IN THEIR OWN WORDS & HANDWRITING
By Vivian LaMoore, Inaajimowin Editor
Outside of the door leading to the Oshki-Maajitaadaa classroom inside of Nay Ah Shing School is a brand-new bulletin board filled with the infinite wisdom of Mille Lacs Band member Elders. The words are handwritten messages to the youth which are creating hope and inspiration to all who stop to read.
"It is quite powerful," said Paula Hoffman, Oshki-Maajitaadaa, Alternative Learning Program at Nay Ah Shing Schools. Students and staff alike stop to read a message or two at a time, she said. "Sometimes you can just see a light go on in their heads and see them take a breath or sigh."
The Oshki-Maajitaadaa program was a dream of the late Joyce Shingobe, Commissioner of Education, and Byron Ninham, interim assistant at the time. Their vision was to find a way to meet the students where they are to help them achieve their educational goals. The program is now into the third year, with students at all levels of high school and ages up to 21 years old. Some part-time students are 18-21, some are working, and one is a single, working mom.
"It is a different way of meeting the expectations for graduation that the school board has approved," Hoffman said.
The messages from the Elders are meant for the youth, but reading them, they resonate with everyone. The messages to the youth was an idea stemming from Sarah Larson, MPH, Community Health Educator at Health and Human Services. At the Elder Christmas party, they passed out notecards to the Elders and asked them to write a note of advice to the youth. Larson collected the cards and wanted to keep the messages in the Elders' own handwriting, so she copied each one onto separate cards. She then placed them all in random order on the board.
Larson has also been building relationships with the students by leading cooking classes including chicken, homemade pizza, tacos, and mac and cheese, all done with healthy ingredients.
"These kids are hungry for connections; they thrive when they trust," Hoffman said. "And that is what Sarah is doing, is building trust and connection. We have students who simply will not miss her cooking classes!"
The message board is also connecting the students to their community. "What struck me is the connection between our students and the Elders. Our students greatly respect their Elders. It is part of their culture, part of the tradition, it is part of who they are and this brought that to them, right here, in their handwriting, in their own words. I think that is powerful. It is better than any teacher can say. It seems to honor so many things for both the Elders to be able to share it and for the kids to be able to receive it."
NAS has a higher than average level of significant depression and anxiety with some students, Hoffman said. "So when we are working with a student and want to 'reset,' I can take them to the board and they 'hear' the messages. They need to hear that they are valued, to face their fears, that they are strong, that they come from a strong tradition, and they come from a strong people. They needed to feel that power and respect. And that is hope. The hope starts there and that is a good thing for any of our students here."
"Oshki-Maajitaadaa translates to fresh start together. And that's what we all need. We have to succeed together," Hoffman said. "We need our Elders, we need our community, we need our students, we need our future. And we can do this together."