Wall Of Storytelling Judged At WPHS
Wolf Point Native American studies teacher Tressa Welch told the Northern Plains Independent that her students created a wall of storytelling at the high school Dec. 21. A panel of judges evaluated the submissions Dec. 22. “The wall went up in honor of our winter solstice, which is our winter Native American holiday (we didn’t have Xmas as Native American prior 1492). Winter is a time of storytelling so in honor of our Native American tradition, we share our stories and pass them down to our future generations so they can live on.”
Welch said the wall was part of ongoing efforts to include Native traditions and storytelling in school curriculum.
“It wasn’t that long ago that we would have been in trouble for teaching our history,” said Welch. “There is more to our history than frybread and beading.”
The judges panel included superintendent Loverty Erickson, Tommie Christian, Fort Peck Community College cultural advisor, Tribal Executive Board member Shannon Martell and Dyan Youpee with the Fort Peck Tribal historic preservation office.
Welch said her Native American Studies students created their competing submissions in groups organized by class period.
“They created the wall from scratch and picked their stories,” said Welch. “The judges picked my 2nd period class as the winner. Their topic was Heyoka the sacred clown of the Lakota/Dakota people, which is apart of our culture that still exists today.”
