Post by Okwes on Mar 22, 2007 14:21:39 GMT -5
Volunteers experience Omaha Tribe's culture
By: Chris Rosacker Issue
Most people give wrapped presents for the holidays, but some University
of Nebraska-Lincoln students gave their time this year.
Five UNL students and three staff members spent three days last week
assisting the Omaha Tribe in Macy.
The three-day, university-organized trip took the group to many places
on the reservation, including the Omaha Nation Public Schools, Tribal
Housing and Carl T. Curtis Health Education Center.
They painted walls, cleaned storage spaces, attended cultural classes
and spoke with Omaha American Indian students about pursuing secondary
education.
After each day of work, students slept in the computer lab of the high
school, showered in the locker rooms and cooked food in the home
economics classroom.
Linda Moody, the assistant director of Student Involvement for UNL, said
the goal was to provide students with a service opportunity and a
cultural learning experience.
Haley Tuttle, a senior history and Native American studies major, said
she believes society should focus more on sensitivity to American Indian
culture and history.
"I didn't even learn anything about Native American culture or history
until college," Tuttle said. "I think Native American history and
culture should be taught in high school."
Many living on the Omaha Reservation are unemployed. Some households are
home to six people or more, Tuttle said.
The Omaha Reservation was chosen for a service trip this year because of
its proximity to UNL and a request from the tribe, said Julie
Dierberger, the Student Involvement program coordinator.
Student Involvement has sent service groups to work in Katrina-damaged
communities, Pine Ridge near Mount Rushmore, Denver and Chicago.
Tuttle said most of the American Indian students she talked to had
ambitions to go to college and bring their experiences back to the
community.
"The sad thing is that, statistically, less than 10 percent of them will
succeed" (with that goal), Tuttle said.
Moody said that although the main goal was to provide service to the
impoverished reservation, one of the most important aspects of their
journey was to seriously encourage the American Indian students to
pursue secondary education.
The participants met with many prominent members of the tribe, including
the elders, who thanked the service group members for their work.
Moody said the trip was such a success that future service groups would
re-visit Macy when time and budget permit.
By: Chris Rosacker Issue
Most people give wrapped presents for the holidays, but some University
of Nebraska-Lincoln students gave their time this year.
Five UNL students and three staff members spent three days last week
assisting the Omaha Tribe in Macy.
The three-day, university-organized trip took the group to many places
on the reservation, including the Omaha Nation Public Schools, Tribal
Housing and Carl T. Curtis Health Education Center.
They painted walls, cleaned storage spaces, attended cultural classes
and spoke with Omaha American Indian students about pursuing secondary
education.
After each day of work, students slept in the computer lab of the high
school, showered in the locker rooms and cooked food in the home
economics classroom.
Linda Moody, the assistant director of Student Involvement for UNL, said
the goal was to provide students with a service opportunity and a
cultural learning experience.
Haley Tuttle, a senior history and Native American studies major, said
she believes society should focus more on sensitivity to American Indian
culture and history.
"I didn't even learn anything about Native American culture or history
until college," Tuttle said. "I think Native American history and
culture should be taught in high school."
Many living on the Omaha Reservation are unemployed. Some households are
home to six people or more, Tuttle said.
The Omaha Reservation was chosen for a service trip this year because of
its proximity to UNL and a request from the tribe, said Julie
Dierberger, the Student Involvement program coordinator.
Student Involvement has sent service groups to work in Katrina-damaged
communities, Pine Ridge near Mount Rushmore, Denver and Chicago.
Tuttle said most of the American Indian students she talked to had
ambitions to go to college and bring their experiences back to the
community.
"The sad thing is that, statistically, less than 10 percent of them will
succeed" (with that goal), Tuttle said.
Moody said that although the main goal was to provide service to the
impoverished reservation, one of the most important aspects of their
journey was to seriously encourage the American Indian students to
pursue secondary education.
The participants met with many prominent members of the tribe, including
the elders, who thanked the service group members for their work.
Moody said the trip was such a success that future service groups would
re-visit Macy when time and budget permit.