September Student of the Month

Scholarship: Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF)
School: Montana State University
Degree: Native American Studies
GPA: 3.90

Community Service

• Hopa Mountain Scholars of Promise Mentor
• Buffalo Nations Food System Initiative Volunteer
• Iwikua Farm Volunteer
• Farm to Crag Panelist
• Montana State University SAIG Alliance Member
• Yellowstone County Charity Event Coordinator
• QuestBridge Scholar Alumni

Caleb Williams was born and raised in Billings, Montana and is enrolled at Mole Lake, Wisconsin with the Sokaogon Chippewa Community. He is a descendent of the Assiniboine-Sioux Tribe in Wolf Point, Montana and Chippewa-Cree Tribe in Rocky Boy, Montana. His Indian name is Waabishkaa Giizhig, which means Bright Sky, and was given to him by his great grandfather Pete McGeshick Sr.

In high school, Caleb was the first Native American Valedictorian at West High in his hometown Billings, Montana. He went on to complete his undergraduate bachelor’s degree at Amherst College in Massachusetts in Environmental Studies. He now attends Montana State University pursuing his master’s degree in Native American Studies with a 3.90 GPA.

He is very proud of his Indigenous heritage and happy to be utilizing his environmental knowledge to strengthen Native food systems. He is creating an Indigenous food producers directory in Montana to connect Indigenous producers not only with consumers, but also with each other to create a network. He partners with the Buffalo Nations Food System Initiative, tends to various gardens, and collaborates with other Indigenous graduate students on campus.

As a child, Thanksgiving and Christmas in Wolf Point on the Fort Peck Reservation were his first glimpse into the hardships that Indigenous communities face, specifically involving food accessibility. His family always had enough for the holidays, but disparities between Wolf Point and Billings were unmistakable. His master’s project aims to alleviate the need he has seen on his reservation and other reservations across Montana by increasing accessibility and affordability of healthy foods. Support from his grandmother, Florence Garcia, reminds him that the work he is doing isn’t for himself, but for the betterment of his community and his people.

“Being a Native Forward Scholar means that there is a prominent, Indigenous organization that believes in me. You can have the skills and means to be successful, but self-doubt and uncertainty can still creep in. Whenever I’m feeling down, I remember that Native Forward funds me because they believe I can finish the job here at graduate school. Native Forward Scholars Fund supports me not only as a student, but as an Indigenous student doing culturally relevant work. I feel honored to be representing Native Forward and hope that I can embody all of the values they expect of students they sponsor. I’m grateful to be a Native Forward Scholar and hope other people apply to become one as well.”

Want to be our next Student of the Month? Apply here!