Students celebrate MLK day

Last Thursday local schools, Head Start students and various organizations attended the Salish Kootenai College’s Diversity Fair in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Department chair for the social work program at the college, Co Carew, said the diversity fair has been going on for a number of years and is an attempt to keep the memory of King alive.

“MLK opened the door for the Native American community,” she said. “He taught about social justice and we want to keep that voice alive.”

Several stations were arranged in the college. The Agency on Aging had a station where children drew pictures that were later ironed onto a blanket that would be made into a quilt and donated to the women’s shelter, Safe Harbor.

The Lower Flathead Valley Community Foundation awarded the college a grant to offset the costs of the fair.

A series of films were run in the library conference room from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Tuesday through Thursday in honor of King. Some of the movies included “Super Size Me,” “Hopi: Songs of the Fourth World” and “The Cats of Mirikitani.”

The festivities lasted three days, with Tuesday marking a roundtable discussion on food and justice, presented by Farm to College. Wednesday the peace and justice film series continued and “diversity through dance” was performed at the Arlee-Charlo Theatre.

“The whole goal is to create awareness of different cultures that one might be aware of if they go to those communities,” Carew said.

She said one way to do that is through dance. Visiting faculty member Tracee Jamison shared her African dance traditions with members of the community.

Jamison is a NASA scientist who is currently teaching engineering classes at the college, and began African dance classes at the Yoga Heart Studio in Polson yesterday. Her husband, Yumi Sunshine, plays African drums and will share his music traditions with those at the classes as well. The couple performed at the diversity fair on Thursday.

“Dance is a beautiful way to pass down traditions,” Carew said. “I feel very honored to know the traditional dance.”