Ponca Tribal Youth Program

Ponca Tribal Youth Program receives regional recognition and national praise.

Ponca City, Oklahoma, July 19, 2007
Last June the Department of Justice sent a Technical Advisor to White Eagle to review and assess the tribes’ efforts with a $300,000.00 grant. In their subsequent report to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in Washington DC they sited with praise, some rather cutting edge approaches to the program. So much so, Tribal Youth Program’s Director, Dwight Howe was selected to do a presentation on the development of the youth program at the next Dept. of Justice mandatory training conference in Phoenix Arizona. Training will take place the end of this month and tribes from CA, NV, AZ, UT, CO, NM and OK will all be in attendance. Rebecca Murdock, Tribal Justice Programs Manager went on to say in her report “The tribal youth program plans to develop a culturally sensitive delinquency prevention program that will address two components of the community: Supervised activities for all tribal youth and Intervention activities for court involved or family referred youth to include mental health assessments, mentoring, community services, recreational activities and cultural immersion projects. Dwight has done an excellent job of explaining the program and its goals to FVTC and OJJDP and has brought together the necessary members of the advisory board to assure a successful program”.

Howe has also been approached by Teachermagazine.org to consider blogging weekly about the youth project that starts in October. This high profile, on-line magazine has national exposure and will undoubtedly put the Ponca Tribe’s efforts on the forefront in the field of education. It all seems to be falling into place and for that we are excited and thankful. Here are two concepts TYP plans’ on implementing;

IPod Podcasting Project, where the kids can make their own video/podcast. We want to promote 21st century technology using multimedia tools to engage the Ponca Indian youth in positive, constructive behaviors which develop academic, social and workplace skills while enhancing their own cultural awareness. This project is being headed up by Susan Powell, a TYP Advisory Board Member who works for the Ponca City School District, she says the school district will help as much as possible in any effort that keeps Ponca Indian kids in school. At the end of each cycle, every student that completes all the requirements of the program will receive a free IPod of their own. Apple Computers representative Orlando Aguilar, met with the program leaders and was excited to learn about the efforts being made and is earnestly looking at ways and means for Apple to actively be involved with the programs endeavors as well.

FIRST Lego League (FLL) is an approach the Ponca Tribe is planning to utilize in an effort at turning kids on to technology, science and math. Websites like http://www.usfirst.org/ and http://www.legoeducation/ are just two resources used in developing this project. A Lego’s team consists of three to ten kids’ ages 9-14 and at least one adult coach. The Ponca Tribe is currently networking closely with Po-Hi Robotics Coach, Tonya Scott, in the development of this project. FLL is designed to put children in control, teams mix curiosity and imagination with LEGO bricks, sensors, motors and gears to invent unique, autonomous robots capable of completing various missions. Howe says, “If we can just get them interested and build their self-confidence to try new things, maybe set new standards in their own lives, then we feel it is well worth the effort. Our goal is to have them graduate from high school, stay out of trouble and hopefully continue their educations. The Ponca Tribes overall view is; if our young people can succeed and be happy in their lives, then we as a nation succeed as well”. Dwight can be reached at dwight.howe@att.net.

ADVISORY BOARD members gather outside the freshly rehabilitated activity building for the Ponca Tribal Youth Program after a recent planning session. Called "We Thi Pi" (meaning "To Change") in the Ponca language, the program for at-risk youth is in the first (planning) year of a four-year, $300,000 grant funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention at the U.S. Department of Justice. From left, are board members: Ed Henderson, Boy Scouts; Susan Powell, Ponca City School District; Ruslyn Hermanson, AmeriCorps United Way; Vearl Caid, Northern Oklahoma Youth Services; technical advisor Rebecca Murdock, Fox Valley Technical College of Neenah, Wis.; Marilyn Epley, Ponca Tribe; Dwight Howe, Program Director; James LeClair, Police Chief, White Eagle Police Dept.; and, Clayton Johnson, Police Chief, Ponca City Police Dept. (News Photo by Rolf Clements)

Dwight Howe, Cultural Presenter

Dwight is of Omaha & Ponca Indian ancestry. His Ponca grandmother who raised him helped instill a real sense of who he was and pride in being a Native American. He attended Chilocco Indian School in Oklahoma and Haskell Junior College in Lawrence, Kansas where he graduated their first Tribal Management Program in 1986. Dwight served his country spending seven years in the United States Marine Corps. As a Pre-I.G. Inspector, Sgt. Howe had many opportunities to travel and meet people from all over the United States.

Living in Southern California for many years, Dwight worked with Southern California Indian Center's, Inc. in their Public Relations Department as an Outreach Specialist. He engaged in public speaking, large scale event coordinating and conducting cultural presentations at universities such as the UC Irvine, Cal State Northridge, University of Southern California, UCLA, as well as for many state & civic organizations. Dwight worked with the Orange County Unified School Districts giving classes in Cultural Awareness to 5th and 6th graders. While in California he was the founder and co-chairman of the 501c3 non-profit United Urban Indian Food Program, which was a food bank for urban Indians living in the greater Los Angeles area. Dwight has also received training on archival research with the Smithsonian Institute and has served as a NAGPRA consultant.

Since returning to Oklahoma, Dwight has worked as a Ponca Tribal Police Officer, Tribal Housing Superintendent and started a youth Boxing Club were he raised over $20,000 for a facility and equipment. He was nominated and served several years on the Okla. Region III, Selective Service Draft Board. Dwight's other interests involve being a Native American dancer including the Ponca War Dance and Straight Dance. He is an active member of the Omaha’s Strongheart Sun Dance Society and a lifetime member of the (AH KE NAZI) a Ponca Warrior Society of Oklahoma. Dwight was also involved with the American Legion Buffalo Post 38 for many years which is the first and oldest All-Indian veterans post in the U.S.

Dwight recently finished a two year project serving as Native American Cultural Advisor for Marland's Grand Home http://www.marlandgrandhome.com working on their Native American Collection and as their consultant. Dwight has served as a cultural advisor for two State Parks in Iowa & in Nebr., and is actively involved with the Nat’l Park Service, Lewis & Clark Corps II Discovery project as a Cultural Presenter www.lewisandclarkgnet.org/index/. Dwight currently lives in Waubay South Dakota working at a Co-Ed Residential Alcohol Treatment Facility as a Chemical Dependancy Technician.

His most recent completed project was coordinating the giving of food baskets to over 100 Indian Elders 65 and older, from four tribes in North Central Oklahoma, website www.freewebs.com/iefp/ gives the details. Dwight is now applying for training as a Firestarter for White Bison, Inc. a Native American Indian Wellbriety program, www.whitebison.org, which offers healing resources to the whole community using native vaules and beliefs promoting grassroots coommunity circles of recovery.

His email address: dhowe@itctel.com

American Indians in Politics??

There was a time many years ago, natural laws were respected and adhered to by the aboriginal people of this land called the Americas. Our leaders knew the almost sacred obligation of leading a group of people and conducted themselves accordingly. It would take a person many years of living a life that could be respected and admired, before he would even consider leading the people. Among my relatives, I am told he would have to have one hundred give aways before he would be eligible for leadership, that's just to be eligible, and they called that his count to One Hundred. He would initiate this process maybe around his late twenties to mid thirties making his intentions known by feeding the people, putting on a feast. At this feast he would give away to all the clan leaders, tribal leaders, important guests, and/or the needy, his family and friends would most likely have to help him in his endeavors. With each feast and give away it would be similar in his efforts and noted by the tribe.

From that time on the people would then watch and observe him in the following years. They would ask..did he show compassion when compassion was needed? Was he generous and kind to people? Was he a man that you could go to for help and/or advice? Did he help solve problems and show respect for the elders, was he good to the children? Was he a good hunter and provider for his family? Was he humble and a man of prayer with good spiritual being? Did he put the people first in all his affairs? Was he quick to anger or did he show restraint before acting? Those are just a few of the things the people looked for in him as a leader. If he did live his life in a good way the people would then follow him, they would camp around him and support him. If he was picked as a leader his decisions were respected and the people willing followed his advice, he would most likely be in his fifties. That was many, many years ago before the coming of todays dominant society.

Today it appears that a significant number of tribes tend to follow the dominant societies way of governing. It seems that they put themselves and their families and friends first and the people they are supposed to serve last. They come accross as having too much pride in their status as tribal leaders and develop egos that prevents them from relating to the common man. All too frequently many tribes commit wholly to following the path of todays form of government and fruad, greed and corruption is the end result for many. They learn quickly to say many good words and make long speeches about the need for change and are swift to place blame on others for todays problems. Tribal governments are now elected by the popular vote and not the qualified vote their ancestored endorsed. This means they could be totally unqualified for the position, unethical and/or corrupt, have no actual concept on how to effectively manage a entity as large as a tribe, but because they have a lot of relatives/friends they get voted in. They have ultimate control over thousands and thousands of dollars in program monies. Their jurisdiction covers the entire reservation some which are as large as some states or maybe as small as one square block, but yet they have very little knowledge of governmental/accounting procedures or operating experience. The tribe's that do emulate the dominant societies form of goverening tend to fall to the pressures of centrism, nepotism and political favors with bribes, embezzlement with the waste of resources not far behind them

At first the United States founding fathers admired the American Indians original forms of governing so much so, they wrote the U.S. Constitution modeling it after the Great Law of Peace that the eastern woodland Indians lived by for generations. Through the years they have managed to change, amend and/or twist that democratic process to fit their own needs and wants, leaving the poor and less fortunate out of the picture. Today we have a very corrupt and ineffective form of government. Just look at the B.I.A. and the Interior Department as an example of how they have handled their trust responsibilities to see the neglect and mismanagement running rampant among the tribes. Not all tribes are that way but there are it seems to be more than naught. Currently some tribe's are even trying to play in the big game of Washington politics and with lobbying efforts that has unfortunately blown up on them, with a social/political backlash that will go against all tribes probably for many years to come, putting us back even further in our efforts to advance as a people in todays society.

Indian Elders Food Project

2005 Food Program

Now the goals of this Indian Elders Food Project are disparate to say the least. We want to honor the elders but in doing so we want the different organizations and individual volunteers to work together, getting to know each other as well. We feel that in any community living together, should know a little bit about its neighbors. It is our sincere hope that tolerance and acceptance be the fruit of our labor in this endeavor. The more one person knows about another, there is less likely the opportunity of pre-conceived ideals to be prevalent. Racism and prejudice are rooted in misunderstanding and ignorance. We firmly believe those things can be dispelled through education and exposure. We also believe that if we look hard enough and long enough we will inevitability see that we are more alike than we are different.

So we want to provide food for Indian elders, food that is that is fresh and meets their special dietary needs as many are diabetic and/or have high blood pressure issues. We know too that many live in the extended family setting and some may be even the sole provider for those families. Receiving $100.00 worth of groceries at this time of the year just before the holidays is greatly appreciated by all. Getting people to come together who are from different walks in life with different perspectives is a blessing into itself. If you want to know more about our project or who we are, please feel free to go to our website at www.freewebs.com/iefp/. I do hope to hear from you.

In 2003 we delivered to fifty elders, we had maybe fifteen volunteers each came back with a story of their encounters. Each volunteer felt rewarded in some way and wanted to do it again. We encouraged each individual volunteer to not just drop off the basket but ask to come inside and take a few minutes to visit and we encouraged each of them to offer a prayer. Not one volunteer came back saying the Indian elder turned down prayer and/or the fellowship. Many were quite moved at the brief meeting with such personable, kind people as the Indian elder.

Ponca Elder Food Project 2003

Why we need to work together

There are many issues and concerns on both sides. Law enforcement, education, community development, civic duties, employment, social interaction, religious beliefs, on and on we can look at every aspect of day to day existence and find the need for better understanding. Ponca City like any small town does not like to look as though it doesn't care about its Indian neighbors. Towns all over the country like to be viewed as politically correct and culturally sensitive. Unfortunately there are real concerns in regards to pre-conceived ideals and/or perspectives about each other, longstanding resentments coupled with difficult situations even racial profiling is prevalent in this community. I was friends with the Director of the YMCA several years ago, I asked him why there were no afterschool projects in WhiteEagle. He said that's is a good question, he called in his program coordinator and asked if he knew how many kids were out in White Eagle. The young man said he really did not know, he admitted that he lived in Ponca City for over twelve years now but has never been out to the WhiteEagle community.

One businessman confided to me over ten years ago, in regards to how his fellow businessman viewed Indian efforts in economic development, they even had a saying about it among themselves. He said to me when he asked about one such effort by the Ponca tribe, he was told "Oh that's T.I.D. Typical Indian Deal, All F%$* Up." This seems to be the common perception by many businesses towards Indian efforts at improving their own economic and social status, only it is kepted close to the vest and not openly admitted. In the past there was real resentment when the tribe started selling cigarettes and gas close to town. Complaints about not having an even playing field in regards to competition with the tribe. One middle school teacher was reported to have said in their teachers break room, as far as Im concerned they are all either drunks, thieves or murderers in regards to his view of Indians today. It is becoming common knowledge among other Indian education organizations in the state that this town has issues.

The local Standing Bear Park was established by protest and unrest, many Indian leaders felt that the local Indians were not being properly acknowledged and/or respected. Now today it is being managed by a white bank owner and the park itself is run by a woman who has a Indian Card but no real connection to the community she represents. With 29,000 Indians from at least five tribes in and around Ponca City area and they were unable to find one person qualified from those tribes to represent the Indians in their own community? Many of the issues brought forth from that initial encounter between the two communities have still not been fully addressed, only superficial progress at best. It now seems tourism has the real interest of the City in regards to the Standing Bear Foundation/Park. For example, the drop out rate is still one of the highest in the state, our Ponca Indian boys average out at about an eighth grade education year after year and it goes without saying an unemployment rate that is just as high. Almost two decades later, there are no Native American Indians in city offices or very few in positions of leadership in the community, so one would have to ask just what good did the Standing Bear Foundation really do for our people.

Conversely, It seems that at times the Indians in the community have been their own worst enemy. Failure to work together inter-tribally, failure to be consistent within their own tribal structures when dealing with the city. The diversity within the tribal councils itself, keeps them from moving forward at times bogged down with political infighting. You can review volumes of newspaper articles that were written thru the years by local Indians filled with slander, mudslinging and open contempt for other tribal members who are in power. The City Manager once told me that they have tried time after time to meet with the Indians and build relationships. He said we talk to one tribal council and make plans, only to be stonewalled and/or rejected a year later by another council altogether different from the last. One minute there is an atmosphere of cooperation and good words are shared and the next time there is hostility and resentment. The Indians claimed the City is disingenuous and/or accuse the City of infringing on their tribal sovereignty/jurisdiction or they feel that they are just being used to fill the cities coffers. It becomes obvious at times the two communities just don't quite understand or trust each other.

There used to be a small community of Indians living in Ponca City on the south side of town on second and third street. Many Indian families lived there in the sixties and seventies, now most all of the homes are gone, having been condemned they were bulldozed and there are now open spaces where Indian homes once stood. I myself live on the corner of Third and Maple, the Salvation Army now occupies that space. I can remember feeling safe there when I was young and I identified with the community around me. Now today I see Indian kids playing in the school playgrounds their smiling faces are in the local newspaper when they are in kindergarten and/or elementary school, as time passes less and less of those faces are printed, less and less of them are smiling. When they reach the high school age they seem to have suddenly almost completely faded away. I see the many social clubs, band, cheerleaders, sports teams all without their presence. The same with the local government, school boards, committees, councils and civic organizational groups, very little or no Indian participation exists. It is as thou we are not there, living, working, growing old, raising our kids, serving our country in the military, dying. Many Indians find leadership roles elsewhere and are more readily accepted in other geographical settings.

Take this into consideration as well, for decades we have been portrayed as a villains, unintelligent, heathens without religion, for generations we have been told we are lesser and are in need of being governed. Now today many of our young people have bought into that concept and this has limited their own visions for the future. Now over half of the 2.5 million Indians from the over 500 some odd tribes today are under thirty years of age, that means we are a young race of people. The Indians in the Ponca City area are no exception to this fact. We are a changing people, all the more reason why we need to work together in our communities. We need to raise the level of tolerance and understanding of each other so in the future our people can live together in harmony and mutual respect, so all of our children can have hope and ambitions for a good clean life.

A Ponca Warrior Story

A Ponca Warrior Story....

What I tell you now was told to me by my relatives many years ago. There was a time when the warrior was the center of our tribal ways. It was said in the old days that in order to be a leader for the people, you had to be able to count to one hundred. I don't mean one, two, three. I mean the warrior would have to bring one hundred willow sticks, each one would represent a good deed or charitable gesture for the people. Can you imagine a society of leaders whose numbers were at one time in the hundreds, each one of them doing one hundred good things for the people? That is the way the Ponca lived before the time of Columbus, they were good to each other.

It is a tradition that has lived on, our values and cultural ways have withstood the test of time and has endured many hardships along the way. We need to always look to the future, we need to give those same values to our children by our own examples in life, showing them our traditional ways by living in them. How right and creditable is it then that this young Ponca boy in Delaware would want to emulate such traditions as this? We are indeed humbled and honored by his thought and gesture. When this food project is all said and done this young boy can count this project as one to his journey of one hundred good deeds. I myself only wish that it is the start of a way of life for him on his way to becoming a Hethuska member.

To me to be a Ponca Warrior is to try to have a way of life that puts the needs of the people first with humilty and compassion, having God, the Creator involved in all that you do. It is not just twice a year at a dance, it is a way of life and for many that is the way it is. Those are very important concepts and perspectives to our Native American way of life, spirituality, generousity and compassion. In every aspect of Ponca traditions, the Creator is involved in it and acknowledged. Today the Ponca Hethuska pray and dance every year and give away food and gifts to the people, keeping the traditions alive.

Traditional ways still alive

This summer has been a good one for me. I was honored to be able to witness the Dakota Wiping of the Tears Ceremony for a family in mourning, we had four sweats three at night and the last at sunrise. As I drove up to the lodge at 4:30 am. I found to my surprise and delight 6 young men watching the fire. These boys were in their late teens and early twenties laughing quitely about somebody or something, talking about sports and girlfriends the way young men do. But when the elders came out and it was time to go in, the mood of the young men changed they were serious and respectful. Two of the older boys started singing, I think they were brothers. They sang with perfect harmony their words were clear and heartfelt. Their father spoke to them in Dakota and they responded appropriately, even the youngest one who maybe was about thirteen knew what to do and did his part with dignity. We started the day in prayer in the afternoon we feasted and fed the poeple.The family gave a way many gifts, then we ended the ceremony with a celebration dance. I dressed in my ndn regalia and participated in the celebration supporting as best I could. I was so impressed and honored by this ceremony I cried. Later I told the young men that participated in the sweat that morning, one was grassdancing and the others were singing around the big drum, that I was proud of them. I told them that seeing them told me that our culture will live on through them. I told them that my heart was glad that our traditions will live on in the next generation. Earlier this summer I attended a sweatlodge ceremony were only the dakota language and songs were song the entire time. Even thou I am Omaha, my heart soared with compassion and prayers for the people, I cried with joy. I lefted there feeling drained and yet humbled and happy. I was happy and grateful because something sacred had been kepted alive. I was humbled because I was able to be apart of it.

We are living in a time when being ndn is hard and the people are suffering in many ways. Tears, broken hearts and disappointments have been the legacy for many years now. So many things are complicating our lives, clouding the way for us as ndns to live. Alcohol & drugs have had devistating effects on our people. The long term effect of poverty, lack of education, poor economic development and inadequate health care has limited our growth. More importantly we have lost a part of the spiritual connection to the Creator that our ancestors had. We live in a time when even our own tribal members express jealousy resentment and talk disrespectfully about each other. Many tribal councils govern our people like the white man governs his and we suffer from this. At times the leaders take care only of themselves and their own, leaving many out of the loop. Our young people suffer the most, our elders are leaving us in great numbers everyday and with them goes many of our ways, beliefs, customs and songs. Nonetheless their is hope, always their is hope.

This summer I attended several annual Pow-Wows, my own in WhiteEagle Okla the home of the Ponca. I was grateful to see so many songs that were sung for individual families, clans & societies, honoring veterans past and present. In Flandrue South Dakota I witnessed veterans being honored with song and prayers. Always there are prayers. Our traditions live on resilient, they endure and overcome every obsticle. Living in the white mans world and keeping an ndn heart and ndn eyes can be difficult but not impossible. Every Pow-Wow I attended there was prayer, for that I was grateful.

This year among the Omaha in Macy Nebr. the Strong Heart Society gathered for its annual sundance, all went well. The spiritual leaders said that it was the best dance that they have ever had in the past nineteen years. A couple of Ponca's showed up and brought their pipes and asked if they could dance and they were welcomed. Twenty dancers prayed and danced the Omaha Sundance from sun-up to sundown the people danced, prayed and shed blood and tears for the people. Many prayers and humbling gestures were made by fasting, offering of flesh, dragging of buffalo skulls, or hanging from the tree everyday the people cried and prayed. So many prayers for the people, for the sick, the hungry, the homeless, those that were less fortunate, the elders and ndns suffering in the inner cities, prayers for the people in harms way, prayers for the leaders of the world. Prayers for the people, for all of the people, all over the world, prayers of peace, good health and spirtual well being. We all need prayers, we all need to beleive that something greater put us all here on this earth.

I am glad to report that the Indian People of North America are still here and will be here in the future, praying for the people of the world, for the four legged, for the winged sky animals and the animals that swim in the waters, for all living things. In the end of time I know their will be an ndn with one pipe offering our prayers for the people. Our ancestors knew that the Creator was a living God and that same God lived within each of us. For them every breath was a prayer, we need to as ndn people embrace that concept again and give our lives up to Gods will.

White Eagle Boxing Club circa 2001

Boxing Program for At-Risk Youth

Alcohol & Drug Prevention Program for At Risk Youth using Sanctioned Competitive Amateur Boxing

This program is designed to assist the Native American Indian youth in making good, positive choices in life. The objective would be to develop the whole individual, making the person a winner in life not just in the ring, this aspect makes it more than just another boxing program. Using physical fitness and proper conditioning for competitive amateur boxing as the primary focus.

However influencing the growth of the young person in a positive way would be the overall goal, by addressing the physical, mental, spiritual and emotional values of each individual. The requirements on the youth are, that they must agree to be alcohol & drug free, willing to have an intimate relationship with the Creator on a daily basis and want to get into the best physical shape through exercise, plus they must be willing to stay in school and stay out of trouble.

It can be viewed as a Community Based Self Improvement Project and can be funded through several sources. Alcohol & Drug Intervention is one of the primary sources but Law Enforcement, Health & Wellness, Cultural Preservation as well as an Educational enhancement programs are other options. The need for positive intervention for disadvantaged at-risk youth is greater than ever and can be easily justified.

Suggested….

Boxing Club Rules & Brief Implementation Plan

Be willing to talk to the Creator everyday through prayer...
Young people face problems and situations everyday that are sometimes complex and hard to understand. Spiritual awareness is essential and having the Creator in their lives everyday will be encouraged. For some youth it is not the inability to grasp a concept of a higher power, it is the lack of role models around them that do sincerely pray. We want them to come to firmly believe that only the Creator can effectively solve those problems they encounter on a day to day basis. Religious tolerance can come through understanding; we want to expose them to concepts and ideals concerning the different types of religions.

Do Not Use Alcohol or Drugs or smoke cigarettes…
Prevention through education and intervention would be the cornerstone of this program. Classroom training, speakers, movies/films anything we can use to provide information about this very serious issue could be used. We need to take every opportunity we can to make them aware of the true dangers, when they make the choice to abuse alcohol or use drugs. Moreover all trainers, coaches and staff should be alcohol & drug free, setting the example for the youth to follow.

Attend School Daily; try your best in class…
The need for education is vital and will be stressed at every chance. If we can help identify problem areas in academics then we can also connect them with tutors and/or mentoring. The program can be a source to help solve problems the young people face. If we can help in career development we should. Having a third party release formed signed by the parents so the staff can be made aware of any deficiencies the participant might have in school could be helpful.

Come to the Gym Daily, get into the best shape you can through exercise…
We want to expose them to as many different types of physical fitness that is possible, getting them into the best shape we can. Good health, top conditioning are prerequisites to a positive attitude about themselves and are absolutely essential in becoming a winning competitive amateur boxer. Simply put, in order to be a champion in the ring you have to be in top shape. Strict serious guidelines must be enforced for personal safety and liability, when using any boxing equipment and/or when training, Absolutely No Horseplay would be tolerated.

Do Not Fight or get into trouble…
Proper social behavior is going to be a must. Conflict resolution, self control and proper self discipline are all things the participants must be encouraged to strive for. We need to teach respect, respect for others and their opinions, but more importantly respect for themselves. We would want to build champions not bullies. We could take on different community projects from time to time, i.e. clean an elders yard, cut wood for elders, serve food at events, do something positive and helpful in our community. Helping with projects gives the participant a sense of self worth and self esteem allowing them to feel good about themselves.

Be willing to express yourself…
The objective of this concept is to get them to open up and express their feelings or identify their concerns about problems they are facing today. The program can document, track and develop this information into a resource for other committees in the community to use. If we develop this right, we could create a web site and share with the Internet community who are dealing with similar issues. This could easily be one of the biggest assets of this program, dealing with problems that the Native American youth feel are important to them.