Ho-Chunk study centers promote language, culture (fwd)

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Ho-Chunk study centers promote language, culture

By KATE SCHOTT / La Crosse Tribune
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2005/01/23/news/z05ho.txt

In the first-floor conference room at the Ho-Chunk Nation Three Rivers
House in La Crosse, Chenoa Bruguier sits cross-legged in a chair. Her
ponytail bobbing, she quickly responds when the elder in front of her
holds up a card of common animals.

The 6-year-old, who is Ho-Chunk and Sioux, is slowly building her
Ho-Chunk vocabulary thanks to regular language classes she takes while
attending the study center at the Three Rivers House.

Language is incorporated into everyday life at the study center:
Students often have to ask to use the rest room in Ho-Chunk, as well as
phrases like "please" and "thank you." Staff members at Three Rivers
say there is a big push by the entire Nation for youngsters to learn
the language because they don't want it to die out.

The Nation has 10 study centers in Wisconsin, where children can come
for help with school work but also do cultural enrichment activities.

At the Three Rivers House, the second-floor study center is set up like
a classroom. Achievements by students are posted on a bulletin board
and artwork hangs in the room and the hallways leading up to it.

The staff welcome 10 to 15 students each afternoon. Amanda De
Cora-Heintz, study center coordinator, said the center is open from
2:30 to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, to any child with American
Indian heritage. Students are picked up from school by a center
employee and have a snack when they arrive.

School work must be completed first, she said, stressing the importance
of a good education. About 40 percent to 60 percent of American Indian
students don't receive a high school diploma, said Fabian Carrimon, the
area Ho-Chunk home school coordinator. Only one in 10 of the students
who head to college actually graduate.

"Schools in the United States have been trying to work on this problem,"
he said. "No one I know of at this point has found a solution."

The room is filled with information. A revolving bookcase is crammed
with college information. Bookshelves are filled with everything from
history books to Harry Potter. And several computers are available. The
center's staff often is assisted by volunteers from the area colleges:
Most come to fulfill class or service hour requirements, De Cora-Heintz
said, but usually stay much longer than is asked of them.

Students are encouraged to take ownership of the study center as well.
Teacher Crystal Sobotta said students run for and are elected to the
study center council.

Representatives meet with staff monthly to discuss ideas to improve the
center; Sobotta said many times their suggestions are put into action.

Devon Sprain, 18, has attended the center since elementary school and
said employees offer her support and guidance.

"These guys are like my family," the Logan High School senior said.

Her younger sister, 10-year-old Matilda, said she's thankful for the
opportunity to develop friendships with other American Indian children.
She especially likes taking part in the enrichment projects, she added,
because they allow her to learn more about her heritage.

The study center staff say those projects are intended to promote pride
in their culture. From making family trees to tracing lineage to
learning how to sew traditional dresses, they want students to be
content with who they are.

"Having pride in themselves and culture is important," De Cora-Heintz
said. Some children embrace their heritage, she said, but others have
tried to hide it in fear of discrimination.

"No matter where you go, you're going to find people who make it
difficult," she said.

That's just one reason why staff members from the Three Rivers House
speak in local schools. Sobotta and Carrimon head into La Crosse and
Holmen schools to work one-on-one with American Indian students as well
as make group presentations or help organize awareness weeks in hopes
of teaching all children more about the American Indian tribes of
Wisconsin.

Kate Schott can be reached at (608) 791-8226 or
Kate.Schott at lacrossetribune.com.

All stories copyright 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 La Crosse Tribune and other
attributed sources.