Post by Okwes on Oct 26, 2006 13:27:28 GMT -5
United Tribes Technical College opens new wellness center Posted:
October 18, 2006 by: David Melmer
<http://www.indiancountry.com/author.cfm?id=29> / Indian Country Today
www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096413819
<http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096413819> Click
to Enlarge <http://www.indiancountry.com/pix/1096413819_large.jpg>
<http://www.indiancountry.com/pix/1096413819_large.jpg> Photos by
David Melmer Indian Country -- (top) Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe, United
Tribes Technical College, and federal and state officials helped to open
the new Lewis Goodhouse Wellness Center on Sept. 5. The facility was
designed to improve the physical and spiritual well-being of the
college's approximately 1,100 students. (bottom) Visitors inspected the
new sauna and Jacuzzi room of the Lewis Goodhouse Wellness Center when
it opened Sept. 5. BISMARCK, N.D. - The late Lewis Goodhouse once sold
his cattle so that another person could receive an education.
Goodhouse, Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe and one of the original signers of
the charter that started the United Tribes Education Technical Center,
now has his name not just on a charter, but on a building.
The newest addition to the United Tribes Technical College campus, as it
is now known, is a wellness center designed to improve the physical and
spiritual well-being of the some 1,100 students.
''I am glad he is being honored. His name means a comfortable good
house, or tipi waste,'' said Kenny Yankton, Goodhouse's nephew.
Goodhouse's Lakota name is Wiyaka Maza, Iron Feather. He was chairman of
the Devils Lake Sioux Tribe, as it was known at the time, from 1957 to
1972. He died in 1982.
He was credited with protecting the integrity and sovereignty of the
tribe by leading the charge to reject Public Law 280 that would have
given jurisdiction over to the state of North Dakota.
''As I recall, he did that in a respectful and quiet way. He preserved
the tribal interests,'' said UTTC President David Gipp. ''He served at a
time when tribes had little or no power of funding to help advance their
development.''
During Goodhouse's leadership the tribal land base grew, and he guided
his community through the development of infrastructure and tribal
programs.
''This wellness center is for you to take control of your personal
wellness, physical and spiritual, and it is aptly named,'' said Dennis
Renville, UTTC wellness director.
The Lewis Goodhouse Wellness Center includes fitness and weight rooms,
conference rooms, a sauna and Jacuzzi room, and a spiritual room. The
circular spiritual room lets in the sun from above and, as UTTC staff
member Russell Gillette said, it allows prayers from all different
methods of praying to rise.
''This is a room for traditional and contemporary practices of religious
and healing ceremonies from different tribes. There is not one religion
or spiritual belief,'' Gillette said.
UTTC is made up of students from many different tribes. They bring their
families to the campus and their children attend school there also. Many
young students bring dysfunctions with them as well, and the wellness
center is designed to break any bad habits and restore health to a
nation.
American Indian health was delivered a blow with the introduction of
smallpox to the region by the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804.
''Small pox was just one of the many threats to Native health,'' said
U.S. Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D.
''This college has an economic impact on the community and all of it
against a challenge. The budget is zeroed out, yet it gets federal
funding. The issue is addressed because of the continuity Dr. Gipp
provides,'' Pomeroy said.
UTTC contributed $47 million to the economy of the Bismarck area in
2004, according to a recent study.
Each year the Bush administration excludes the UTTC from its budget
requests. Congressional leaders from North and South Dakota arrange to
keep the funding in the final budgets.
The budget for the new wellness center is $2.7 million. The funding was
provided by the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of
Agriculture Rural Development, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Mainstream and holistic wellness practices will be offered by a staff
member in the areas of student health, counseling, chemical health and
dormitory wellness, and for the college's athletic and fitness programs.
October 18, 2006 by: David Melmer
<http://www.indiancountry.com/author.cfm?id=29> / Indian Country Today
www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096413819
<http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096413819> Click
to Enlarge <http://www.indiancountry.com/pix/1096413819_large.jpg>
<http://www.indiancountry.com/pix/1096413819_large.jpg> Photos by
David Melmer Indian Country -- (top) Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe, United
Tribes Technical College, and federal and state officials helped to open
the new Lewis Goodhouse Wellness Center on Sept. 5. The facility was
designed to improve the physical and spiritual well-being of the
college's approximately 1,100 students. (bottom) Visitors inspected the
new sauna and Jacuzzi room of the Lewis Goodhouse Wellness Center when
it opened Sept. 5. BISMARCK, N.D. - The late Lewis Goodhouse once sold
his cattle so that another person could receive an education.
Goodhouse, Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe and one of the original signers of
the charter that started the United Tribes Education Technical Center,
now has his name not just on a charter, but on a building.
The newest addition to the United Tribes Technical College campus, as it
is now known, is a wellness center designed to improve the physical and
spiritual well-being of the some 1,100 students.
''I am glad he is being honored. His name means a comfortable good
house, or tipi waste,'' said Kenny Yankton, Goodhouse's nephew.
Goodhouse's Lakota name is Wiyaka Maza, Iron Feather. He was chairman of
the Devils Lake Sioux Tribe, as it was known at the time, from 1957 to
1972. He died in 1982.
He was credited with protecting the integrity and sovereignty of the
tribe by leading the charge to reject Public Law 280 that would have
given jurisdiction over to the state of North Dakota.
''As I recall, he did that in a respectful and quiet way. He preserved
the tribal interests,'' said UTTC President David Gipp. ''He served at a
time when tribes had little or no power of funding to help advance their
development.''
During Goodhouse's leadership the tribal land base grew, and he guided
his community through the development of infrastructure and tribal
programs.
''This wellness center is for you to take control of your personal
wellness, physical and spiritual, and it is aptly named,'' said Dennis
Renville, UTTC wellness director.
The Lewis Goodhouse Wellness Center includes fitness and weight rooms,
conference rooms, a sauna and Jacuzzi room, and a spiritual room. The
circular spiritual room lets in the sun from above and, as UTTC staff
member Russell Gillette said, it allows prayers from all different
methods of praying to rise.
''This is a room for traditional and contemporary practices of religious
and healing ceremonies from different tribes. There is not one religion
or spiritual belief,'' Gillette said.
UTTC is made up of students from many different tribes. They bring their
families to the campus and their children attend school there also. Many
young students bring dysfunctions with them as well, and the wellness
center is designed to break any bad habits and restore health to a
nation.
American Indian health was delivered a blow with the introduction of
smallpox to the region by the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804.
''Small pox was just one of the many threats to Native health,'' said
U.S. Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D.
''This college has an economic impact on the community and all of it
against a challenge. The budget is zeroed out, yet it gets federal
funding. The issue is addressed because of the continuity Dr. Gipp
provides,'' Pomeroy said.
UTTC contributed $47 million to the economy of the Bismarck area in
2004, according to a recent study.
Each year the Bush administration excludes the UTTC from its budget
requests. Congressional leaders from North and South Dakota arrange to
keep the funding in the final budgets.
The budget for the new wellness center is $2.7 million. The funding was
provided by the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of
Agriculture Rural Development, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Mainstream and holistic wellness practices will be offered by a staff
member in the areas of student health, counseling, chemical health and
dormitory wellness, and for the college's athletic and fitness programs.