Fort Peck Community College

How traditional teachings shaped a life of service, civic courage, and leadership for the Fort Peck community and beyond.

At Western Native Voice, we believe leadership is not built on titles — it is built on character, responsibility, and service to community. That is why we are honored to spotlight Lawrence “Larry” Wetsit, an enrolled member of the Assiniboine Tribe from the Fort Peck Reservation. Throughout his life — as Tribal Chairman, educator, cultural leader, and advocate for equitable access to emergency telecommunications — Larry has demonstrated that true leadership begins at home, in ceremony, and in the teachings passed down by elders. We chose to feature Larry because his life reflects what we strive to cultivate in the next generation: leaders rooted in culture, guided by humility and responsibility, and committed to serving the people.

Here is his story in his own words.

Please introduced yourself and your background.

My name is Lawrence “Larry” Wetsit, MBA. I am an enrolled member of the Assiniboine Tribe and reside on the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Reservation in Wolf Point. My traditional name is Wamni Sinde Ombi Ota, which means “Uses Many Eagle Tailfeathers.” That name was given to me in 1954 by my grandfather, Joshua Wetsit. It was originally given to him by a Blackfoot warrior who had killed one of his uncles, Night Traveler, during a horse-stealing raid in the late 1800s.

I am now retired. Over the years, I worked as a counselor at Wolf Point High School, Minerals Director and Tax Administrator for the Fort Peck Tribes, and I served one term as Tribal Chairman. I later worked for Nemont Telephone Cooperative for twenty years as a senior manager. I also served as Vice President of Fort Peck Community College and most recently, as a Cultural Advisor with Johns Hopkins University-School of Nursing.

During my time at Nemont, I was the only senior manager in a non-Indian telephone company in the United States. Because of that role, I testified before committees in both the Senate and the House regarding telecommunications needs on Native lands. Based on a study that I conducted, with Frazer High School students, on telephone access in the Frazer community, I was able to convinced the Federal Communications Commission to create a special telephone program for Indian reservations. I explained that Native people primarily used the phone to call 911 for emergency services rather than for social visits and telephone access could be the difference between life or death for Native people.

Photo: While working as Senior Manager for Nemont Telephone, Larry was featured in the Rural Connections Magazine 1992 .

That effort led to what became known as the “Dollar Phone” program, which provided landline and cellular service to low-income residents on reservations for $1.00 per month. The program helped Indian families and also supported the companies serving Indian lands. Today, all phones—active or not—must be able to call 911. I always tell people to keep an old charged cell phone in their vehicle because it will still reach 911.

Outside of my professional roles, I served as Chairman of the Frazer School Board running as a write-in candidate, Chairman of the A&S Board of Directors, Chairman of Fort Peck, Inc., and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fort Peck Community College for 20 years. I was also appointed as a Commissioner to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks by Governor Steve Bullock.

In 2014, I was one of four people who received the Jeannette Rankin Civil Liberties Award from the ACLU of Montana. That was for a lawsuit we brought against the Wolf Point School District for failing to redraw voting districts to give Native people an equal chance to be elected to the school board.

Some of my most meaningful work was serving as Keeper of the Assiniboine Medicine Lodge for 25 years and as the last remaining member of the Assiniboine Claims Committee, which is responsible for keeping our land claim alive.

Photo: July 1981, the Assiniboine Claims Commitee traveled to Washington, DC for a meeting on the Assiniboine Land Claim to advocate for land between the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers. L to R: Carl Fourstar, Leslie Fourstar, Otto Cantrell, Larry Wetsit.

But the most satisfying role of my life has been raising my two sons, Melvin and JD, and my daughter, Stacie, with my wife, Edna.

Q: How did your upbringing shape your spirituality and leadership?

My father died when I was three years old, so I was raised by my mother, Nellie, in the country outside Oswego on the reservation. My mother was raised in a traditional home in the Lodgepole community on the Fort Belknap Reservation, so throughout my early life that is where we attended spiritual activities and events.

I was my paternal grandparents’ oldest grandson, so they kept me as much as my mother would allow. They were the second biggest influence on my spirituality after my mother. They took me to ceremonies, powwows, hunting, and fishing, and showed me how to work hard.

From my mother, I learned to smudge and pray, to always speak kindly to others, to protect women from harm, and to raise my children to be better than myself by being a good role model every day. She taught me to always talk up to children, not down.

From my grandparents, I learned to be respectful, to listen and learn in ceremonies, and to honor elders. When I was about 10 years old, my grandmother told me, “Grandson, when you grow up, I want you to be Tribal Chairman for me. Would you do that?” I didn’t know what that meant at the time, but I fulfilled her wish in 1989 at the age of 36.

Grandparents can greatly influence grandchildren by expressing their expectations.

I always remind children that there is no such thing as a dumb Indian. Our people built the greatest pyramids in the world. We are food producers, builders, and we still maintain our original connection to the Creator. We have the ear of the Creator when we need it.

Q: How did you become Tribal Chairman?

In early September 1989, a large group gathered in Wolf Point at the casino building. Former Chairman Norman Hollow called and asked me to attend but did not explain why.

When I arrived, I was told to sit at a table in front where elders were seated. Over 100 people filled the room. Each elder spoke about the need for new leadership. Norman then turned to me and said they were asking me to file for election as Tribal Chairman. They would raise money to support my campaign and ask relatives to vote for me.

Billings Gazette Photo: After being elected Chairman of the Fort Peck Tribes, Larry appeared on the front page of the Billings Gazette in 1990.

After listening to the elders speak of their families’ needs, I did not dare say no. I told them I would try my hardest and asked them to come to my office if elected and guide me if I was not leading correctly. Several people stepped forward to run alongside me. I filed for election together, with senior elder Joe Red Thunder as vice-chairman.

I visited the home of every registered voter, even those I believed would not support me. If elected, I would represent everyone.

The Traditional Chief told me, “Nephew, you’re not going to satisfy all the people. Just try to satisfy six out of ten and tell the other four to think about it for a while.”

When I served, elders addressed me as “Ade,” meaning father. It was a traditional way of showing respect for leadership. That form of respect has been lost as cultural teachings have faded in homes.

Q: How are traditional Chiefs appointed in Assiniboine culture?

When the Assiniboine appoint a Chief, families and societies first meet privately to determine if a member meets the qualifications: honesty, humility, kindness, bravery, compassion, truthfulness, and the ability to unite the people.

At the meeting, the candidate usually does not know their name will be offered and is not allowed to speak. When a name is called, the announcer asks if anyone votes against the person. If someone raises their hand, another name is offered. The process continues until a name receives unanimous support.

The Chief is then told he must lead until death and has the full support of the people.

Traditional leadership is based not on speeches but on how a person has lived, treated others, spoken, and raised their family.

Q: How did your cultural teachings influence suicide prevention efforts?

While serving as Vice President at FPCC, I met Teresa Brockie, who was working on her PhD at Johns Hopkins. She was researching suicide due to its high prevalence among Native people.

I shared what I learned from my elders and Medicine Lodge ceremonies. In our ceremonies, babies and families receive traditional names from the Chief. Over 25 years, many told me receiving a name made them feel accepted and validated in their Native identity.

I told Teresa I wanted every kindergarten and first-grade student on the reservation to receive a traditional name to see if having a traditional name would have a positive-effect on their life.  It was because I believe a Native person with a strong identity has a lower tendency toward suicide based on my experience with the Medicine Lodge.

Photos:These family and portrait images were taken as part of a photo shoot for training materials Larry used for the “Little Holy One” project.

Instead, Teresa said don’t do that because we could get funding to do that research and maybe develop a solution to help end suicides among native youth.  She was successful in securing research funding and created the “Little Holy One” project, a five-year study with Head Start children and parents measuring cultural factors related to suicide prevention. The study is nearing completion, and I hope it results in a research-based suicide intervention model for tribes nationwide.

The idea wasn’t mine, as I am only a recipient of teachings and knowledge from a long list of elders who came before me. Those teachings and traditional knowledge belong to the Assiniboine Tribe. They are not mine to sell or give away but to be passed on the youth that come behind me.

Q: What are your principles of leadership?

People believe in you when they see you do more than you ask of them. I tried to be the first to arrive at work and the last to leave. I was willing to be a janitor, dishwasher, cook, or babysitter if it helped to get our work completed.

I always try to empower people.

I remind them they were chosen for the job because they were the best. I did not scold them when they made mistakes but offered help.  I encourage growth through helping to find classes to improve their skills, and industry seminars to keep them knowledgeable about the industry. I told my staff that I expect them to someday replace me and be a better leader than I was.

You do not have to be the smartest person in the room. Be a good listener. Be fair. Be honest. Share information. Give people a voice. Lead by example.

Photo: Larry all smiles while conducting a meeting at the Fort Peck Community College where he served as Vice President.

Q: What is the hardest part of leadership?

There will always be those who disagree with your decisions and sometimes its friends or relatives who are the most difficult.

My elders taught me to guard my words. Physical wounds heal. Words that hurt the heart may never heal. Our voice is powerful. It can uplift or destroy. Listen carefully before speaking. Be a good listener first and a powerful speaker second.

Q: What lessons did you learn from difficult leadership experiences?

When I was elected as a write-in candidate to the Frazer School Board, families protested and kept children home for three days. Later, I discovered financial misuse that needed correction. Remember that not everyone who promotes you has pure motives.

As Tax Administrator, I was directed by the Tribal Chairman to implement a Utility Tax on companies using right-of-way on trust land. Major companies sued, and that case went to the United States Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the Tribes. Over the last 39 years, more than $90 million has been collected by the Tribe. That success came from motivated staff, organizational assistance from the Navajo Nation, and a fair court ruling.

After my term as Chairman, I joined Nemont Telephone Cooperative. The general manager told me that he hired me because he watched my actions when I was the Tribal Tax Administrator. He thought that I treated utility companies with fairness and honesty and that is the kind of employees he wanted. 

You never know who is observing your actions.

It is important for tribes to engage in local, county, state, and national affairs. After 20 years of working in management of a utility company, I found that non-native people closely watch the affairs of Tribal government and they don’t have an educated view of reservation economics and our social issues.  This is one factor that prevents state government from working effectively with tribal governments to advance legislative changes that would strengthen reservation economies. Others are watching. Partnerships matter. If we educate others and demonstrate fairness and honesty, they will work with us. Remember: someone is always watching and listening.

Listen carefully before you speak kindly.

Q: Any last words?

Young people need to get involved in local and state politics. As the demographics of the country change and communities of color grow, Native people must ensure their voices are heard and their communities are represented in the decisions that shape their future.