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The American Indian Higher Education Consortium Mourns the Passing of Visionary Tribal College Leader Joe McDonald
Alexandria, VA – Dec. 19, 2023 – The American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) mourns the passing of Joe McDonald, founder of Salish Kootenai College and a visionary leader of the Tribal College Movement. Dr. McDonald passed away Thursday, December 14, 2023, at the age of 90.
“It’s always difficult when we lose an important Tribal College leader,” said AIHEC Interim President John Phillips. “I believe the best way to honor their leadership and commitment is for us to follow their example, such as the dedication and perseverance Joe McDonald embodied as he worked to found Salish Kootenai College for the benefit of his community and future generations.”
Dr. Joe McDonald was born in St. Ignatius, Montana, on the Flathead Indian Reservation. He is a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. McDonald received an associate’s degree in education from Western Montana College in 1953 and a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Montana in 1958. McDonald earned his M.S. in 1965 and his Ed.D. in 1981, both from the University of Montana. In 1989, he received the University of Montana Distinguished Alumni Award. He worked as a high school principal and assistant superintendent from 1968 through 1976 in Ronan, Montana, and created the first Native American studies program in Montana Public Schools. He then began laying the foundation for Salish Kootenai College and was named its president in 1978.
Dr. McDonald served on the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council from 1974 to 1982. He served as a board member for the American Indian College Fund, the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, the American Indian Business Leaders, and several other state, tribal and national educational organizations. In addition, he served as a liaison between AIHEC and the Carnegie Foundation and was instrumental in launching Tribal College: Journal of American Indian Higher Education. He served on the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and the College Board Commission on Minority Access and Retention.
A national leader in American Indian education, President McDonald received University of Montana’s highest recognition – an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in May of 2005. The University of Montana Foundation selected him as one of the “Fifty Greatest Grizzlies” that same year. He was recognized by Senator Conrad Burns in the 2002 Montana State Legislation Assembly for his endless labor to promote Indian Education in the State of Montana. He is the 2001 recipient of the University of Montana Department of Educational Leadership Excellence Award, which is awarded to former distinguished students “in recognition of outstanding contributions to education through vision and leadership.”
Dr. McDonald received the Montana Ambassadors “Michael P. Malone” Educator of the Year Award of 2000 “for outstanding contributions to the economy and well-being of the State of Montana through entrepreneurial vision and courage.” He delivered the Knapp Memorial Lecture, challenging the National USDA Cooperative Extension to build effective partnerships with American Indian communities through the work of the Land Grant colleges. In 1999, the Lee Newspapers named him one of Montana’s 100 most influential people of the 1900s. In 1998, the U.S. Department of the Interior honored him “in recognition and appreciation of his unfailing dedication and superior leadership in support of the creation and implementation of President’s Executive Order 13021 of Tribal Colleges and Universities”. In 1996, he was awarded the Montana Governor’s Humanity Award. He holds honorary doctorate degrees from Gonzaga University in Washington State and Montana State University and was named distinguished alum of the University of Montana and Western Montana College. Dr. McDonald was inducted into the Montana Indian Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008 as a coach & all-around athlete.
A public service and celebration of Joe’s life will be held on January 17, 2024, beginning with a 10:00 am Funeral Mass service at the St. Ignatius Catholic Church in St. Ignatius, MT., with a 12:00 pm Celebration of Life luncheon at the Salish Kootenai College Gym (the Joe) in Pablo, MT.
The American Indian Higher Education Consortium sends condolences to Dr. Joe McDonald’s family, friends, Salish Kootenai College, and the Salish and Kootenai Confederated Tribes on the loss of this great leader. The impact he had on his community, tribes, state, and nation will live on for generations to come.
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