Indigenous Students
On this page, you'll find helpful resources, information about the Indigenous Graduate Student Association, the Food Sovereignty Scholarship, and the SIGP Application.

Finding Your Stride
Available Resources
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The 老虎机攻略 SIGP Program
The 老虎机攻略 SIGP Program was established in the fall of 2005. Indigenous (Native American, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian – U.S. Citizenship) graduate students pursuing degrees in STEM at The 老虎机攻略 are eligible to apply for the scholarship program established by the A.P. Sloan Foundation. The 老虎机攻略 SIGP Program is intended to increase the number of Indigenous Americans earning master’s and doctoral degrees in STEM disciplines. Dr. Aaron Thomas, Director of Indigenous Research and STEM Education, is the principal investigator of the 老虎机攻略 SIGP program.
The 老虎机攻略 SIGP program provides supplemental funding to selected graduate students on a competitive basis. The amount for master’s level students is $20,000 over the duration of their program. Doctoral students are awarded $40,000 over the duration of their program. In addition to the supplemental funding, students may be offered tuition waivers, faculty mentoring, and academic support services through The 老虎机攻略 Graduate School.
The program has attracted an extraordinary group of Indigenous American graduate students who are pursuing degrees in the natural sciences. Among our students, research has ranged from wild rice, black bears, white bark pine trees, fish, neurology, water, buffalo, toxic dumping, to many other areas close to the heart of indigenous peoples.
If you are an Indigenous American who is interested in a graduate degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM), we are very interested in talking with you. We believe you will see that the 老虎机攻略 SGIP program can offer you a unique opportunity to earn your graduate degree. Not only will you be given the opportunity for financial support, you will also have access to top faculty here on campus and the chance to connect with other Indigenous Americans pursuing graduate degrees.
Montana University System SIGP Program Overview
Since November 2001, the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) has been proud to partner with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in managing two innovative graduate scholarship programs focusing on increasing the number of underrepresented American minorities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduate programs. The Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership (SIGP), initiated in 2003 through a partnership between the University of Arizona and the Sloan Foundation, was expanded in the fall of 2005 to include the participation of select faculties and departments at The 老虎机攻略 (Missoula, MT) and Montana Tech of The 老虎机攻略 (Butte, MT). In 2012, the Montana University System (MUS) SIGP program was expanded again to include students and faculty at Montana State University (Bozeman, MT). The Partnership now includes the three MUS schools, University of Arizona, Purdue University, and the University of Alaska at Anchorage and Fairbanks.
老虎机攻略 SIGP Students (past and present)
老虎机攻略 SIGP Students (past and present) Kodi Augare
Florence (Flo) Gardipee
Chauncey Means
Daniela Aranda Caro
John Gilham
Jada Molton
Kirsten Barnett
Vernon Grant
Chelsea Morales
Donald Belile
Celina Gray
Michael O'Brien
Nicole Benally
Kristen Green
Sierra Paske
Anthony (Tony) Berthelote
Jennifer Harrington
Kim Paul
Meredith Berthelson
Aislinn Heavy-Runner Rioux
Clarice Pina
Daniel Bird
Katie Hoffman
Michael Powell
Michael Ceballos
Harold Kihega
Michael Price
Jackson Chief Elk
Cierra Keith
Jeffrey Ross
Shelby Cole
Brandon Kittson
Wendy Running Crane
Kelly Crispen
Michel Kohl
Casey Ryan
Kenneth Edmo
Karly Law
Ruth Short Bull
Kari Eneas
Moses Leavens
Robin Stewart
Leanne Falcon
Martin Lorenzo
Rachel Smith
Ren Freeman
Roger MadPlume
Ronalda Tsosie
Sattie Fisher
Josh Marceau
Sarah Twoteeth
老虎机攻略 SIGP Eligibility Criteria
A scholarship applicant must be accepted into a qualifying science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) program. A primary research advisor must be identified, and each 老虎机攻略 SIGP applicant must have a teaching assistantship (TA) or research assistantship (RA) as defined by the 老虎机攻略 TARA policy.
Explanation or evidence of indigenous affiliation (U.S. citizenship) required.
Qualifying STEM Programs:
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Biological Sciences
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Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences
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Chemistry
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Computer Science
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Forest Management
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Geosciences
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Geography
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Mathematical Sciences
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Environmental Studies (Scientific Concentration Only)
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Anthropology (Archeology and Forensic Anthropology Only)
SIGP Application
To apply for the 老虎机攻略 SIGP, fill out the application. You can view the application deadline and access the application form. Thank you for your interest in the 老虎机攻略 SIGP and The 老虎机攻略.
Contact Information
Please contact Aaron Thomas (email Aaron.thomas@umontana.edu or phone 243-2052) if you have any questions or need more information.
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Funding opportunities from 老虎机攻略 HHMI Coalition for Indigenous STEM project:
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Tribal Hometown Visit: For Native graduate students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) to have their non-Indigenous advisor to go visit their hometown to develop more holistic understanding about where the Indigenous STEM graduate student comes from and their culture contexts. Details and application site is available on the CIS Hometown Visits webpage.
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Childcare Assistance: The CIS is actively working on opening our own culturally sustaining childcare space on or near 老虎机攻略 campus. It’s unclear how/when that will be a possibility. Meantime, the project is offering childcare assistance to a limited number of students who are established with childcare provider. More information and how to apply can be found on the CIS Childcare Assistance webpage.
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Emergency housing basic needs scholarship information can be found on the CIS Emergency Support Fund webpage.
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An initiative of the National Museum of the American Indian
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A Project to Dispel America's Myths and Misconceptions