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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 15, 2000)
SEPTEMBER 15, 2000 3 Ml College Trying to Lure More Students to New Program COEUR d'ALENE, ID. (AP) In its second year, North Idaho College's American Indian studies program is struggling to grow. Despite aggressive efforts by the college's new minority recruiter, Darrell Tso, the program is having trouble attracting students. So far only three have declared themselves American Indian studies majors. This summer, Tso recruited 25 In dian students but only one ended up at the school. He said most had fi nancial problems. Even with federal aid, many In dian students cannot afford to attend college. The number of Indian students on campus grew from 54 in 1998 to 89 in 1999, but Indians still represent only two percent of the student body. "I would like to see it at least 10, 15 percent," Tso said. He and Tom Flint, an instructor who was instrumental in developing the Indian studies program, said one way to address the cost problem would be allowing Indian students nation wide to pay Idaho resident fees. "If you really want to walk the talk, you've got to put in place the mecha nisms that will enable them to come here," Flint said. Idaho students carrying a full load of courses pay $648 per semester to attend North Idaho College. Out-of-state students pay $2,228. That difference eats up most of the grants Indian students receive for college, even before such expenses as housing and books are considered, Tso said. The school already offers resident fees to out-of-state members of Idaho's five recognized Tribes. College President Michael Burke said he has only started considering the idea. Ultimately, the college's board of trustees would make any such decision. A couple of schools in the country offer discounted or waived tuition to all Indian students. But Jeanne Giv ens, a Coeur d'Alene Tribal member and former North Idaho College trustee, said she wants to be certain the college has tried everything pos sible to attract members of northern Idaho's Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai Tribes before exploring ways to at tract others. Givens also urged the program's organizers to be patient. "They're on the right track and should keep doing the things they're doing," she said. "I don't think any body believes that enrollment would quadruple overnight." Iroquois Student Reviving Traditional Farming AMHERST, MA. (AP) As though treading an ancient path, Rowen White, an Iroquois born on a reservation, steps with a sure foot into a thicket of corn, bean and squash plants. The wet summer has encouraged the growth of weeds, making the tangle even denser. Her once-tidy rows the one concession to modern farming are now barely discernible. "I am a firm believer in evolution," White says. "I think plants have evolved in a certain way. I think they're doing a fair job on their own." White is one of a small group of researchers trying to adapt traditional Native American farming to commercial agriculture. They hope someday to make inroads into those seemingly endless, monolithic vistas of wheat, corn and other crops that symbolize the abundance of this land and the know how of its people. American monoculture farmers normally plant one crop to a field in neat rows to allow mechanized planting and harvesting. Herbicides, pesticides and irrigation can be applied in a one-size-fits-all way. Native American and other traditional farmers around the world inter mingle mutually beneficial crops in a practice known as polyculture. White, an agriculture student at Hampshire College, planted her three vegetables on a quarter acre of college land in both monoculture and polyculture configurations. Her summer experiment is called the Three Sis ters project, a reference to Native American tradition, which likens the three staple crops to stories of the three sisters of the Earth. She learned the tech niques partly from her own people and used the seeds of their ancient crop strains, which were available through a Cornell University program. Traditionally planted in circular mounds instead of rows, the corn gives shade and support to the beans, which grow up the corn stalks like a vine. In the soil, the beans transform nitrogen into a form that the corn can use. The squash acts as ground cover, keeping down weeds. "They're helping each other out," White said. "You're working with nature and not against it." Researchers have established that, under certain conditions, polyculture can give equal yields to monoculture, said Stephen Gliessman, an agricul tural ecologist at the University of California at Santa Cruz. He said monoc ulture farms, as simpler systems, are more susceptible to predators and need more fertilizer and pesticide. "From an ecological standpoint, most monoculture systems are out of bal ance," he said. , . A Message to America from Tribal Elders This Message to America is the result of the National Indian Council on Aging's year 2000 Conference in Duluth, Minnesota. More than 1700 Elders from 108 Tribes across America attended and contributed to the words in this message. Think about your Elders as you read this. They came together, setting aside Tribal and political differences in order for you and your children to have some words of wisdom to help you in your lives. ; : . ! - Please pass this on to as many people as you can, both Native and non Native alike. These are the words of our Native Elders, but the values expressed can be appreciated by all of humanity. Once you have read it, you are responsible for it. These are the elders' hopes and dreams for the world you re-create every day. A SPIRITUAL MESSAGE TO AMERICA As we stand before the dawn of a new millennium, we pray for America's survival, our survival. We pray that we will be given strength by the Creator to follow the footsteps of our forefathers to share pur love, respect and compas sion for one another. There is good in everyone because the Creator has put a little of Himself in all of us. We pray for forgiveness for the pain and suffering we have caused one another. We pray that our children will not repeat our mistakes. We pray that we can respect the diversity of America; all life is sa cred. Every child born is a precious gift of our Creator. It is our sacred trust to embrace children from all walks of life because we are part of the same family. We pray that children will honor and respect their Elders that is where the wisdom comes from. This respect will not allow forgotten El ders. We are all equal, with each having our own special gift to con tribute. These values allow our youth to become leaders and work ers in our society. Children, you are our future and our hope for the people. Stand and be courageous. We pray to learn and use the wis dom of all that has come before us, to achieve personal successes and to contribute to those of others. Only when our young ones learn respect for everything can they evolve. EARTH We pray for respect and love of Mother Earth because she is the foundation of human survival and we must keep her pollution-free for those who will travel after us. Pro tect her water, air, soil, trees, for ests, plants and animals. Do not just take and waste resources. Make it a priority to conserve. The land is given to us by the Creator to care for, not to own. If we take care of the land, the land will take care of us. UNITY We should have respect for each other. We pray for commitment and responsible behavior in order to help those in need and to give them support and friendship. Be an example in life that others may follow; serve people, community and country. We should all strive to be leaders and contributors. Do not sit back and let others plan and do all the thinking. Let us unite together so that we may have the strength to protect our future. Strength comes from working through trials and tribulations. HEALTH Spiritual health is the key to ho listic health. We pray to have the discipline to set healthy examples for our children to follow. Respect ing everyone and everything in the universe starts with self-respect. Take time to listen and take care of your body and spirit. FAMILY AND YOUTH Family is important and precious. Always let them know that they are loved. Let your children and grandchildren know you are al ways there to love and support them and that they mean the world to you no matter what they do or say. Children are of infinite value. Live what you teach. Spiritual values, honesty, and integrity start in the home. We pray for the youth. We must teach the youth to work together and respect all that is living on our Mother Earth. We need to convey to our younger generations that the survival of our people lies in spirituality. PEACE We pray to learn ways to settle differences peacefully. Teach re spect for each other's ideas. Value honesty on all levels, from children to parents to community to govern ments. We will be happy when we create peace with each other. TO THE 7th GENERATION Survive Keep hopes and dreams Take care of yourself Remember your spirit Be there for each other Respect courage Share knowledge Always keep learning Remember your true values If you have any questions, please call Brooke Mosay Ammann, NICOA Assistant Director at (505) 292-2001.
