Students work to grow wings project
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Mission Middle School students gathered in front of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council to ask a question on Tuesday, Oct. 11.
“I’m a little nervous,” Pam Frost, eighth grader said as she went into the council room. The eighth graders sat at a long table equipped with microphones across from the council and introduced themselves. The council welcomed the kids. Sixth and seventh graders sat in the audience.
The students asked for permission to go onto tribal property and cut tree boughs. Tribal Forestry members previously agreed to help the students.
“We need to do this to earn our wings,” one of the students said to the council.
The kids plan to use the green tree limbs to make decorative wreaths, sell them to the public, and once they’ve got the cash, they start in on getting those wings by doing a good deed.
“We want to buy Christmas gifts and give them to children and buy things for troops,” said Sajada Lee, seventh grade, after the students left the council.
The project involves a lot of work. The kids go into the Mission Mountain Tribal Wilderness and collect a truckload of boughs.
“We leave in the morning and spend a whole day cutting them,” said Conner Morigeau, seventh grade.
Once the kids have the raw materials, it takes them several weeks to make wreaths. Retired florist Connie Plaissay developed the technique the kids use to make the wreaths. The students go shopping for gifts once they sell the wreaths. “We do it all for the kids that wouldn’t have much for Christmas,” said Luke Connelly, eighth grade.
The students collect nametags from “The Sharing Tree,” which are Christmas trees often found at banks and stores with tags on them. The tags include things a specific child needs like maybe a winter coat and a toy. In the past 13 years, students from Mission annually fill about 14 tags with about $50 put towards each tag. The kids also spend about $250 to buy items for people serving in the military.
Mrs. Umphrey’s middle school students make a trip to the tribal council to ask permission to collect the boughs each year.
“We learn about tribal government before we come to the council,” Umphrey said. “We want the kids to get the chance to see the council, and (the students) have always left feeling honored.”
She prepared the kids for the possibility that the council could say “no.”
“We want the kids to understand that everyone has rules, and if the tribe says ‘no,’ we will find other options,” Umphrey said.
The students waited to see if the council would give them permission. The council approved a motion to vote on the proposal, and they voted unanimously in favor of giving the students permission.
“You did a good job,” Council Member Troy Felsman said to the students. “It’s tough to get up and talk.”
The wreaths will be ready around the first of December, but students are currently taking orders.
“We love pre-orders,” Umphrey said.
The small wreaths sell for $25 each and the larger ones, measuring about two feet across, are sold at about $50. To order, call 406-745-3245 ext. 251.
The students involved in the project this year include Chance Bockman, Thomas Baylor-Mahseelah, Kody Dillard, Conner Morigeau, Hope Glessner, Rudy King, Sajada Lee, William Long, Ashlee Peterson, Luke Connelly, Syanna Fields, Pam Frost, Josiah Matt, David McNutt, Eljin Schulz and Ryan Wickenberg.
