Invitations were extended to nine Manhattan High School students with indigenous heritage for an opportunity to participate in hands-on experiences at the Indigenous Youth Gathering on Nov. 13, an event sponsored by Haskell University.
Nine schools were split through four stations. The event started with three precursor presentations. Each speaker explained what they did for a living, told their story and expressed ways indigenous culture is a part of their lives. MHS Students kicked off the day with the Bodwéwadmimwen (Potawatomi) Language Lesson activity.
“We got to do like a head, shoulder, knees and toes type of thing,” junior Braylee Fink said.
Next was the Wazaze (Osage) Language lesson. Next, the group enjoyed the Lunch and Vendor Fair. The food was provided by Wadulisi’s Contemporary Indigenous Foods.
“The food was made by an indigenous lady,” Fink said. “She had turkey and wild rice and then they had sweet potato squash and then they made a homemade salsa with blue corn chips. It was really good.”
Finally, the group sat down for Cherokee Traditional Storytelling and Language, hearing stories like the poaching of bison and learning how to spell their names in Cherokee.
Throughout the experience, the participants listened to stories passed down generations, stories that were at risk of being silenced in the past.
“The boarding schools were a huge part of the history, and what we talked about just how our language was taken,” Fink said. “That was what the big topic was, language.”
It was a piece of insight into the oppression of their culture and a step into the past, passing down wisdom from generation to generation to keep it alive and breathing.
“I feel like in our history books, we don’t really learn about indigenous people,” Fink said. “It’s kind of just driven over. So it was good to have a refresh and just know what happened back then.”
The students participating learned about struggles to show this history and reclaim their culture, educating them to proudly carry their heritage with pride and to relentlessly fight the battle against erasure.
Sharing heritage can break barriers. It can encourage people to connect with others, bridge connections and open doors to people whose paths usually don’t cross.
“Family and culture just brings everyone together, as long as you’re willing to bring yourself closer as well,” Fink said.
