"I discovered that I loved working with children, when I worked for my own Tribal Recreation Program while still in high school," says Tracie Buckless, a counselor at Ronan Middle School in Ronan. For the past sixteen years, Ms. Buckless has worked in three reservation areas - the Wind River, Blackfeet and Salish-Kootenai - to improve communication among parents, students and schools. Ms. Buckless has served on numerous committees designed to address community problems ranging from environmental concerns to racial tensions. As a member of several college boards, she has worked on curriculum development, expansion of student services and numerous multi-cultural issues. At her school, Ms. Buckless has designed and implemented the "Native American Dance Club" program, which emphasizes community and cross-cultural exchange.
