Post by blackcrowheart on Apr 12, 2007 11:24:06 GMT -5
Tribal leader preaches respect for all cultures
By MARGARET LEVRA
WATERSMEET -- If you can't put a name to it, then it doesn't exist.
That's the consensus of most people about underlying problems.
Racism and prejudice fit into that category.
Nick Hockings, a nationally renowned speaker on cultural respect and
appreciation from Lac du Flambeau, Wis., will address the issue at the
Watersmeet School on Wednesday.
Hockings said he doesn't plan to eliminate racism, but his long-term
goal is to make things better for generations to come.
No talk should be one-sided, Hockings said, and so, dick Rundall, a
professor from the Rick Valley Technical College in Rockford, Ill., will
share the podium.
Hockings said he will talk about issues problematic to Native Americans
in our schools. More importantly, though, he said he wants students to
ask questions and voice their concerns.
Racism and prejudice have become institutionalized.
"We do not react. Our people in general, do not react to racism except
when obvious or blatant, but, nevertheless, it continues," Hockings
said.
Hockings said he hopes "all of us can come to the consensus that there
is a problem."
Watersmeet School administrator George Peterson III said harassment has
been part of the school's history. There are about 234 students enrolled
at Watersmeet school; half are Native American.
"We welcome Nick Hockings and dick Rundall to alert our students and the
neighboring school districts as to what is going on. We want to educate
our students," Peterson said. "Education is the best means to prevent
harassment."
Hockings compared racism to a boiling pot on a stove. "There is this
fire, and it continues to burn."
As long as the pot doesn't boil over, Hockings said "We let the fire
keep burning. The winds blow and the fire blazes a little hotter and it
boils over the rim."
We shouldn't address the symptoms of boiling over, Hockings said. "We
need to address the fire, the cause of it all."
That's the message Hockings hopes to brings to students and others
attending the first of three presentations at the school. (See box)
He said he will give students the cause, and reflect on how all of this
has come about -- where to look at the fire and how to deal with it.
Hockings noted racism is widespread. All communities have to work
together, he said. The issue cannot be addressed primarily by school
officials. It must be dealt with by parents, as well.
"Our greatest asset to the situation is our students. They really
understand it in a different way than we do," Hocking said. "If given
the opportunity and guidance from adults, students themselves can be a
wonderful asset."
Students are dealing with this issue head on," Hockings said. "Parents
are seeing the results of these things. Students are living it in
different ways than we are. We have to empower our students, but not
without help from teachers and advisors. We all have to understand the
problem, and we all have to be going in the same direction."
Hockings said we can begin to find solutions, but probably never will
extinguish the fire.
"That's not even the point. The point is to identify it -- what's
keeping the fire burning and begin to work at putting it out."
It's not going to happen overnight.
"It might be seven generations down the line, when students will be able
to go to a school where this issue is mute," Hockings said. "But it has
to begin somewhere."
"Once the ball gets going forward, we never stop," Hockings said. "Even
if only one is pushing the ball, we never stop."
He said he's "trying to help people realize that everyone is affected,
and everyone can benefit once that ball is moving forward."
Today's society is so inundated with apathy, Hockings said. "We just do
not get involved. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't move forward."
Hockings said, "It's a win-win situation for everyone. Once people see
something is being done, they will join in. It may take a long time.
There is no quick fix. But there will always be one or two people to
keep the ball rolling."
------
Nick Hockings, known for promoting cultural respect and appreciation,
will addess students at Watersmeet School on Wednesday. There are
sessions for students in grades 8 through 12, 9-11:45 a.m.; kindergarten
through grade three, 12:15-1:30; and grades 4 through 7, 1:40-3 p.m.
dick Rundall, of Rick Valley Technical College, Rockford, Ill., is also
on the program.
Hockings and Rundall will hold an orientation session, followed by
questions and answers, for students in grades eight through 12;
storytelling and an explanation of different cultural artifacts for
students in kindergarten through three; and the practical concepts of
respect, responsibility and cooperation for grades four through seven.
All sessions are open to the public.
"We've invited all the neighboring school districts, including Hurley,
to attend Wednesday's presentation," said school administrator George
Peterson III. "We want to lead by example. We want to be a role model
school."
By MARGARET LEVRA
WATERSMEET -- If you can't put a name to it, then it doesn't exist.
That's the consensus of most people about underlying problems.
Racism and prejudice fit into that category.
Nick Hockings, a nationally renowned speaker on cultural respect and
appreciation from Lac du Flambeau, Wis., will address the issue at the
Watersmeet School on Wednesday.
Hockings said he doesn't plan to eliminate racism, but his long-term
goal is to make things better for generations to come.
No talk should be one-sided, Hockings said, and so, dick Rundall, a
professor from the Rick Valley Technical College in Rockford, Ill., will
share the podium.
Hockings said he will talk about issues problematic to Native Americans
in our schools. More importantly, though, he said he wants students to
ask questions and voice their concerns.
Racism and prejudice have become institutionalized.
"We do not react. Our people in general, do not react to racism except
when obvious or blatant, but, nevertheless, it continues," Hockings
said.
Hockings said he hopes "all of us can come to the consensus that there
is a problem."
Watersmeet School administrator George Peterson III said harassment has
been part of the school's history. There are about 234 students enrolled
at Watersmeet school; half are Native American.
"We welcome Nick Hockings and dick Rundall to alert our students and the
neighboring school districts as to what is going on. We want to educate
our students," Peterson said. "Education is the best means to prevent
harassment."
Hockings compared racism to a boiling pot on a stove. "There is this
fire, and it continues to burn."
As long as the pot doesn't boil over, Hockings said "We let the fire
keep burning. The winds blow and the fire blazes a little hotter and it
boils over the rim."
We shouldn't address the symptoms of boiling over, Hockings said. "We
need to address the fire, the cause of it all."
That's the message Hockings hopes to brings to students and others
attending the first of three presentations at the school. (See box)
He said he will give students the cause, and reflect on how all of this
has come about -- where to look at the fire and how to deal with it.
Hockings noted racism is widespread. All communities have to work
together, he said. The issue cannot be addressed primarily by school
officials. It must be dealt with by parents, as well.
"Our greatest asset to the situation is our students. They really
understand it in a different way than we do," Hocking said. "If given
the opportunity and guidance from adults, students themselves can be a
wonderful asset."
Students are dealing with this issue head on," Hockings said. "Parents
are seeing the results of these things. Students are living it in
different ways than we are. We have to empower our students, but not
without help from teachers and advisors. We all have to understand the
problem, and we all have to be going in the same direction."
Hockings said we can begin to find solutions, but probably never will
extinguish the fire.
"That's not even the point. The point is to identify it -- what's
keeping the fire burning and begin to work at putting it out."
It's not going to happen overnight.
"It might be seven generations down the line, when students will be able
to go to a school where this issue is mute," Hockings said. "But it has
to begin somewhere."
"Once the ball gets going forward, we never stop," Hockings said. "Even
if only one is pushing the ball, we never stop."
He said he's "trying to help people realize that everyone is affected,
and everyone can benefit once that ball is moving forward."
Today's society is so inundated with apathy, Hockings said. "We just do
not get involved. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't move forward."
Hockings said, "It's a win-win situation for everyone. Once people see
something is being done, they will join in. It may take a long time.
There is no quick fix. But there will always be one or two people to
keep the ball rolling."
------
Nick Hockings, known for promoting cultural respect and appreciation,
will addess students at Watersmeet School on Wednesday. There are
sessions for students in grades 8 through 12, 9-11:45 a.m.; kindergarten
through grade three, 12:15-1:30; and grades 4 through 7, 1:40-3 p.m.
dick Rundall, of Rick Valley Technical College, Rockford, Ill., is also
on the program.
Hockings and Rundall will hold an orientation session, followed by
questions and answers, for students in grades eight through 12;
storytelling and an explanation of different cultural artifacts for
students in kindergarten through three; and the practical concepts of
respect, responsibility and cooperation for grades four through seven.
All sessions are open to the public.
"We've invited all the neighboring school districts, including Hurley,
to attend Wednesday's presentation," said school administrator George
Peterson III. "We want to lead by example. We want to be a role model
school."