Mahpiya Luta Middle School students traveled to the University of Notre Dame in Indiana for the annual Middle School Pilgrimage. Hosted by the Alliance for Catholic Education’s American Indian Catholic Schools Network (AICSN), the pilgrimage began in 2023 with two schools and 22 students. Each year the gathering has grown. This year, eight member schools represented 49 students, making it the highest attended AICSN pilgrimage to date.

This special experience gives students the opportunity to develop and deepen their faith, bolster their sense of identity and learn about college access to inspire future academic dreams. Attendees traveled from Minnesota, New Mexico, Nebraska, South Dakota, Arizona and Montana to participate in this event. The gathering fosters an important cultural exchange between Indigenous tribal youths to build community and solidarity with fellow students.

Throughout the pilgrimage, students engaged in a variety of activities that bring college life and leadership into focus. They participated in simulated college classes for a first-hand look at the classroom university experience. They also visited Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto and the Indigenous Art of the Americas exhibition at Notre Dame’s Raclin Murphy Museum of Art.

Students also toured the tri-campus community of Notre Dame, St. Mary’s University and Holy Cross College. Visiting these prestigious institutions and beautiful campuses are an inspiration for these students and plants seeds as they envision their future college academic paths.

The Middle School Pilgrimage offered an unforgettable opportunity for Mahpiya Luta students to expand their world and mark the start of a new journey – to recognize possibilities as they get ready to start high school and continue to grow as leaders rooted in faith, culture and academic excellence. The middle schoolers celebrated their achievements, connected with fellow Indigenous peers and considered their future pathways to college. Mahpiya Luta is grateful to the AICSN for this special program.