meskwaki settlement school parent portal

Our Mission

Our mission is to prepare students to be responsible, independent life-long learners, preserving the language and culture of the Meskwaki Tribe. By working together in a safe environment, students will grow culturally, intellectually, emotionally, physically, and socially.

About the Settlement School

The Sac and Fox Settlement School was originally established as a Day School by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Next, it became part of the South Tama County Community School District, an Iowa public school system. In 1972, the school was closed and Tribal members applied for the school to become BIA operated.

Our Philosophy

The Meskwaki Settlement School will operate for its youth a comprehensive, bilingual, bicultural, community-based educational environment, designed to incorporate the wisdom and beauty of the Meskwaki Culture with the knowledge of our modern technological society.

School Board Election Qualifications

The school board is made up of five positions. To be qualified as a nominee for the regular school board election, you must be:

Individuals Qualified to Vote

Individuals qualified to vote in the School Board Election include enrolled members of the Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, twenty-one (21) years of age or older; those residing within twenty-five miles of the Meskwaki Settlement; and any parent/legal guardian of a student currently attending the Meskwaki Settlement School, at least twenty-one (21) years old.

Our Mission

The Meskwaki Youth Development Program is committed to improving the quality of life for tribal youth who are residing on the Settlement and in surrounding communities by providing programs and activities that support our culture.

Our Vision

We are dedicated to providing tribal youth with opportunities and resources that help them realize and strengthen the skills they possess and develop new ones from which they can draw upon to make positive life choices as they grow.

Youth Services Events

We host a variety of events throughout the year, including a Halloween Powwow, a Veterans Powwow, winter break activities, summer break activities, and summer Youth Employment Enrichment Program events. View upcoming events below.

Our Philosophy

Making life better and meeting the changing needs of all Meskwaki Youth means:

Our Values

Miskawiteewenwi – Courage. We need courage to answer questions. We need courage to take our lives where our elders wish us to, to take the challenges life has in store for us and to pray – asking for guidance also takes some courage. Be courageous!

Our Priorities

The Meskwaki Youth Development Program has created a pillars of success model. Our pillars can be best described as the support sticks that you can find in our longhouses — each stick has a purpose and provides support for the whole house. That house guides us and keeps us grounded in our work with our Meskwaki Youth.

Who We Serve

438 children are currently enrolled in Meskwaki Youth Development Services. We have seen a 43.6% increase in enrollment services since the start of the pandemic. Outlined below is a breakdown of demographics for the youth we serve.