Joe Masters

Being a non-traditional student in a Masters level program, I found the thought of asking for help a foreign idea. I was so used to figuring things out by myself; it was awkward asking my peers or staff for help, maybe because of my age as an older student. However, the support that the staff, faculty and other Buder students provided me was invaluable. There were certain days when I just needed extra support and that would be the day when an alum would stop by the Buder Center just to ask how we were doing, or give us “stress bags” before finals, or host pot lucks for us. They were like a security blanket for me and gave me the confidence to complete my MSW. I believe if you are feeling safe and confident you can build upon those characteristics and act on those feelings or perspective. Confidence is a tool we have and can use it to strengthen ourselves.

Living on the rez with substantial barriers, as a young man I was in trouble, I wanted to help others who have been in similar scenarios as I have. More often than not, the help I received was not from programs, or mandated system, rather it was mainly from likeminded people who offered the most assistance.  In the fall of 2010, I was awarded the Ronald E. McNair scholarship.  The McNair program offered programs to build your resume, enhance public speaking skills, design and prepare for oral and poster presentation and prepare one for graduate school. From there, I teamed up with Professor Timothy Hilton and we began working on Native American issues. He encouraged me to go to graduate school. One day he told me about this place-Washington University in St. Louis Social Work program.  I had never envisioned going to get a master degree, but a degree in Social Work seemed like a perfect fit. I applied to the MSW program and got in. I chose the Brown school because my background in Native American Indian Studies program at Northern Michigan University. This experience left a footprint there and I wanted to build upon that print at Wash U. I saw that Wash U had a place where students like me could go and feel safe and welcome. I needed a place like this to survive away from home. A Place to share my thoughts and ideas and talk to others where I
didn’t not have to do Indian 101 again. The Buder Center provided a safe place for me to share my tribal culture as a member of the Sault Ste. Marie tribe of Chippewa Indians.

When I moved to St. Louis my daughter Liliana Loonsfoot Masters was 14 years old. Liliana, my daughter made a huge sacrifice when I left her behind to go to graduate school. I felt good that I left her with her mother on the reservations. It was important for me to know she was learning from our tribal elders and embracing and honoring our traditional culture and values. I kept in touch with her through social media, which was so critical to maintaining a strong relationship with my daughter. Liliana was my strength all through graduate school.

She grew up around universities of higher education. There were many times during my undergraduate education when I had to take her to class with me, for one, I did not have a baby sister and two, it was important for me that she learn about colleges. I wanted her exposed to universities, so she would not be intimated by them when she was college ready. These experiences I believe created confidence in her, to know she would be going to college one day, if she chose to. What I respected of the faculty, was when I would see them later in the semester, they would ask me “how was Lily?,” not “How was your daughter,” they remember her name. That was so special to me, knowing they cared and heard the stories I would tell them about her.