Reema
Chippewa-Cree
Blackfeet Community College

Raised by her maternal grandparents in the mountains of Montana's Glacier National Park, Reema describes her childhood home as filled with warmth, security and love. After graduating from high school, Reema says she "had big plans for my future. I wanted to attend the University of Montana but I had no money for college and neither did my grandparents."

She married right out of high school and spent the next 11 years traveling with her husband, who was in the Army. A tragic accident that left her husband paralyzed caused the family to reevaluate their priorities. "This accident altered our lifestyle so dramatically that we had to return to the Blackfeet Reservation for financial reasons," describes Reema.

After returning to the reservation, she decided to enroll at Blackfeet Community College, a decision that has changed her world for the better. "College has been an extremely rewarding experience and I have enjoyed it immensely. I have exceeded all expectations, earning a 4.0 GPA. I truly love to attend classes," she elaborates.

This fall American Indian College Fund named her a Time Warner Tribal scholar for her academic excellence, demonstrated leadership and her service and commitment to the American Indian community.

With the support of the Fund assisting her endeavors, Reema's personal expectations have also grown. She explains, "I believe in myself and I know that I will take my education as far as I possibly can." She sees herself as a college graduate, a graduate student and predicts, "I know I can be Dr. Reemat, linguist or published novelist, someday."