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.