Area Students Recognized Native American Week

Wolf Point students honored their culture throughout Native American Week which was recognized on Sept. 21-25.

The week at Southside Elementary School kicked off on Sunday when custodian Jason Martell with the assistant of student volunteer put up the traditional tipi in front of the school.

Activities during the week at Southside included necklace and medallions for kindergarten students and going to the cultural fair in Poplar for second and third graders on Monday, making paper tipis and dream catchers on Tuesday, creating paper moccasins and medicine pouches on Wednesday and having a round dance with wolf crowns and hand drums on Thursday.

“It’s an important week to have because it helps students become more aware of their culture,” Southside Principal Brandi Burshia said.

Second-grade student Addison Lee Lilley especially enjoyed making the dream catchers.

“They catch away the bad dreams,” Lilley said.

Theme days at the junior high and high school were Wear Red for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People on Monday, Native Bling such as earrings, bracelets and jewelry on Tuesday, Native Prints by wearing clothing with native prints, tribal colleges or clubs on Wednesday and Wear Orange for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Children on Thursday.

Northside Elementary School students were busy putting up the tip and story telling on Monday, attending the cultural fair in Poplar on Tuesday, playing traditional games n Wednesday and having a round dance on Thursday. Theme days at Northside included Native Print Day on Monday, Orange and Red Day for Missing Murdered Indigenous Men and Women on Tuesday, Vest and Best Attire Day on Wednesday and Ribbon Skirt and Shirt Day on Thursday.