70 Year-Old Among 82 GED Grads

Gichi-Aya'aa (Elder) Among 82 GED Graduates

“If you don’t want to work hard, get an education, otherwise you’ll work hard labor like I did”. So was the advice for Indian youth in an interview with 70 year-old James King, Sr. one of 82 graduates of the Red Lake GED program on May 20th. A ceremony, including cap and gown, was held at Seven Clans Casino Event Center on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. This was the first time such a “formal” GED graduation was held.

The event began with a banquet at 5 PM for invited guests and graduates. Then at 6:30, a single file procession of graduates were smudged as they entered the events center, not to the strings of Pomp and Circumstance, but to the beat of the celebrated drum, Eyabay.


A welcome and introductions by Marvin Hanson, Executive Director of the New Beginnings Program, was followed by an Opening Prayer by Spiritual Advisor, Leland Whitefeather.  

Left to right: Lea Perkins, Unknown, Brent Gish, Floyd Jourdain, Jr.

Then came “Congratulatory Remarks” by Brent Gish Superintendent of Red Lake Public Schools, Red Lake Tribal Chairman Floyd Jourdain, Jr., and Tribal Executive Administrator, Lea Perkins. 


Applause, and often cheers arose from time to time as various names were read, and graduates ascended and descended the stage to receive their certificates of accomplishment. Proud GED staff Laura Malott, Adult Basic Education (ABE) Coordinator/Instructor, and Janelle Clark, General Education Development (GED) Coordinator, New Beginnings, presented those awards along with a single red rose. Chairman Jourdain and Administrator Perkins stood nearby and shook the graduate’s hands.  

Perhaps the loudest applause was heard when the name of James King, Sr., the oldest graduate was called. 


Following the presentation of GED diplomas, emcee Hanson called Jourdain and Perkins back to the stage for a special recognition for King. When Hanson introduced King, applause mixed with cheers and whistles erupted among his classmates, the decibels rising even higher when Hanson mentioned that King was “71 years old”. A appreciative wave accompanied by a big smile crossed the face of King as Jourdain and Perkins wrapped King in a Pendleton blanket.

      

Emcee Hanson narrated as the blanket was presented, "He showed up, displaying extra effort as he worked on getting his GED”, Hanson said of King, “and he did very, very, well". And we're very proud of him. Thank you Jim, you are truly an inspiration for our GED Program and Red Lake Nation".


As King was about to descend the stage, Hanson said; “Jim, do you want to say a few words”? King avoided the question, saying instead what was on his mind, “you made me older than I am, I’m only 70”.   

Later in an interview, when asked about avoiding Hanson’s question about speaking at the graduation, King said, “I ain’t much of a talker - well sometimes - if I get a few beers in me, but that ain’t very often”.


James King, Sr. quit school back when he was 16 and went to work. “I would have graduated in 1958”, said King. “When I started doing the GED thing, I told them I wanted to take the test they would have given me back in ‘58. I figured that would be easier, but they didn’t buy it”, King chuckled.


James King lived in the Twin Cities and was gone from the reservation for 35 years. He returned home about seventeen years ago, and currently lives in the Little Rock district at Red Lake.

“I started thinking about getting my GED when my son, who will be 40 soon, finally got his GED a few months ago”, observed King. “My son quit school when he was 16 too. We were living in Minneapolis at that time. He asked me back then if he could quit, and I said okay but you’re going to have to go to work. You could still get away with that back then, not so today”, said King.


“At first I wasn’t going to do it. Why would a guy my age do this?, I asked myself. I figured I’ve made it this long, and in my line of work one really didn’t need an education”, King explained.

Tribal Executive Administrator, Lea Perkins

“I’m not sure why I decided to do it, maybe a bunch of things”, said King in answer to the question. “Maybe it’s my nature, maybe it was my son recently graduating, or maybe it was my granddaughter going after her GED”. (Bambi King, James’ granddaughter, was among the 82 graduating with James King).


“It didn’t take me long”, King observed, only about 3 months. I studied by taking some of those practice tests to prepare for the testing. I took the math and social studies tests in Bemidji, the reading and science up at Red Lake, and then you have to write an essay which I was a little leery of, but I did pretty good. I passed them all the first time”, said King with pride tempered by humility.

Asked if his classmates and family were proud of him for his achievement, King said “I’ve been married to the same woman for 44 years. Not sure about others, but my wife (Evie) is pretty proud of me. I guess that’s what wives do”, King said with a laugh.


Pressed further, King said, “Yeah, I suppose some of the the kids seemed curious about me, proud of me, but the ones I’ve really noticed are the older ones - guys I went to school with - are talking now about getting their GED, which is kind of neat. A lot of people say they seen me on the RLNN”, he said. (RLNN is the Red Lake Net News, an internet news service)


Said a friend, Alice Benaise: “Jim was one of my father, Manny Morgan’s good friends. He’s an uncle to me, I felt so honored that he asked me to attend his graduation ceremony. It was such a proud moment for him; as I walked out of the building I looked to the sky and said ‘Dad that was awesome’, he would have been so proud of his friend”.

What’s next? I asked of James King, Sr. “Well, I’m more or less retired”, said King. “But staying active as I can. I’m on the (Red Lake) Fisheries board, I’m on the tribal enrollment committee, and I sit in on tribal council meetings - pretty much just to be nosy,” King said with a laugh.


“I also want to take a course in computers, my grandson’s got one, but I don’t know how to turn it on or turn it off. So I want to learn how to operate a computer. Seems like there’s a lot to learn there”, he said.


Asked if he had anything to add that we hadn’t covered, King said;  “I’ve always worked hard, I’ve had a good life. Today kids need an education, it’s not like when I was young, now you need an education to get any kind of a decent job”.


“I’m on total disability, the kind of work I did, I hurt my back a few times”, said King, “which is another good reason to get an education, you’ll have a better back”.


Photos by Michael Barrett & Alice Benaise

"This is Your Home & Your Story"

HUNDREDS PARTICIPATE IN RED LAKE YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Teachings of Culture for the Nation’s Youth

The Fifth Annual Red Lake Youth Leadership Conference was held Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday April 26 - 28, 2011 at Red Lake High School. The conference theme was “Culture: The Key to our Future”. And in keeping with that theme, the thesis was translated into Ojibwemowin or “Anishinaabe-izhichigewin: Giniigaanayi’iiminaan”. Workshops and presentations were held from 9 to 3 each day. As is customary, several things happened simultaneously. 

Some Teams in The All Indian Basketball Tourney included Boys and Girls

In addition to three days of workshops, the week-plus activities included an all-native basketball tournament at 3:30 PM each day. Entertainment in the evening included a Round Dance Social on Tuesday with a special “one man” hand drum contest in both Cree and Ojibwe styles. Wednesday evening featured Native Hip Hop for entertainment featuring “Smoke” (Jason Nichols), “Wahwahtaybenais” (George Goggleye), and “Supaman” (Christian Takes Gun Parrish). Both night's entertainment took place at the Red Lake Humanities Center. 

Some Pretty Nice Door Prizes included an HDTV

An awards banquet with door prizes followed the Wednesday session. An “Honor the Youth Pow-wow” closed out the activities on the weekend of April 29 - May 1.

Conferees came from miles around to participate in all or part of the three days of proceedings. Students and others from Leech Lake, White Earth, Bemidji, the Bug School, and other schools participated in the youth leadership events.

This is the fifth year for this much anticipated event for the youth of Red Lake Nation and others. A host of Red Lake member professionals, and well known guest speakers from across Indian Country, joined together to share their knowledge in leadership skills to motivate youth, and to promote native values, tradition, and language.

THREE DAYS OF LEARNING AND FUN

An Opening Prayer/Smudge was offered at the beginning of each day's activities in the High School Gymnasium. Eugene Stillday opened Tuesday, Melvin Jones on Wednesday, and Collins Oakgrove on Thursday. The Drum for all three days was Little Bear.

On the first day, as part of the opening ceremony, Chance Rush set the pace for the conference by encouraging youth to pursue their dreams, to value education, and to share what they learn with others. “This is your community, your home and your story”, said Rush to those assembled.

Smiles All Around

First day opening ceremonies continued with welcome remarks by Red Lake Chairman Floyd Jourdain, Jr., and Youth Council President Shauntay Roy. Guest speakers were school superintendent Brent Gish and School Board member and Director of Red Lake Chemical Health Programs, Tom Barrett. Opening activities concluded with a presentation by Youth Council President Shauntay Roy and Youth Council Members. The Youth Council, with about a dozen members, was involved in organizing the Youth Conference.

Chance Rush makes a point

Several local and guest motivational speakers - as well as Red Lake Elders - conducted workshops on culture, language, traditional values, leadership, and self-esteem. During the time of conference, assorted workshops were conducted, repeating themselves six times so that participants could be involved with most, if not all sessions.

SESSIONS BY GUEST MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERS

“The key to living a ‘well life’ is balance”, said Chance Rush (Three Affiliated Tribes-Hidatsa) in his session billed as “Elements of Life”. “As community leaders, we can encourage that balance in others by being an example ourselves”, he said. “Wellness is a gift that needs attention and commitment. It doesn’t mean we won’t have our frustrating moments”, said Rush, “but we can accomplish anything we set our minds to by implementing our social, mental, physical and emotional greatness.”

Edward “Eddy” Wadda (Eastern Shoshone), conducted a workshop entitled “Warriors Don’t Quit”. He shared his vision for Native Youth in the areas of history, leadership, culture, family, school, spirituality, and friendship. “Youth leaders serve as positive mentors in communities struggling to find a voice for their young people”, he said. “It is my hope that you will join me and others in our journey to see true tribal empowerment for native people for generations to come.”

A power-packed approach to teen pregnancy, alcohol and drug abuse, self-worth, and decision making skills was provided by Melissa “Mimi” Nichols in a workshop appropriately billed as “Self Respect”. While addressing real life stress and chaos, Nichols spoke of HOPE which she said will “ignite much needed compassion among youth at the same time fueling responsibility and respect”.

Humor permeated a session dubbed “Living a Positive Lifestyle” and conducted by comedian and motivational speaker Mylo Smith (Crow Creek Dakota Sioux).  Smith used comical aspects to talk about serious problems facing youth using himself as a model of his life experiences with alcohol, drugs, violence, and sexual abuse.

MUSIC SPEAKS/YOUTH LISTENS

“Everyone has a song that they know every word and can make them sing at the top of their lungs”, says Jason Nichols aka “Smoke” (Nakota/Chippewa Cree) in a session entitled “Lyrical Healing”. “This type of song, no matter where you are or what you are doing, can steal your total train of thought, and take you back to a place that puts a smile on your face every time you hear it”. 

This was the prologue for Nichols presentation encouraging youth to express themselves through music, poetry, and art. “Imagine, if you will”, said Nichols, “the pen you hold in your hand is your inner voice. The paper that sits in front of you is a friend - a very good friend who will listen and never pass judgment, never interrupt you, and will never need time to understand your feelings - now, you can speak freely. That is the magic of music, after you release this energy your healing process can begin”, Nichols proclaimed.

A presentation and delivery style nothing short of captivating, and dubbed “Native American Culture & Hip Hop” was conducted by Christian Takes Gun Parrish aka “Supaman” (Apsaalooke Nation, Crow Reservation). Supaman seems a misnomer when one listens to the humble American Indian rapper who has dedicated his life to empowering youth with a message of hope through his music. Parrish’s animated style demands attention as he relates lessons learned through growing up in an alcoholic family and losing his father to suicide, a powerful weapon in reaching his listeners.

George Goggleye who prefers the use of his Indian name “Wahwahtay Benais” which means “Great Thunder Being that lives within the Northern Lights” (Leech Lake) conducted a workshop tagged as “Revitalization of Language & Tradition Through Hip Hop”. Wahwahtay Benais demonstrated through videos and discussion how the power of music can be used to encourage interest of young people in the importance of language revitalization and culture. Wahwahtay Benais is a serious and most impressive young man.

“Healthy Relationships start with healthy individuals”, says Robert Johnson, (Muskogee Creek/Choctaw) in a workshop labeled “Walking Together in a Good Way: A Guide to Healthy Relationships”. The session looked at characteristics of healthy and unhealthy relationships. “As native people we have a responsibility to ourselves, families and tribes, to try to be the best we can be, continue to learn our culture and traditions and to treat others kindly”, he said. Johnston guided participants in discovering steps to strengthen relationships with friends, parents, siblings, teachers, the opposite sex, the earth, the Creator and “of course...you!”

Spontaneous Basketball Games Happened During Breaks

SESSIONS BY RED LAKE MEMBERS/PROFESSIONALS
Several sessions were conducted in the appropriately named Culture Room at the High School by elders who taught youth and adults of culture and language.

Eugene Stillday, (Red Lake) conducted several sessions on Language. From the community of Ponemah, Eugene is a spiritual and cultural advisor to the Red Lake Tribal Council. Fluent in Ojibwe, Eugene serves as the main Ojibwe language preservation expert with linguist Dr. John D. Nichols, a professor at the University of Minnesota. He also works with Dr. Anton Treuer and Nichols in the development of Ojibwemowin word lists and stories.

Frances Miller, (Red Lake) Cultural Teachings. From the community of Ponemah, Frances is the coordinator for the Path of Life & Healthy Marriage/Relationships, the Well Being of Children.

Carol June Barrett, (Red Lake) Young Women’s Pride. From the community of Ponemah, Carol presented a session on Women’s Values. She talks one on one about depression and suicide.

Two popular session/workshops were not only educational, but just plain fun...and coincidently, just happened to be conducted by Red Lake professionals from the Chemical Health Programs.

Hand Drum Making

Hand-drum making with Darren Defoe and Larry VanWert continued to be a very popular workshop several years running. Defoe and VanWert took a large group of participants through the process of making their own hand drums. This took the entire length of the conference, so participants showed up at the same room during each of the sessions. 

And Rez Jeopardy, all agreed, was great fun. Billed as “just like the game show but about the Rez”, sessions were always filled to capacity that included several adults. Contestants chose from categories that included "Indianish”, (questions about the Red Lake homeland) TV/Movies, Sponge Bob, and Miscellaneous.  Salena Branchaud and Charlene Defoe hosted the fun.

Indianish for 200, This is the English Word for Omakakii

Wednesday’s conference closed with an Awards Banquet in late afternoon. The program was hosted by Chance Rush, who had everyone laughing. Basketball trophies, academic, and other awards were presented, with prize drawings closing out that part of the program. Those who completed evaluation forms for up to five workshops, were given tickets for the drawing of some top notch prizes. Keynote speaker for the banquet was George Goggleye, aka Wahwahtay Benais.

The evening’s events concluded with entertainment comedian Mylo Smith, who draws his humor on those things unique to Indian Country and geared to youth.  The popular and humorous Robert Johnston, a professional hypnotist closed out the evenings events. Johnston had the audience rolling in the aisles as he had a dozen people meeting their favorite celebrities, and other outrageous and comical stunts.

Salena Branchaud, an enrolled member of Red Lake Nation, who has worked with Chemical Health for several years, said at the events conclusion; “I have always had a passion for working in this field”, she said. Branchaud who is also a Youth Council Advisor said, “the Leadership Conference is not only to teach, but to help students head into the Summer feeling good about themselves”.

The impetus for the Youth Leadership Conference occurred after the formation of the Red Lake Nation Youth Council more than six years ago. The group began looking for ways to teach leadership skills, and to celebrate the accomplishments of the Nation’s youth academically and in other ways. (Over 65% of our Native population is under the age of twenty-five).

The Youth Leadership Conference was sponsored by the following organizations; Red Lake Tribal Council, Red Lake School District, Chemical Health Programs, Indian & Free Prevention/Treatment Program, Pepsi Company, and Youth Recreation Department.

Aki Giizhigad (Earth Day)

AKI GIIZHIGAD (EARTH DAY) CELEBRATED AT RED LAKE

"Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children." ~Ancient Indian Proverb

The Red Lake Nation Earth Day Fair was held on April 21, 2011. Earth Day was officially April 22nd, but due to Good Friday falling on that date, this year it was decided to celebrate on April 21st. The theme for this year's event was: “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Renew”. The earth day fair, much bigger and broader than last year, was held again at the Red Lake Nation Boys and Girls Club. 

Promotion of Indigenous Foods

“We are enthusiastic about the event and were pleased to have a good turnout from the community and programs”, said Red Lake DNR Water Resources Director and organizer Jenilynn Bohm. The event was well attended with 342 people registered. “Our events  (the community clean-up and Earth Day) were scheduled to not conflict with Good Friday as tribal employees were scheduled to be released at noon that day. The 'clean-up', then, was scheduled before our fair, so that people could attend both the clean-up and the fair”.   

Oshki-Aangitoon or Renew

“We wanted this years Earth Day Fair to be an interactive event,” said Environmental Program Director Cody Charwood. “Our plan was that this would allow the community to learn of natural resources related projects and/or services, in hopes to inspire an awareness of the environment”, he said. “Open to all - activities and booth presenters incorporated the theme (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Renew) into their presentations and was geared to both children and adults”.

Parking Lot:  Upon arriving at the Boys and Girls Club, the first thing one saw were activities outside the building. The first was a “tire pressure check” near the entrance to the old casino door at the Humanities Center.  

A mechanic supervised volunteers who looked like NASCAR workers surrounding each car as it drove up, one person to a tire. Proper tire inflation can improve gas mileage. The first 50 drivers got a free tire pressure gauge.

Walking toward the Club building, one came upon a booth about “Bike Safety”. Sponsored by the RLPD, volunteers explained bicycle safety, and that proper bike safety practices prevent accidents. Volunteers checked brakes, chains, air pressure, etc. Utilizing bikes for transportation saves gas, provides good exercise, and helps the environment. 

Next came a truck and trailer collecting hazardous household waste. The household waste collection drop off (sponsored by the Red Lake DNR) gathered household waste items for proper disposal. These types of waste need to be properly disposed of, not dropped off in a dump for example.

Lawn:  On the lawn, just before one entered the Boys and Girls Club, was a plastic bag recycling exchange booth. Used plastic bags were gathered to be recycled so as to eliminate their disposal in trash. In return persons received a reusable grocery bag to use in recycling efforts. Several business places donated canvas bags to give in return for the plastic bags.  One Redby business offers 5% off if you bring in your recycle bags, and use them for purchases.

Spiritual Elder Eugene Stillday with Al Pemberton and Floyd Jourdain

Opening Ceremony and Blessing: Spiritual Elder Eugene Stillday provided a prayer at the beginning of a program held in the Boys and Girls Club gymnasium. Speakers on the subjects of Earth Day and the environment included; Stillday, Red Lake Chairman Floyd Jourdain, Jr., and Red Lake DNR Director and Redby Representative Al Pemberton.  

What to throw, and where to throw it.

Jourdain gave praise to tribal programs and others who were just finishing two days of clean-up on the Reservation. “Red Lake members and tribal program employees hit the streets, ditches, and other areas of Red Lake Nation with big green bags and yellow vests and proceeded to pick up trash and clean up the community”, he said.  

Eugene Stillday and Red Lake Chairman Floyd Jourdain Jr.

“Hundreds of Red Lakers were participating in Earth Day activities” said Pemberton, and marveled at how the event has grown over just one year. Jourdain said that new “controlled” dumping recycle areas will soon be open, and the old ones closed. “We are having too many foraging bears and fires being started”, said Jourdain. “This does not bode well for us as a proud people. We have a responsibility as Indians and as cultural stewards of the land to do better”.  


Stillday was then asked by Jourdain to explain more fully about Ojibwe tradition, in regard to and respect for, Mother Earth and the environment. After a lesson on respect for all living things and the environment that supports them, Stillday concluded with a positive thought. “The world may yet realize the ancient American Indian environmental ethic”, said Stillday, “this is important, it begins with us, and we must share this ethic”. 

Main Lobby: Upon entering the Boys and Girls Club, attendees signed in and then received an Aki Giizhigad (Earth Day) t-shirt, and a pen made from recycled materials. The T-shirts made of recycled plastic, were quite creative, the design highly symbolic.  The logo was not unlike a medicine wheel with “reduce, reuse, recycle, renew”, representing the four directions as feet of a mikinaak (turtle), and even included the sky and earth if one included mikinaak’s head and tail. The design also included Red Lake logo contained within.

Charity Pemberton (right) took Green Mug Shots

Turning to the right upon entrance, one could get a “Green Mug Shot”. Participants wrote on a whiteboard their statement of environmental stewardship commitment, then a photographer would take a photo. Being photographed with a promise hopefully will encourage compliance. Charity Pemberton from Red Lake Nation Newspaper took many of the photos. She will be putting together the pictures of the Earth Day commitments for that publication.

To the left were tables of give-a-ways related to Earth Day. Drawings were held to provide an incentive to complete a survey on the day’s events and what was learned. Snacks of a sustainable nature were provided.  

Gym: In the gym, where the program was held earlier, were several hands-on demonstration booths.  Booths were staffed by the Red Lake DNR,  tribal programs, federal and local organizations, community service members and High School students. There was a power point presentation on solar energy. 

Fishing game: A fun activity for children was a “fishing game”, a teaching tool for kids sponsored by the Red Lake DNR and Fire Prevention. The game was modeled after the old “fish pond game” idea one saw at church carnivals “back in the day”. Kids would put in their fishing rod lines in a hole, then a magnet on the end would pick up and old tire or other such garbage rather than fish or prize, to demonstrate to children the importance of keeping Red Lake clean, and to create awareness of outdoor activities.

Tech Center: “Red Lake Walleye Recovery”, a recent video was played in continuous loop in the tech center. The Native Nations Institute Film, Ogaag bii azhe giiwewag (Return of the Red Lake Walleye) was filled with many familiar faces. Sponsored proudly by Red Lake DNR/fisheries.

Arts Room:  Face painting was going on in the arts room, with designs of an environmental nature. The theme was geared toward children to teach about sustainability practices. This was sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club members and staff.

Bangiiwagitoon, Reduce

Aki Giizhigad was yet another gathering including Ojibwemowin as an integral part of it's event over the past year. Pertinent, as more and more Indian Nations seek to revitalize language and culture. This is consistent and very important in re-establishing the importance of the environmental ethic and care for the land that is so much a part of American Indian culture. Written words used in addition to Aki Giizhigad (Earth Day) included the events theme: Reduce (Bangiiwagitoon), Reuse (Ayaabajitoon), Recycle (Aanike-aabajitoon), and Renew (Oshki-Aangitoon).