Founded in 1994 by Curly Bear Wagner, historian and great-grandson of the famous Blackfeet Indian leader, Red Crow, Going-to-the-Sun Institute (GTTS), is a cross-cultural educational organization whose goal is to enhance and share traditional Blackfeet knowledge and culture with Indian and non-Indian people through a variety of educational and outdoor programs.

A former cultural officer for the Blackfeet Nation, Mr. Wagner has worked for many years promoting cross-cultural understanding and the preservation of traditional Blackfeet Indian culture and Sacred Sites on and adjacent to the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana. He is internationally recognized as one of the outstanding leaders in his field and over the past few years has become increasingly involved in providing education, leadership and representation on behalf of many Indian people through his work with several museums and organizational board appointments.

Lake near the Blackfeet reservation.

Throughout history Indian people have lived in close harmony with the many plants and animals of this unique creation, taking only what was necessary and always offering thanks to the Creator and Mother Earth. Although much has been lost in the last 150 years since the non-Indian people came to these lands, respect of Creation and traditional knowledge remains strong among many Indian people. Our physical and spiritual strength is drawn from this place and the people with whom we share these sacred lands. It is of utmost importance to retain and build on our traditional knowledge and cultural values so as to better understand and cope with the many challenges of today's world. We believe that these values should be learned, or re-learned if necessary by our young people as well as shared with all the peoples of the Earth that wish to make their world a better place.

GTTS is currently working on a CD-ROM series to record history from the First Nations' perspective. Material is being researched and organized by Curly Bear Wagner for the first three volumes focusing on the Lewis & Clark Expedition and a volume on the Blackfeet. Other topics will soon follow with the goal of expanding to other Indian nations and incorporating relevant themes while preserving the knowledge and oral traditions passed down from one generation to the next.

As GTTS grows and is able to bring much-needed employment opportunities to the Blackfeet Nation, there are plans to organize an outdoor educational institute, establish a cultural day camp for Blackfeet children and build a memorial. The Institute plans in the future to engage in sponsored and contract research on subjects relating to the Blackfeet Indians and the Reservation that may not be directly related to the production of educational materials for sale to the general public. There is a need for research in the area of historic and cultural preservation and interpretation. This includes archaeological, historical, anthropological research, oral histories, and other studies relating to Blackfeet cultural heritage.