High school grads inspire new Native American scholars

As high school seniors prepare for graduation across Montana, it is common to reflect and praise their many accomplishments. Yet somehow students on reservation schools are often overlooked.

It’s not for a lack of distinction. Native students in Montana compete at every level with their non-Native counterparts, and an ever-growing percentage of reservation high school graduates go on to succeed in multiple college environments.

“We’ll have 21 seniors who will graduate this year, and all 21 will go to college,” said Thom Peck, superintendent of Box Elder High School on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation. “It’s not just going to college either — they want to graduate. They want to make a difference. They want to be successful, and where they want to be successful is right here on Rocky Boy. They want to give back to their reservation, they want to give back their tribe, they want to give back to their people.”

It’s an admirable quality — the desire to take what you learn and give it back to the community that nurtured you. What follows are two examples of the many Native high school students who aspire to achieve and give back to Montana’s reservation communities.

Brandon The Boy — Box Elder High School

Say the name Brandon The Boy and those who follow prep athletics likely will recognize the Box Elder basketball star who has led the Bears to two State C title championships in the past three seasons.

But The Boy is far more than just a high school jock with a honey-smooth stroke and a strong court IQ. The Boy is a scholar/athlete who has maintained a B+ average while taking some of the toughest classes Box Elder High School has to offer.

He is also a young man dedicated to leading by example, willing to donate long hours of his personal time to inspire children of all tribes to reach for personal success.

“I have always valued people who have a passion for life and who want to make a difference in others’ lives,” Box Elder Superintendent Thom Peck wrote of The Boy. “I have never met a more driven person to make a difference or who demonstrates a more sincere passion for life than Brandon The Boy.”

In April, Rocky Mountain Collage in Billings offered The Boy a full-ride scholarship to play basketball for the Battlin’ Bears. Some high school athletes could view such an opportunity as a hall pass to focus on sports without much or any concern about academics.

But throughout his four years at Box Elder High, The Boy has demonstrated his commitment to excellence in the classroom as well as on the basketball court.

Box Elder’s The Boy, Four Colors to continue basketball careers

“I don’t really have any messing around classes,” The Boy said of his current schedule. “I always wanted to make sure I had everything taken care of academically.”

That commitment to maintaining a strong academic resume includes a tough class schedule that includes pre-calculus, science, personal finance and government. Throughout his high school career, The Boy has maintained a 3.14 GPA while scoring above the national average on the ACT.

The Boy is a member of the National Honor Society and is active in traditional Native American spirituality. On the side he coaches 5- to 8-year-olds as part of the Little Dribblers basketball program.

“When I was a little kid, I had a lot of heroes,” The Boy said. “I always wanted to set that as a personal goal. I’m just glad I can be that hero for these kids. I know I’m not going to let them down and, hopefully, I’m going to lead them down the right road.”

The Boy attributes much of his personal motivation to his older brother, Charlie. Charlie The Boy, 49, died in January, yet he remains a strong influence and spiritual presence guiding his younger brother forward.

“He just wanted the best for me,” Brandon said of his older brother, “and every day and every night he’d say, ‘I’m proud of you Bro. I love you.’”

“It was a good relationship,” he added. “I’m glad he took me in, and I’m glad I got to live with him for a while. I still feel his presence, and I think he’s given me a lot of good luck lately. He still gives me a good feeling.”

The Boy said he plans to spend the summer training and staying focused on his basketball skills. When he enrolls at Rocky Mountain College, The Boy is likely to declare either physical education or sports science as his academic major.

Regardless of where or how far his basketball career takes him, The Boy is committed to a path of hard work and selfless dedication.

“I’m just trying to live a good life I guess,” he said.

Bowen Standing Rock — Rocky Boy High School

There is an inaccurate assumption that all Native American musicians are enmeshed in the music styles of drumming and traditional song. These culturally rich expressions of Native pride are, and will remain, central to tribal identity for generations to come. But as with any culture, it is made richer by reaching beyond what is widely accepted to incorporate the edgy and nonconforming.

Bowen Standing Rock is a music trailblazer on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation. He is a young man with a vision, willing to put his art and music on the line in pursuit of bigger aspirations.

“Bowen is seen by both his peers and the staff of Rocky Boy (Schools) as a leader who strives for excellence,” wrote Rocky Boy Schools English teacher, Jennifer Duncan. “He is always willing to put forth extra effort to achieve his dreams.”

A senior at Rocky Boy, Standing Rock is a musician and composer who already has established his own Internet music production company.

“I grew up with hip-hop and old Motown — Marvin Gaye and stuff like that,” Standing Rock said of his early music influences. “Nobody knows who Marvin Gaye is today, but my Grandma and my Dad listened to a bunch of it.”

“I’m mostly into metal though,” Standing Rock added. “Metallica, Deafheaven, Ghost — a lot of really underground stuff. It’s pretty fun just to discover new sounds that nobody’s ever heard.”

This eclectic mix of musical influences has led to “pvrrfekt,” a collaborative Internet music website that posts free audio files of original music. Pvrrfekt has already drawn the attention of music producers across North America.

“A group of friends from the Internet just came together and started something big,” Standing Rock said. “It’s a smaller group, so we’re like a family. I record something that I really like, and then I send it to them, and they’ll send me something back. We all work together to make different things.”

Given Standing Rock’s references to metal and hip-hop, you could be excused for assuming the music on pvrrfekt might be ear-splitting, rhythmic rap. It’s not.

Many of the audio files on pvrrfekt are subtle, flowing compositions that emphasize complex sounds and variations. If you’re old enough to remember Enya or Enigma, you might have a general idea of where Standing Rock’s inspirations draw from — only 25 years younger and hipper.

“I’m a purity geek I guess,” Standing Rock said of his compositional style. “I just wait patiently until I like what I hear, and then I put it out. I just release whatever’s all right I guess. It’s fun just learning how to record and make different patterns.”

Standing Rock’s talent has not gone unnoticed.

In April, Standing Rock was invited to the 22nd Annual American Indian Business Leadership Conference held in Chandler, Arizona. He is also the 2016 recipient of the Montana GEAR UP Achievement Grant sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education.

Standing Rock has enrolled at the University of Montana, where he plans to major in business management, with a special emphasis on mass media.

“It’s my dream just to work with some big artists,” he said of his career aspirations, “and possibly get some scores for movies. That’s my big goal, to get into the film industry.”