Head Start program hosts powwow in Ronan
A VALLEY RESIDENT dances in the Head Start Powwow Friday at Ronan High School.
VALLEY RESIDENTS celebrate by dancing in their regalia at the Ronan powwow Friday at Ronan High School. (Jason Blasco/Lake County Leader)
VALLEY RESIDENTS pound on the drums as part of a ceromonial dance at the Head Start pow wow Friday at Ronan High School. (Jason Blasco/Lake County Leader)
A YOUNG dancer participates in the Head Start Powwow Friday at Ronan High School.
VALLEY RESIDENTS conduct a ceromonial dance at the Head Start Powwow Friday at Ronan High School.
HEAD START students show off their moccasins to the crowd at the Head Start Powwow Friday night at Ronan High School. (Photos by Jason Blasco/Lake County Leader)
RONAN — The Head Start Program held its annual pow wow dedicated to the memory of two members that served their community, Rick Borden and Geri Owen.
According to Jeanne Christopher, director of early childhood services, Owen contributed a lot to the community. The pow wow celebrated and educated young people on Native American history and culture.
“Owen did a lot for the community,” Christopher said. “She made outfits and moccasins for the kids, and just did a bunch of things.”
The Head Start community received help from several volunteers including Eva Boyd. Boyd manufactured a total of 46 moccasins.
“Boyd was out in the grand entry and she is a really valuable role model for us,” Christopher said.
Boyd, who has taught at the Salish Kootenai College since 1981, made Sally bags, corn husks, and woven bags.
“I think I’ve done this all of these years because I really care,” Boyd said. “Sometimes, I can make a Sally Bag in three days, and I can make a hat in two days. I am really happy to be a part of this program and I want to do it again next year.”
The Head Start program is a program for children zero to five years old.
“The Head Start program has been an important piece of our reservation for the last 42 years,” Christopher said. “We educated several kids and offer comprehensive health services for each child including getting their eyes examined, their hearing checked, their weight and measurements taken three times a year and their developmental assessments,” Christopher said.
Liz Camel, the education manager of early childhood services for the Polson community, said she felt this is critical for children to develop a solid foundation socially and emotionally in their early years of life from the ages of zero to five years of age.
“This window of being zero to five years old starts the foundation for each child and it helps them build skills both social and emotional,” Camel said. “This is a foundation for developing language and literacy, and it plays a huge part in educating our children.”