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The Great Spirit
The Great Spirit made the Indians to be a single
people, quite distinct from white men and for different purposes. Tenskwatawa/Shawnee
"We call it the `sacred' red road because it is the road that
will lead us to living the good life, an honest and healthy life." Larry P. Aitken,
Chippewa
"The Indian World was devoted to LIVING; the European to
GETTING".
"Woman was used by the Creator to cast the light of knowledge
on man just as the Moon casts its light on the Earth. Alone, man is backwards and
undeveloped. he needs the light that woman gives to make him whole."
- The Mishomis Book, The Voice of the Ojibway by Edward Benton-Banai
Anthony Pico
brought to a close the May Native American Lecture Series at the Viejas
Tribal Hall with a powerful and thought provoking presentation that emphasized the
critical issue of sovereignty and governmental authority in Indian territory.
The lecture series which was presented by the
Viejas Education Center and Cross Cultural Studies
Department of Grossmont college began with James Red Bear: San Diego chapter President of AIM who spoke of the 70’s Day of
Protest...AIM Today.
Fred Burrows: lectured on
Native American spirituality and the Native American Church Virginia Christman, Viegas
Tribal Council spoke of Women's Role e in tribal Society
and tribal Government.
Pico outlined the
historical connection and necessity for tribes to pursue their sovereignty rights. He
emphasized that he is looking forward to the day when students are taught the concept of
state federal and tribal law.
A lively and animated
question and answer period followed the discussion.Chairman Pico emphasized his desire to
see the day that students are taught that there are three governments in this country,
federal, state and tribal.
UCSD YOUNG NATIVE SCHOLARS
PROGRAM FOCUSES ON HEALTH, ACADEMIC
ENRICHMENT
Helping youngsters develop
good diet and exercise habits early in life while exposing them to a wide range of
academic pursuits – from Web page design to science career exploration – is the
focus this summer of the Young Native Scholars Program at the University of California,
San Diego. The program is sponsoring a free
two-week residential experience on the UCSD campus in August for 8th through 12th grade
students -- especially those of Native American heritage
– from San Diego and Imperial Counties and across the state.
Now in its third
year at UCSD, the Young Native Scholars Program -- administered under the
university’s Early Academic Outreach Program in Student Affairs with support from the
Southern California Tribal Chairman’s Association -- is intended to provide Native
American youths with information, skills and motivation necessary to pursue higher
education, and to allow students to use knowledge learned through the program to enhance
tribal life and culture at their Indian reservation locations.
Applications are being
accepted until June 20 for the program’s summer session which will be held August
10-23. The program has vacancies for 24 students. Students will earn up to 6 units of
college credit for their participation, and must have at least a 2.5 grade point average
to apply.
Youngsters will live
on campus at UCSD while participating in a host of health/wellness and academic enrichment
activities, including: daily regimens of low impact yoga, karate, hiking, and
kayaking/surfing on the ocean, in addition to classes in digital video production, radio
broadcasting, website design, science career exploration at
UCSD’s
School of Medicine and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Also included will be special
instruction in aspects of Native American culture, such as tribal law and sovereignty,
insight into the traditional use of herbs for health maintenance among Native Americans,
natural diet of Native ancestors, tribal values, and Native history.
"In essence,
this summer’s program will address a wide gamut of areas dealing with the physical,
mental and spiritual well being of Native American students," says Marc Chavez,
coordinator of the Native Scholars Program. Health and nutrition needs are especially top
concerns among Native Americans today, he adds, with diabetes and obesity being
particularly high among the Native population. "Increasing
awareness and interest among Native youth in developing good diet and exercise habits
early is just as important as instilling in them the necessity of pursuing an education
– both help create and sustain a sense well being and self-pride which serve students
well throughout life."
In addition,
exposure to various health professions and practitioners this summer through the Young
Native Scholars Program will offer students career insight into health and medical fields
they can consider pursuing to assist their own communities, Chavez also emphasizes.
"We are
especially appreciative of the support we have gotten from Native American tribes in the
area, including the Barona Tribe which was the first to offer financial assistance to our
program," says Chavez.
For more information
on the Young Native Scholars Program and how to apply this summer, visit the
program’s website: www.NativeScholars.org. You may also contact Shonta Chaloux at the
Southern California Tribal Chairman’s Association, (760) 751-7676, ext. 101, or Marc
Chavez, program coordinator, mchavez@ucsd.edu .
The program’s summer schedule will conclude with a live satellite broadcast from UCSD
which will link program participants with youths from other Native American reservations
and communities from across the country, allowing them to discuss common issues and
topics.
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