By Genevieve Lighthiser

Maizie Upham has spent her life on the Blackfeet Reservation. For 80 years, she has learned the ways of her people. She has also spent her life as a devout, practicing Catholic at Little Flower Parish. As a guest teacher at De La Salle Blackfeet School, she brings both of these qualifications to the classroom.

One of the key goals of our school is to meet the spiritual needs of our students. Each student attends daily religion class and a weekly student organized Mass. Teachers begin each new lesson with recitation of a prayer that a student has chosen. In the tradition of the Christian Brothers, everyone in the building can respond to the motto, “Live Jesus in Our Hearts” with a resounding, “Forever!”

We recognize and understand that the values of the Blackfeet people and the Blackfeet heritage need to be included in all our spiritual activities. For Catholics on the reservation, their cultural and spiritual beliefs enrich each other.

“For our Native believers, God revealed himself to them as the Creator. That is how they first came to know him,” explained Father Ed Kohler, pastor at Little Flower Parish. “The love and lessons of Jesus teach us why the Creator exists. The belief that creation is leading us to be recreated as the sons and daughters of God resonates strongly with the Native culture.”

During their time at our school, the students learn to become active members of their local parish. Through our religious education program, they discover that within the heart of the parish is the Blackfeet Cath-olic Community. This community integrates the spirit of the Blackfeet People into the Catholic traditions. We nurture our students’ faith by helping them grow in the spirit of the Blackfeet People of the Catholic faith.

Maizie Upham is an active member of the Blackfeet Catholic Community and a role model for our students. She is a lifelong devoted Blackfeet Catholic, a respected elder in the community and a daily communicant.

“She loves the Lord and is an inspiration to both children and adults,” said Father Kohler. Through her presentations to the religion classes, she will be expanding the religious education on campus with her Blackfeet perspective.

Gramma Maizie shares with the De La Salle students her expertise and wisdom of the Blackfeet perspective on religious history, spirituality, sacraments, holy orders, prayer and service. Gramma Maizie has been a blessing to both school and the students. Her contribution to the spiritual growth of our students is invaluable.

For more information on De La Salle Blackfeet School, please visit our website at www.dlsbs.org.


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 24, No. 10, October 17, 2008.