Havre schools Native heritage events a success

Today is the last day of Native American Heritage month and Havre Public Schools Indian Education For All Director Jessica Kennedy-Stiffarm said she thinks this year’s cultural events, classes and addresses went very well.

Kennedy-Stiffarm took the position in October of this year and has since been working to bring more cultural events and education to the district, with the guidance of parents and students.

She said she’s been conducting surveys and talking to parents and students to see where they think the holes are in the district’s education about Natvie American culture, language and history, and their suggestions are guiding her longterm plans.

In the meantime, she said, she’s been working on setting up events, classes and speakers at the schools and they had a number of great events throughout November.

“I think it went very well,” she said.

Among the events were a class on horse painting, which has a very important history for Native American communities, and an honor song and drum group for Veterans Day.

Kennedy-Stiffarm said Native American communities have a huge veteran population and service in the military is something they want to honor.

She also said they held an address at Havre Middle School by Terry Brockie of Fort Belknap, a former Blaine County superintendent of schools, about his people’s spirituality, language and values.

She said she thinks he did a great job speaking to the students in an engaging way, covering his culture’s history, but also tying things back to contemporary issues that are relevant in students’ lives.

“I think that really hit home with a lot of the students,” she said. “ … They really enjoyed that talk.”

Overall, Kennedy-Stiffarm said, she thinks the month went very well, but Native culture, history, language and its influences on America and the community don’t go away when the month ends and she wants Native Americans to be celebrated regardless of what month it is.

She said students have told her that they are interested in establishing a Native Language program and more cultural activities throughout the year, and Havre High and Middle school students have also talked about tying in dropout prevention strategies and substance use and suicide prevention as well.

She said she also helped the high school and middle school get their culture clubs up and running, and they will be meeting regularly as well.

She said parents have advocated similar ideas to those of the students and she’s glad to have their guidance, as she is only one part of the process of improving education.

“Parents are a huge part of the process,” Kennedy-Stiffarm said.

As for December, she said, they have a Ribbon Shirt and Ribbon Skirt Making Class Dec. 14 and Dec. 16 at Havre High after school.

She said they are also going to have an elder from Fort Belknap teach Havre Middle School students a traditional stick game the day before Christmas break.

Kennedy-Stiffarm also said they are going to have an event Dec. 9 at Highland Park with traditional indigenous food and education on tribal flags, old stories and the significance of colors in Nakoda culture.

She also said the IEFA Parental Advisory Committee will continue to meet throughout the school year, but they will not have a meeting in December.

Regardless, she said, the committee is always looking for more people to join and while they encourage the parents of Native students to attend, they are happy to have anyone interested in the subject attend.

Kennedy-Stiffarm is also continuing to encourage people to send her suggestions for knowledgeable people in the community to help improve students’ education.

“I need input, I need knowledge for these students,” she said.

She said the community has a vast knowledge base and she wants their help.