BFCC Students Make Their Mark at AIHEC 2026

Blackfeet Community College students represented with strength, talent, and pride at the 2026 American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) Conference, earning top placements across multiple competitions.

AIHEC is a national conference that brings together Tribal Colleges and Universities from across the country, where students compete in academic, cultural, and leadership events including speech, art, archery, business, and more.

One of the standout moments came from Taos Yellowowl, who earned 1st place in the Humorous Speech category. His speech reflected authenticity and cultural storytelling.

“Nothing really inspired me, it’s just normally how I talk in general. Being humorous just comes with telling a Napi story. I didn’t write my speech, I just basically winged it. I was always told when I do a speech, you come from the heart.”

Winning came as a surprise. “It was unexpected. I thought I did good, but didn’t think I was going to be first.”

His advice to other students: “Don’t be nervous, it’s really not that bad or scary. Always be confident.”

BFCC also saw strong success in archery, with both the men’s and women’s teams placing 2nd overall. The teams were coached by Felix Nez and Chelsee Pree from the USDA Tribal Extension Program, with additional support from Ron Lahr, Frank Goings, Brandon Fish, and Rylee Birdrattler.

The men’s team included Napi Wadsworth, Allen Walker, Taos Yellowowl, and Azreal Bullshoe-Reyna. The women’s team included Tiffany Sellars, Morgan Sellars, Melisa Trombley, and Addison Crawford.

Individually, Melisa Trombley earned 2nd place in Women’s Archery, and Napi Wadsworth earned 2nd place in Men’s Archery.

Melisa shared, “I had a great experience at AIHEC. I am very proud of our teams for what we achieved. Shout out to our team members for your dedication to practice. I think our Archery team will only progress with the program we have. Shout out to all our coaches and the ones who helped with practice, supplies, and support, Chelsee, Ron, Felix, Brandon, and Rylee. Maybe we can get 1st next year on our home turf.”

Coach Chelsee Pree reflected, “I had an awesome season coaching archery this year. It was great seeing the students improve with each practice, and being there to help them through challenges was a great learning experience for me. I hope next year they continue to build on this.”

Coach Felix Nez highlighted both the students’ efforts and the growth of the program. “Each of our BFCC AIHEC students showed dedication, effort, and resilience while balancing classwork and supporting one another. Your hard work does not go unnoticed. This achievement reflects your focus, discipline, and teamwork.”

He also emphasized the significance of the program’s progress. “Our building stands as a showcase of healing, strength, and community, and it will continue to host many more events that uplift our students and the Blackfeet Nation. Competing against 35 tribal colleges and hundreds of students takes commitment, and you should all be proud.”

In addition to his success in archery, Napi Wadsworth placed 2nd in the Dimensional Category at the Art Show with a traditional Iitsimaisskinitsimaan (food storage bag).

“My art piece will be gifted to my holy mother for her Okan this summer,” he shared. “The design includes Morning Star, The Seven Brothers, and The Lost Children. The materials are elk rawhide that I scraped and tanned myself with help from my father, following traditional guidelines.”

Reflecting on the experience, he added, “I felt very happy to represent BFCC and the Blackfoot Confederacy at AIHEC. I hope to inspire more students to continue traditional crafts for future generations.”

Overall, BFCC students competed in Business Bowl, Handgame, Film, Speech, Art, and Archery, making this a successful and well-rounded year.

Next year, AIHEC will be hosted in Billings, Montana. Students interested in competing are encouraged to contact Elaine Littleplume. A full list of competitions can be found on the AIHEC website.

Photos from AIHEC 2026