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Returning to the Circle: Remembering Our Native American Culture and

News From Indian Country May 15, 1994 | E.K. Caldwell E.K. Caldwell News From Indian Country 05-15-1994 Returning to the Circle: Remembering Our Native American Culture and. Beliefs

Students host Native Youth Conference

On April 8, the United Indian Students for Higher Education (UISHE) at Portland State University and the American Indian Association of Portland (AIAP) co-sponsored “Returning to the Circle: Remembering Our Native American Culture and Beliefs” Native American Youth Conference.

The annual conference is usually sponsored by the Title V Indian Education Program. According to Rose Minoka Hill, Ethnic Student Advisor at PSU, “The conference was in danger of being cancelled this year due to Oregon’s Measure 5 cutbacks that eliminated two staff positions at Title V. this web site native american culture

“UISHE decided to take on conference organization and held community meetings to gather support. AIAP agreed to help and community volunteers came forward and offered many hours of their time. The students of UISHE worked very hard coordinating the event and did an excellent job.”

Organizers were pleased with the turnout of approximately ninety students from the metropolitan and surrounding areas, especially since April 8 was a day off in the Portland School District, indicating the students attending were there on “their own time.”

The day was filled with activities and workshops that challenged the students to participate and consider their own place within the Circle of the People. UISHE made visits to four area high schools during the initial planning phase to ask for student input regarding what they wanted on the agenda, and designed the agenda based upon those requests.

The morning’s keynote speaker was Chante Westerman, Youth Representative of the International Indian Treaty Council.

Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission Director Ted Strong spoke about the leadership challenges of today’s Native youth and encouraged awareness and involvement in issues that are affecting the land and a sustainable future.

A variety of workshops were presented by invited guests, ranging from our need to have traditional teachings and spiritual connection within the circle of our nations; land and religious rights issues; learning to walk in the two worlds of tradition and contemporary education; to the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) science fair and a discussion on Native American creative writing. site native american culture

HIV/AIDS activist, Lisa Tiger from Muskogee, Oklahoma gave the afternoon keynote address entitled, “If It Can Happen To Me, It Can Happen To You.” She chronicled her experiences since testing HIV+ and encouraged people to maintain sobriety and utilize good decision making regarding taking risks in exposing themselves to HIV/AIDS. Her presentation was well received and she received a standing ovation following a question and answer session.

A learning festival wrapped up the afternoon in PSU’s Smith Memorial Multi-Cultural Center and included many opportunities for hands on experience in beading, weaving, dancing, drumming and other traditional crafts. Students had specifically requested these hands-on activities with special requests for learning pow wow dancing so they can actively participate in pow wow season.

Ethnic NewsWatch SoftLine Information, Inc., Stamford, CT E.K. Caldwell