For the month of December, Rekindling 7 Generations Youth stayed busy with our monthly traditional arts and skills groups, boys’ drumming circle, and girls’ talking circle.
Over winter break, new and old R7G youth participated in our Winter Arts Workshop. For four days, youth explored various traditional and modern art forms, including drawing, photography, film, storytelling and new forms of digital media. We were lucky enough to be joined by CPN employees Bo Apitz, Will Hogan, Jennifer Randell, Bree Dunham, and Kelli Mosteller, Ph.D., and local community members Johnnie Jae, Mark Williams, Sam Navarre and Randy Schlachtun.
Each volunteer shared their various perspectives and experiences in the arts as Native Americans or working in Native American communities. In the afternoons, youth were able to play traditional sports, such as, pegnegewen and Indian football, and afterwards many sketched, took photos and film, and created stories about the eagle aviary and the eagles that live there. One of our first R7G participants shares her experiences below:
“I am Hannah Camron and I go to Konawa Public Schools. I am Navajo, Seminole and Creek. Last summer, my friend wanted me to join the traditional sports camp R7G hosted. I agreed to check it out and surprisingly enjoyed the camp. I was drawn to the R7G program since I loved the activities they had for the week. I became more interested in the program throughout the summer and joined R7G right away.
“Once I joined R7G, they provided so many events that I could participate in, for example the Girls’ Talking Circle, NB3 Fit Day, the Traditional Arts and Skills Group where we’ve been learning how to bead and the Winter Arts Workshop. Every event they have hosted so far is exciting and fun. I have even met different people from different tribes and different schools. I am really happy that I joined R7G.
“One of the events R7G created for Christmas break was the Winter Arts Workshop. It made the rest of my Christmas break exciting. The Winter Arts Workshop showed me different ways I could use art, such as photography, filming, drawing, and clothing. During the workshop everyone drew scenery, an eagle, or someone particular. We also played pegnegewen and Indian football. The games were harsh but amusing. The event made my week, and I was sad that it ended. I love all of R7G’s events and programs and I want to join every one of them in the future.”
Traditionally during the winter season, the Potawatomi would work on traditional craftwork, share stories, and try to stay warm. We will continue in the same vein as we prepare for our language workshop in February – which can be signed up for at cpn.news/RK7Feb2017. The deadline for sign up is February 14. If you are new to the R7G program, before you sign up for any workshops we ask that you fill out and submit our general application here cpn.news/culturalapp.
We encourage everyone to like our Facebook Page, facebook.com/R7Gen/ to stay up to date about all our workshops, classes and community events. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at Lakota.Pochedley@potawatomi.org or 405-878-5830. All our programs are Potawatomi and Native preference.