Culture shared with students

Sept. 23-25 was Native American Awareness Week and the People’s Center in Pablo hosted three days of events for local schools.

“Part of what the People’s Center does is educate the public,” Lucy Vanderburg, program manager for the People’s Center, said. “Native American Awareness Week just gives us another opportunity to do that.”

Nearly 1,200 kids from around Lake County, St. Regis and Victor visited the center.

“All the schools in Lake County came except Ronan — they do their own thing for Native American Awareness Week,” Vanderburg said.

Students were able to participate in 13 stations including the museum, making yaya dolls, making teepees, Kootenai and Salish language stations, making ring-toss games, fry bread and dry meat station, double-ball, stick game, run and scream, songs and dancing from the Salish tribe and a presentation by Kenny Camel on warriors.

“I liked the run and scream station the best,” Claire Stenfantz, a St. Ignatius fourth grader said. “Because I like running and I like screaming.”

“She’s really loud,” Claire’s fellow fourth grader Tori Peterson said.

Run and scream is similar to how it sounds; students line up, fill their lungs to bursting and take off running while screaming their little hearts out.

Dana Goss-Dickie, another St. Ignatius fourth grader, said the run and scream wasn’t just a game. “We learned that it was training to warn the tribe in case there was danger,” she said.

Teachers saw the fun in the games.

“I really think [the kids] are enjoying themselves,” Tami Morrison, a second grade teacher at Linderman Elementary School, said. “It’s been a good balance between running around and sitting quietly and listening.”

“I really like the stick and ring game because the kids made it themselves and could take it home,” Kristin Wilson, another Linderman second grade teacher, said. “They definitely are learning a lot.”

The games are preparation for adult life in the tribe, Vanderburg said.

The center received a package of letters from a fifth grade class in St. Regis that attended the events. One letter thanked the People’s Center for having them and complimented the “Native American guy that played the flute. He was really good.”

“All the letters were really encouraging that we were getting across to them,” Vanderburg said.

On Friday, dancers visited the Cherry Hill Elementary School in Polson and demonstrated five dances for the students accompanied by the Silent Hill drum group.

Marianne Addison, of Pablo, demonstrated women’s fancy dancing, Catherine Addison, also of Pablo, showed women’s jingle dancing, Louie Platt Sr., of Arlee, demonstrated men’s fancy dancing and Rodney First Strike, of Pablo, showed men’s chicken dancing.

While introducing men’s fancy dancing, Platt told the students that men’s fancy dancing came when the men were told they couldn’t fight anymore.

Students had the opportunity to ask the dancers questions following their performance and after several false starts on what a “question” was — Principal Elaine Meeks stressed the definition, but several students forgot and instead of asking a question told the dancers they were “awesome” — were able to learn more about Native American dancing.

“Where do you dance?” one student asked.

First Strike jokingly replied “my living room,” but added “powwows and assemblies.”

 Native American Awareness Week is a culmination for the People’s Center, Vanderburg said.

 The People’s Center continues to educate people about native culture throughout the year, she said.

Vanderburg said the People’s Center will visit schools and give presentations throughout the year.