Student Spotlight: Natalie Miller

Boozhoo, my name is Miskwa Anungo Kwe, (Red Star Woman). Most know me as Natalie Miller. I am a Lac Courte Oreilles tribal member.  I am also a first-generation college student.  I am a mother to three children. I currently live in Watertown, South Dakota.

I decided to apply with Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College because it so close to home and my older brother and younger sister where both students here but didn’t graduate. I plan on changing that cycle by being the first to graduate college.

I think LCOOC is different because it’s smaller than most colleges, which means you get more attention from the instructors. I am able to learn more about our culture since the college and outreach sites are right here in our communities.

I have to say my favorite class is Intro to Sociology with James McLaughlin. His classes were fun and informative at the same time. Even though classes were through zoom, we all still participated and enjoyed class time.

I am an AISES member (American Indian Science Engineering Society).  During my first year of college, I received and email about getting students to attend a meeting. I checked it out that fall semester and have been going to meetings every week since. I also attended the National AISES conference this past fall in Phoenix, Arizona, which was very fun by the way!

I may return this fall and pursue my bachelor’s degree. But my plan is to move back home to LCO and help our struggling tribal members with their addictions. 

Give it a shot. You might like it, you might not. But you will never know until you try it.

**Natalie will be featured in the March edition of Aabidaanagidoon.