Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

April 3, 2004 - Issue 110

It Takes a Village

Yet it's being built in downtown Helena by students of the Wakina Sky Learning Circle and Center.

In its third month of construction, local Indian students are as busy as ever attending to all the details of the tiny scale-model village.

The idea behind building the village comes from the Wakina Sky's new curriculum plan for the 2003-04 school year. The village is expected to be completed by June.

Wakina Sky is hoping that a local business or government agency will take the village for a permanent or traveling display after June.

Student Joey Velasquez said he has enjoyed listening during their after-school snacks about old Indian stories, legends, and how things were done centuries ago.

"We have learned a lot," said Velasquez, as he described many cultural type of activities he's worked on this year.

While the Wakina Sky students may hear the tales of old Indian days, plans are for this Indian village to maintain the peace by upholding a traditional way of Indian life both inside the village and in the students' modern day classroom.

Before Helena grew into the bustling small town it is today, Indians from all walks of life would travel through the valley.

At times, different tribes bumped into each other and got into skirmishes, like the Blackfeet and Crow Indians are said to have done somewhere along Prickly Pear Creek.

Just like the days of Montana's invisible highways and cities, the Indian village will be equipped with a head chief, war chief, medicine man and woman, men's and women's societies, and four age-related types of groups, said Tammara Rosenleaf, an academic support teacher.

It was also equipped with a handmade buffalo jump, tepees, drums, and plastic miniature horses and buffalo.

Each student took the time to write a small story describing the drawings found on their tepees.

"The paintings on my tepee represent the sky, nature, mother earth, father time, past, and Native Americans," said Velasquez.

In addition to the village, students have been expected learn monthly themes including humility, kindness and generosity, and honesty.

For the month of March, students have worked on projects that include making hand drums.

Wabusk Ragged Robe, a local drummer and member of the White Clay tribe, has volunteered his time to help the students learn the traditions, lessons, and building.

Wakina Sky said it has received many donations from all walks of life.

"We got hides from some mountain men and women who said they lived out by Basin, and quilts for students who are in leadership training from a Missoula ministry," said Rosenleaf.

Next month, Curly Bear Wagner, a nationally known Blackfeet speaker, will be coming to the Wakina Sky program to provide some cultural lessons to the students.

In addition, plans for the second Helena Indian Summer Art Market have already begun.

Reporter Shawn White Wolf can be reached at 447-4028 or shawn.whitewolf@helenair.com.

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