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(August 2009) Tribal Youth Services Coordinators traveled to Camp Rockfish on Monday, August 9, to jumpstart and support the Cumberland County Schools Department of Indian Education in the “Dream Catcher Project”.
The Office of Indian Education has funded a week long day camp, August 9th-12th, through the Dream Catcher project. The former Coordinator of Indian Education, Trudy Locklear, along with Darlene Ransom, also a Lumbee Supreme Court Justice(pictured right), was presented with the proposal about five years ago by non-Indian grant writers. “They knew there was Indian money to be had but they didn’t have any stories of our culture to tell, so they asked Trudy and me for our stories so our voices could be heard,” stated Ransom. The program accepted students from Cape Fear, Douglas Byrd, Gray’s Creek, Jack Britt and South View schools.
 Tribal Youth Service Coordinators, Terry White and John Oxendine spoke with the children at open session and encouraged them to find ways to be involved in their tribe by letting their voices be heard. They enforced the message that their thoughts and concerns do matter and how to go about making changes and a difference. “Even though MTV and music videos may be cool, it is not your culture,” said Oxendine. He assured them he was not criticizing their past-times but stressed the need and importance around having cultural awareness. “There is an endless amount of resources around you for you to connect with who you are and where you come from like regalias, powwows, culture classes and more importantly your elders,” he continued.
The project has a curriculum called Expanding the Circle, where the core concept is teaching the children they have to have a plan for the future whether it is college, trade school or the armed forces. This year the project had the opportunity to go global by bringing in guest speaker Chief Shirley Wolfe-Keller from Saskatchewan, Canada to speak to the children on their first day of camp.
“Even though I was unable to attend due to other obligations, this project is very important to me,” stated Chairman of the Lumbee Tribe Purnell Swett, “It is always a privilege for our tribal services and programs to support endeavors like this within our communities.”
White and Oxendine taught simple American Indian arts & crafts while instilling cultural history in regard to the items being made. The children had the opportunity to also participate in a traditional ceremony of blessing the camp ground with the Tribal Coordinators. “I want to thank Ms. Trudy,” said Ransom, “she is the reason why we are here.”
CONTACT:
Kendra Danielle Chavis, Public Affairs Specialist
Office: 910.522.2187
Email: kdchavis@lumbeetribe.com |
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