC) and Land Services Director funded a seasonal (90 day) position to provide an opportunity for a tribal member to work with the FRTEP Educator as an assistant horsemanship instructor and trainer. Twelve out of fifteen students in the Lapwai High School horse science course for credit successfully completed the course. There were six 4-H youth who were first year horse project members and three of them qualified at the county 4-H horse show for the District I horse show. Due to the successful programming efforts of the FRTEP Educator, Tribal land (field #32A) was designated for extension use through a resolution. This action was initially taken to provide an opportunity to partner with the Lapwai High School Vocational Agriculture program to build swine facilities for 4-H and FFA youth to raise pigs. Funding, $4500, was provided by the Tribe for the materials, the youth provided the labor to build the swine facilities and the high school vocational agriculture students did the welding on the hog panels. There are 17 pigs being housed there. The AIPRA pre-post class reflective evaluations showed an increase in knowledge about the Dawes Act (allotment), AIPRA, how land can be inherited, how to obtain and read ITI reports, access IIM accounts, how to get help from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and what information is needed to prepare a will. Several participants had also attended the 2008 AIPRA seminar series. Half of the people who attended the classes indicated they had written a will. When asked how they will use the knowledge they have gained from class the responses included: "How to correct my will";"Make sure my will is what I wish to have happen"; "Tell family"; "Starting the process of my grandfather's probate on his land. He has no spouse or surviving children which would make me an heir". The effort to start a CSA in Lapwai was further enhanced by joining forces with Montana in a collaborative effort to submit a proposal to AFRI Global Food Security Challenge Area titled "Food Security and Nutrition in the US Northwest: Advancing Community Supported Agriculture in Rural and American Indian Communities". The FRTEP Educator and the local producer are participants in this proposal. Over 200 students learned the basics about soils such as the soil forming factors and how to determine soil texture. The financial education participants learned how to control their spending and save money, as well as how to manage and monitor their credit. 16 people who attended the weed workshops received Idaho Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator Recertification Credits.

Publications

• Prather, T., V. Steele, Ventenata control strategies found for forage producers, UI Impact Statement, 2009. Laumatia, L., V. Steele, S. Schumaker, K. Tifft, B. Bromley-Brody, L. Higgins, D. Gray, M. Schmidt, Idaho community members develop leadership skills, UI Impact Statement 2009. Schumaker, S., R. Brooks, J. Church, K. Hart, V. Steele, Clearwater area farm and forest fair, UI Impact Statement, 2009.

Progress 08/01/08 to 07/31/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The major programming accomplishments since August 2008 were the implementation of a horsemanship program, the American Indian Probate Reform Act (AIPRA) seminar series, a financial education seminar series, and a food preservation & basic canning class. The horse is an important part of the Nez Perce culture and history and the Tribe owns over 50 horses. The Tribe wants its members to have a "connection" to the horses. Many tribal members do not own a horse and most do not have a place to keep a horse. In addition, there are residents on the reservation who own horses but have minimal knowledge about horse care and horsemanship. In addition, the advisory board identified equine education as a high priority. The Nez Perce FRTEP Educator established an educational program in place to teach basic horsemanship and horse care last year that has continued to grow. The FRTEP Educator implemented a comprehensive horsemanship program targeting adults and youth of all ages who have an interest in learning more about horses and improving their horsemanship skills. The Educator has been teaching horsemanship and providing riding lessons on an appointment basis - either individually or as small family groups. In addition, a 2 credit class was offered in basic horsemanship through the Northwest Indian College (NWIC) and additional courses for credit will be offered in the fall of 2009. The FRTEP Educator had approximately 250 hours total teaching time with students. The federal government recently passed new rules about how trust land can be inherited and many Indian people have not done estate planning and do not understand how land can be inherited. Therefore, an educational program was developed to target Native American adults and was delivered as a four week seminar series which ended in August 2008. Seminars were offered in two locations, Lapwai and Kamiah. The notebook and class materials were paid for by a grant from Montana State University. The FRTEP Educator partnered with the Nez Perce Tribe's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC). The law student intern, who was providing free will writing services to tribal members, was a co-instructor for the class. The Educator organized the Lapwai Farmers Market Association which opened their weekly market on July 19 and ended the market in October 2008. There were six members and the local grocery store provided the market space at no charge. The Educator organized a financial education workshop series "Control Your Coin, Secure Your Future" that was taught by another UI Extension faculty member and offered in two locations: Orofino and Lapwai. Topics included budgeting, managing debt, and predatory lending. The Educator was invited to teach several soils education workshops as part of master gardener programs and various youth natural resource education programs. The Educator organized a food preservation and basic canning hands-on workshop that was taught by another UI Extension faculty member and offered in Lapwai. The website is updated monthly to keep clientele informed about educational opportunities and resources. PARTICIPANTS: Steele was a co-presenter with Laura Laumatia at the Galaxy III Conference in Indianapolis, IN, September 2008, on "The Impact of Community Conversations about Poverty". Steele was an outside reviewer for three University of Arizona Extension publications:Research Guidelines for the Hopi Reservation; The Hopi Reservation Quick Facts Sheet; The Hopi Reservation Fact Sheet. Partners included Nez Perce Tribal departments and personnel, the Lapwai High School FFA Advisor, and other UI Extension Faculty. Professional Development included Cultural Competency Training, Nez Perce Language Class, and professional horsemanship training. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience is all residents, Indian and non-Indian, youth and adult, who live within the Nez Perce Reservation boundaries. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
There were 75 participants in the horsemanship program between the ages of 3 and 66, who increased their knowledge and demonstrated how to safely handle a horse on the ground, including grooming, picking up feet, saddling, and bridling. In addition, participants gained confidence and skill in controlling a horse. In addition, many have decreased their fear of horses and have improved their balance and riding skills. Several students have made decisions about horse ownership as a result of their participation. The Educator also developed a relationship with the Lapwai High School FFA program and is working in collaboration with Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC) to offer a horse science course for credit in the fall of 2009. There were 34 participants in the AIPRA program. The pre-post-class evaluations showed an increase in knowledge about AIPRA, the Nez Perce Inheritance Act, the Dawes Act (allotment), land fractionation, how land can be inherited, and how to obtain and read information from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) regarding an individual's trust land. Several participants indicated they intended to write a will as a result of attending the seminars. Steele also adapted the Montana State University notebook materials for the Nez Perce Reservation. The Lapwai Farmers Market vendors generated extra income and local residents had access to fresh, locally grown food as well as to local artisan products. Due to the current economic situation, there were not enough vendors to open the Lapwai Farmers Market for the 2009 season, however, there is still interest in organizing for the 2010 market season. Over 200 students learned the basics about soils such as the soil forming factors and how to determine soil texture. Ten people attended the financial education classes and more classes have been requested. Participants learned how to control their spending and save money, as well as how to manage and monitor their credit. Seven people attended the food preservation and basic canning class and learned how to do pressure canning, hot water bath canning, and food safety tips on how to avoid the deadly sins of canning.

Publications

• V. Steele.BIA Managed Indian Irrigation Projects and Their Impact on Indian Land and Land Owners.Indian Land Tenure Foundation, 2009.
• V. Steele and Lockard, C. Benewah County Youth Horse Camp, a 4-H Gem. UI Impact Statement, 2008.
• S. Schumaker, V. Steele, L. Laumatia, K. Tifft, B. Bromley-Brody, L. Higgins, D. Gray, M. Schmidt.North Idaho Communities Create Vision for Their Future. UI Impact Statement, 2008.

Progress 08/01/07 to 07/31/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: A new extension office was been established on the Nez Perce Reservation in Lapwai. Part of this effort included signage, purchasing supplies, publications and materials needed for an Extension office. A horsemanship program has been implemented for youth and adults. The delivery method is the scheduling of individuals and families for personal instruction with the FRTEP Educator for 1 hr or up to 2 hr sessions. The focus of the instruction is safety, horse care, and riding. All the program participants are people who do not own their own horses and are very beginner riders, and many had their first horse experience in this program. The FRTEP Educator has been using her personal horses for instruction while the Tribe works through the process of authorizing the use of their horses for instruction. It is anticipated that such approval will occur in August. In addition to developing and implementing a horsemanship program the FRTEP Educator has produced several documents that were needed or requested by the Nez Perce Tribe's horse program: a business plan for an equestrian center, horse marketing & dispersal plans, a horse program plan, horse management information and developed an informational flyer on the Nez Perce Horse breed and registry.The FRTEP Educator organized the Lapwai Farmers Market Association and the opening day of the market was Saturday, July 19, 4 - 7 pm. A local business owner has provided the space and advertising in a prime location along state hwy 95. The FRTEP Educator wrote the farmers market guidelines, ground rules, and membership forms which were reviewed and approved by the association with minor changes.In addition, the FRTEP Educator conducted a horse judging clinic for the local Lapwai High School FFA students in preparation for a state contest. There is enough interest in horses now that the FRTEP Educator has been working with the Lapwai High School's FFA Advisor and Curriculum Counselor to develop a horse science class for the Fall '08 school semester. The FRTEP Educator facilitated the effort to offer college credit for the class through the Lewis and Clark State College in Lewiston. The FFA Horse Science curriculum will be used and the FRTEP Educator will provide some hands-on educational activities to support the classroom work. The FRTEP Educator was a guest instructor for the Inter-Tribal Natural Resource Youth Camp on the topic of watersheds and partnered with USFS personnel to plan the field trip. Youth learned how to make and read topographic maps and a field trip was conducted to identify the parts and functions of watersheds. The AIPRA seminar series is currently underway. It is a four week short course, one night a week in two locations: Lapwai and Kamiah. The FRTEP Educator partnered with the Nez Perce Tribe's law student intern who is providing free estate planning and will services. The FRTEP Educator utilized Montana State University AIPRA materials and made customized adaptations for the Nez Perce Reservation in the development of the seminar series notebook materials. The FRTEP Educator also developed the evaluation pre and post surveys. PARTICIPANTS: Valdasue Steele is the project director and FRTEP Educator. Partner organization is the Nez Perce Tribe and specifically the natural resources and education departments. Other program partners include the USFS and Idaho Rural Partnership (IRP). I was asked to serve on the visiting team for a community review of Kamiah conducted by the IRP. This was a professional development opportunity as well. TARGET AUDIENCES: The Nez Perce Reservation, both Tribal and non-Tribal residents, and both youth and adults. Educational programs are delivered face-to-face and changes in knowledge and behavior are documented. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Many of the Tribal departments and community residents now know that there is an extension office on the Nez Perce Reservation. The horsemanship program has a stellar safety record - no incidents or injuries have occurred with any of the students. All program participants can safely groom, pick up feet, and lead a horse. Many of the participants can properly tie up and saddle a horse on their own. All program participants have increased their level of knowledge about horses as well as increased confidence in handling and riding them. Many participants have overcome their fear of horses. The Tribe's horse program now has more visibility in the reservation community. As a result of the FRTEP Educator's various plans, proposals, and programming efforts with their horse program, the Nez Perce Tribe is preparing to significantly reduce the size of their breeding horse herd and shift their focus by reducing the number of breeding animals and increasing the effort to train their horses for riding. The Lapwai Farmer's market is being held weekly from July 19 - October 18, 2008. The market is now listed on the Idaho directory of farmer's markets. There are at least 4-6 vendors actively participating and earning extra income. The association now has its own post office box and bank account. The market has helped unify the community with both Tribal and non-Tribal members participating. The Lapwai High School now has a horse science elective listed in their course offerings for Fall 2008. The AIPRA seminar series was made possible by a $3,000 grant and partnership with Montana State University. All participants so far have indicated a desire to write a will as a result of the first class in the four week series.

Publications

• No publications reported this period