"Lila Mechaley knows wild dogs are a problem on the Santee Sioux Reservation. And despite her tribe's efforts to control feral dogs, she knows the Santee could use some support.

Madeline McAlister wants to help. The Lincoln High School senior recently won a $1,000 grant from the National Environmental Education Foundation to study wild dogs on the Nebraska reservation.

"We've never had anyone come down and help address this problem before," said Mechaley, village clerk for Santee in northeastern Nebraska. "I'm kind of glad she picked our reservation."

McAlister completed her research as part of the EnvironMentors program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The program matches high school students who are potential first-generation college graduates with mentors from environmental fields.

From October to December, McAlister went to the reservation eight times to gather information about feral dogs, or "rez dogs," as they're known by the Santee. She plans to return for the tribe's powwow June 17-19 to help raise money for a dog shelter. She also helped the tribe apply for grants for a shelter and a sterilization clinic."

Get the Story:
Kevin Abourezk: Lincoln High senior working to manage "rez dogs" (The Lincoln Journal Star 5/17)