Background
The Lodge Approach (TLA) provides immersive educational and cultural experiences with Indigenous individuals and communities in partnership with Tsetsetas/So’taa’e (Northern Cheyenne) nations and other Tribal individuals and communities.
TLA was founded in 2018 by a family with more than a 50-year relationship with the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, including 10-years of facilitating immersive cultural exchange experiences for students and adults.
The TLA team includes educators with PhDs, master’s degrees, and deep subject-matter expertise, including Indigenous members from two Tribal nations. Together the team brings a depth of immersive educational experience coupled with a collective 80 years of classroom experience.
We pride ourselves in collaborative program design. Please consider this list of signature program offerings as possibilities upon which to build custom educational opportunities.
Four of Our Signature Programs
Educators’ Conference
The Lodge Approach Educators’ Conference is an annual event designed to help K-16 educators incorporate authentic Native content and trauma-informed practices into their teaching. It offers professional development opportunities including renewal hours and college credits. The conference – which is in partnership with and hosted by a tribal college (Chief Dull Knife College) – focuses on culturally responsive pedagogy, collaboration with Indigenous knowledge keepers, and strategies to support students affected by trauma.
Participants engage in workshops, keynote sessions, and cultural experiences such as traditional Sweat Lodge ceremonies. The event also provides access to educational resources and fosters a professional learning community centered on the state of Montana’s Indian Education for All standards. It is open to educators, education leaders, and those interested in deepening their understanding of Native history and culture to enhance student success.
This is a replicable model where we can work with your tribal community and/or tribal college.
Ahtove
Ahtove.org is a free, interactive educational resource dedicated to sharing and exploring the culture, language, and traditions of the Northern Cheyenne people. The site is designed for anyone interested in learning about another culture while also reflecting on their own, with a special emphasis on openness, storytelling, and personal insight. Ahtove.org serves as both a cultural bridge and an educational tool, fostering understanding, respect, and personal growth. It can be the scaffold for other Indigenous people groups who want to share their culture, language and traditions.
Immersive Cultural Exchange Student Trips
The Lodge Approach’s School Programs offer a culturally grounded educational experience that fosters critical thinking and deeper learning by exposing students to diverse perspectives, particularly Indigenous worldviews. They encourage both students and educators to move beyond colonial frameworks and appreciate the value of multiple knowledge systems. Through experiential and service-based learning, the programs help build confidence, self-awareness, and a strong sense of community.
- Authentic Native Content: Programs are developed and delivered by local and national K-16 content experts, including Indigenous knowledge keepers, to help students understand both historic and modern contributions of Native peoples.
- Experiential Learning: Students participate in hands-on service learning projects in areas such as tribal housing, health care, and environmental mitigation, providing real-world context and fostering a deeper connection to the material.
- Collaborative Curriculum: The Lodge Approach collaborates with schools and educators to tailor lessons, often working with tribal partners to ensure cultural accuracy and relevance. This includes place-based and cross-cultural learning experiences.
- Trauma-Informed Practices: Programs are designed to support the whole student, incorporating trauma-informed educational strategies to maximize classroom experience and student well-being.
- Support for Rural and Homeland Communities: The Lodge Approach brings alternative education sources and support networks to rural areas and native homeland communities.
- Through experiential and service learning the programs help build confidence, self awareness, a strong sense of community and reciprocity between tribes.
- We can create reciprocal learning opportunities between Native communities.
Basketball Clinics with professional basketball player and author, Romeo Travis
Romeo Travis is a seasoned basketball coach and player with extensive experience in developing young athletes. His clinics are an exciting and enriching experience for participants. His memoir, In Spite Of, recounts his life journey from high school basketball in Akron, Ohio, to his professional career overseas. The book focuses on his experiences and the lessons he learned along the way. Travis played alongside LeBron James at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, and the book touches on their shared history and the pressures they faced as young athletes, including being featured in the documentary “More Than a Game“. The basketball clinics not only improve athletic performance but also promote discipline, confidence, and teamwork among participants. This event reflects our ongoing commitment to youth development and community outreach. Schools interested in reading his book in the classroom can also schedule Q&A with Travis in advance of a clinic. We are also in the process of developing supplemental curricula to accompany the book and complement instruction in the classroom.
Augmented Reality in the Classroom
For More Information Contact:
Sam Chestnut, President
Sam.Chestnut@thelodgeapproach.org
John Bennett, Founding Faculty
John.Bennett@thelodgeapproach.org