Morgan LaRocque

The story of a Rugby High graduate attending Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., now appears on a page from the college’s website featuring students from many walks of life.

Morgan LaRocque, who graduated with Rugby High’s Class of 2020, takes a spotlight on the “Stories from Student Life” page on concordiacollege.edu.

LaRocque, who joked that people would “ask for her mom’s famous gullet recipe after all this publicity,” visited home on a recent school break. She described how her studies at Concordia would help her reach her goals in life. The sophomore majors in English/language arts with a minor in psychology.

“Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always loved to hear stories from my parents or grandparents,” LaRocque said. “My mom used to read me the Harry Potter books when I was younger and I actually think she’s the main reason I fell in love with reading,” LaRocque said of her mother, Stephanie, a clinical psychologist working in Belcourt schools.

“When I entered elementary and high school, I naturally excelled in reading, writing, phonics and grammar because I loved reading so much. I wanted to have a career in something that I loved doing, so why not just be an English major?” LaRocque added.

LaRocque said she decided to minor in psychology after shadowing her mother at work. “My mom always comes home and talks about “her kids” as if they are her own because she cares so much about them,” LaRocque said. “I’ve always been interested in how the brain works and knowing what the students’ needs are and how to accommodate them properly.”

LaRocque said moving from small town life in Rugby and being connected to the relatively small town of Belcourt on the Turtle Mountain Reservation to the larger Fargo-Moorhead area “was definitely an adjustment at first. I was lucky to room with someone I actually knew from Rugby. We figured everything out together which was very nice. I really enjoy living in the Fargo Moorhead area because it takes me 5 minutes to get to Target instead of an hour.”

LaRocque said she still keeps in touch with friends and former teachers from high school. “My roommate I had last year is Sasha Klein and we still see each other a lot on campus and visit. There are a few classmates that I still meet up with from time to time and I keep up with everyone else on social media,” LaRocque said.

“There are a few teachers I still visit with, and I actually want to give a special shout out to Kari Hill. It feels so strange to say her first name,” she added. “If it weren’t for Kari Hill I wouldn’t be at Concordia. She has always been one of the kindest, most generous and caring people I’ve ever met. She pushed me to pursue music in high school and college.”

“I am in the Concordia Symphonic Band and the flute co-section leader. Concordia livestreams our concerts so after every performance Mrs. Hill will always text me saying how much she loved the concert and how good of a job we did,” LaRocque added.

LaRocque, who describes herself as “a proud Anishinaabe and Alutiiq” said she intends to use her education to strengthen her ties with her own Native American community and those of others across the country.

The Anishinaabe people live in a part of North America surrounding the Great Lakes Region north and south, extending west to North Dakota. The Alutiiq people live in the Kenai Pennisula, Prince William Sound and other parts of Alaska and Canada.

“I always try to educate myself as much as possible, not just on my own Tribe but also others as well,” LaRocque said. “Another important aspect of staying connected with my heritage is visiting my family and conversing and sharing all of our stories. Traditions are passed down orally, and spending time with family is how I learn these traditions. Family is very important when it comes to my culture.”

LaRocque said she also does “lots of beading” to create lanyards, necklaces and earrings. “I often give those as gifts to people I really cherish,” LaRocque said. “Since I love reading, I always try to read books by Indigenous authors, especially of those from my reservation,” she added.

“My plan has always been to teach the Indigenous youth,” LaRocque added. “I want to make those close connections with my students that will motivate them to prosper in life. I want to help them succeed. I want to be there for them when they may have no one. I want to watch that light bulb go off in their mind when they are learning. I want to play a smaller role in the greater picture of their life. I want the future generation to prove everyone wrong. I want the future generation to prosper. I want the future generation to take the world by their hands. I want the future generation to spark change. The future is Indigenous.”

“Sometime after I graduate, my plan is to go back to my reservation and teach there for a few years,” LaRocque said, adding she “might stay there.”

“But I’ve always wanted to live in Washington or Oregon. If I could teach on Indigenous lands in Washington or Oregon that would be ideal,” she added.

LaRocque said she hopes to educate non-Native students about Native American culture as well when she has the opportunity.

“I am actually doing a clinical in one of my education courses right now with a teacher who is Native American,” LaRocque said. “She incorporates her culture into the classroom in multiple ways whether it be through certain activities or even just answering questions the students have about her culture.”

“One of the major components of what I want to incorporate into my classroom is The Seven Grandfather Teachings which are humility, bravery, honesty, wisdom, truth, respect, and love. It is something that can be taught universally; it’s not secluded to one culture. This is something that could easily tie into the social emotional learning that many schools strive to incorporate,” LaRocque added.

On Concordia College’s website, LaRocque also speaks of things she learned last summer during an internship with the Indian Education Program in Fargo through the Pivotal Experience in Applied Knowledge, or PEAK Program, funded by a Mellon Foundation grant.

“I learned quite a lot,” LaRocque said of her internship via electronic message later. “I worked with Melody Staebner, the head coordinator of the program and Darlene Boyle, the program assistant, for about six weeks. Their goal is to keep students in school so they can find success. My duties with the internship were basically to shadow/observe them and assist them with anything they needed.”

“I had the opportunity to sit in on meetings, help gather food/resources and deliver them to families, attend events, and more. I learned how much time and effort goes into every task, planning events, meeting with students, etc. I really got to see behind the scenes of the Indian Education Program,” LaRocque said.

Although LaRocque’s college life and experiences keep her busy, she said she’s found time to visit Rugby and relax. To celebrate Native American Heritage Month, LaRocque said she’s enjoyed her favorite dishes, including boulettes, fry bread and “my mom’s famous gullet.” Gullet is dense, baking powder bread popular in Turtle Mountain Chippewa culture.

“As I am writing this I will have to go back to campus in two days for another few weeks of studying before finals, which I am not excited about,” LaRocque said. “But it was really nice to come home and be surrounded by family as well as relax.”