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Harborview Elementary students and families celebrated something they’ve been preparing for all school year on Monday — a khoo.éex’.
Families and students with Harborview’s Tlingit Culture Language and Literacy program, which includes 64 students, wore red shirts and Tlingit regalia while dancing and singing traditional songs and serving elders and other guests gifts and treats.
Posted along the walls of the school gym, where the celebration took place, were old photos of Alaska Natives dancing or at other events.
One of the songs the students sang was from a Tlingit man in Kake, called the Mandarin Chant. While singing and dancing, students passed out cans of mandarin oranges to guests. One of the students had called the man to ask permission to use the song.
“It’s a great way to end the school year,” said Harborview culture specialist Michelle Martin. “A khoo.éex’ is a Tlingit culture tradition. There are many types of them. Khoo.éex’ means ‘to invite.’”
Students from Gastineau Elementary’s Gastineau Tlingit Dancers were guests, along with a class from Glacier Valley Elementary, which has hosted four khoo.éex’ in the past. Mendenhall River Elementary students also were invited and Harborview Elementary’s students joined in the celebration as classroom schedules allowed.
The Tlingit Culture Language and Literacy program infuses culture with reading, writing and math.
“I’m hoping the kids learn through culture, we’re able to integrate this (event) into literacy and to math and to writing,” Martin said. “We hope they come away with pride and make them stronger as students. So that they not only learn culture but the curriculum in our school district.”
Tlingit Elder Selina Everson, whom students call Grandma Selina, was honored by the students for her work with them.
“I feel very honored that she works with us daily to help revitalize the language,” said language specialist Jessica Chester.
Everson thanked the families and all the “grandchildren.”
“How thankful we are to come together like this so the children can see how the elders survive,” she said.
The students then sang and danced to a song made specifically for Everson, called “Kaséix x’asheeyi (Kaséix’s song).” Kaséix is her Tlingit name.
The children danced their way to Everson to treat her with hugs at the end.
Chester said local elders present were part of the Goldbelt Heritage Foundation. There also were elders from Sitka, who participate in the Sitka Native Education Program, SNEP.
Sitting in behind the elders was a row of teachers who took part in Goldbelt’s training. Those teachers took classes and earned continuing education credit to learn to incorporate culture in the classroom.
“They started with ‘why do people gather?’” Chester said. “‘What is a khoo.éex’?’ It means “to invite” for a memorial or celebration. So we just taught teachers about that and what happens at Tlingit celebrations.”
Chester said they chose a theme at the beginning of the year based on a quote by David Kadashan: “We will only imitate our ancestors.”
Chester said in the fall the students went on a harvesting field trip, and throughout the year the school has had family nights to prepare for this event.
Students created paintings making Tlingit designs, using ovoid shapes. One painting was given to their family and smaller paintings were given to their teachers.
Families also went to the school on Sunday to prepare food for Monday’s event.
At the end of the khoo.éex’ on Monday, elders took the opportunity to speak.
“If you can’t keep still and if you can’t keep quiet it will be difficult for you to learn,” said David Katzeek, calming the students. “We’re doing this so you can really learn, so you can remember this day.”
He told the students that a lot of work and practice went into the events of the day, and that they need to continue practicing to learn to read, write and do math. He also thanked parents and the district.
“For me as a person who graduated in Juneau, you don’t know how this warms my heart to see what’s happening in the schools and not just the elementary schools,” Katzeek said.
Elder Richard Dauenhauer expressed his pleasure with all the students had done, but urged them to continue.
“This was really, really wonderful,” he said. “There is an old saying, ‘you ain’t seen nothing yet.’ I think you guys are going to get better and better. It’s been a long battle to get acceptance in the schools like this. ... We Have a whole generation now of people going to UAS and to university. Thank you for doing this and thank you for fighting the good fight.”
• Contact reporter Sarah Day at 523-2279 or at sarah.day@juneauempire.com.
Comments (15)
Add commentOK but how many of these kids
OK but how many of these kids can do basic math? Can write a legible paper? Know basic geographt of our country, let alone the world? Can they describe the Bill of Rights? No need to answer, I am afraid I already know the answer.
TlingitCulture
What was said in the article about sitting still and listening is also teaching these kids that they can also sit still and listen to their teachers and their lessons.
I only wish I had these lessons from my elders when I was growing up.
I have a dance group & it's hard to teach when I myself am limited to the language.
I have so much respect for those who teach our heritage.
great job :)
response to kpawsuh's post
Define “geographt”
We are building a foundation for native people to move forward. Once the self-esteem is established formal education is the next logical step.The number of native students earning college degrees is steadily rising; the number of native students actively pursuing and receiving Masters Degrees is also on the rise. What we are doing appears to be working.
Thats all good, but I dont
Thats all good, but I dont see many kids with a lot of basic knowledge, native or not. I suppose the cultural knowledge might help ground them to help learn the basics, or it maight be taking up time needed to learn the basics. Only time will tell
Powerful culture
Congratulations to the students, the teachers, and the Elders! This is an awesome thing. Learning Tlingit culture helps everybody, I believe. And someone who learns multiple perspectives, cultures, and languages will enrich America. It's a powerful, good, wholesome culture. Likoodzí Haa Shagóon áyá! - Ishmael Angalook Hope
When I went to elementary
When I went to elementary school, we did a yearly thing on Tlingit culture, complete with a potlach and a trip to the museum and usually some retelling of myths or reenactment of traditions in the classroom. I always loved it, and I do think it's important for kids to be exposed to this stuff. It's vital for children to learn that there are other cultures out there at a young age, lest they grow up insulated and xenophobic towards anything outside of the dominant paradigm. And where better to start than with a local culture?
Also, Mr. Hope, "Reincarnation of Stories" was AWESOME.
Kpawsuh, You should read the
Kpawsuh,
You should read the article....
"The Tlingit Culture Language and Literacy program infuses culture with reading, writing and math."
Instilling pride and a sense of worth can only help a child in school, no need to be so negative, K.
Thanks
Gunalchéesh, Persimmon. I think what's within the Tlingit traditions and language is mostly good, wholesome, and healthy, though we're of course human and fallible. Thanks to you, and to anyone who changes the course of suppression and oppression to something positive and proactive. Gunalchéesh.
One can always tell those of
One can always tell those of you that don't understand what this is all about, these kids are learning their culture and for some the culture of the Tlingit people. They are doing this along with regular subjects being taught in school and some of those kids are getting good grades in "Reading, writing and arithmetic". I know one of those kids and know that he is a good student. To kpawsuh what would you have posted if this were about those same kids if the subject were French or Spanish? These kids are learning about something closer to home.
directed @ kpawsuh
So, I am wondering , why are you knocking what these kids are doing?
first of all, it is very important for them, or any other child of any race to learn where they come from, what their culture or heritage is.
You speak of them learning the basic's, yet you could not even spell Geography or the word Might,,!
So are you speaking of your own experience, maybe you didnt learn.
I just cant understand why somebody would cut down a child, We as adults are put here on this planet to help our children grow and to show them the right way and get the most out of their live's by teaching them, and also teach them the ways of our ancestors.
Our Native heritage and culture was stripped from us by force. I agree 100 % that we need to intergrate the heritage of our people and others back into our school's. regardless of wether you are Red, White,Black, or what have you.
I grew up in this town have been here a little over 40 years, and I have always encountered racisim, to one extent or another, it is time to lay this to rest.
First off, when none of you
First off, when none of you make a typo, come talk to me. Second, I am just so sick of all the touchy feely culture garbage. Yes its cool etc, but for most of the kids, its mostly playing dress up. We all did it as kids. The adults view it as passing along important cultural info, but most of the kids will tell you that they played dress up and danced and sang.
My homeschooled kids have invited fifteen public school friends over to play a geography game and some don't even know where Europe is. My kids gave up and put the game away. If you cant find Europe, and the question is what country in Europe has the Eiffel tower in it, then the game isnt going to be much fun.
When I was a kid, we learned about different cultures. There would be French week, German week, Souix week, Basque week, Norwegian week, etc. Here it seems to be Tlinget decade. Great culture and all that and I respect them greatly as a culture, but I feel that the ones who are trying to save the culture are doing it more harm by forcing on everyone. You seem to view it as the only culture that matters. It does matter, but there are many many other great cultures too. Should kids be exposed to Tlingit? Absolutely. And to Norwegian, Swahili, Samoan, etc. My grumpiness is more about the general trend than this one isolated event.
And man from the creek you said "You speak of them learning the basic's, yet you could not even spell Geography or the word Might,,!" Two commas in front of an exclamation point? Poor form Old Boy! Tssk Tssk
Garbage?
This is not an isolated event. I know, for a fact, these children are exposed to other areas of the world through their education. They are learning about different states and countries, the syllabi provided by the school system may not be to your liking, but if you have an issue with it, perhaps you can assist in making a change. If your children invited friends over and they did not know the location of Europe, did you try to teach them? If you are such a good teacher, which it sounds like you are, why not get an education (if you don't have one already) and become a teacher and better OUR society?
Already, I can tell you, you are a better teacher than some of the teachers who are guiding our young people in the city of Juneau. This is not meant to cut down on those who are teaching there, but, there are some serious issues regarding the level of education the children in Juneau are receiving, Native or not.
With that being said, this is not "touchy feely culture garbage". I have been able to refer to my culture while pursuing my Masters and throughout the past 11 years of my professional life, even if I don't mention the word "Tlingit" specifically. You cannot deny who you are, it is a part of you. If you do not know where you come from, how can you know where you are going?
I have young nephews who participated in this program, and not once did they say "we played dress up!" They tell me they participated in a khoo.éex' and those children have taught me so much about their understanding of the Tlingit culture that I wish I had been exposed to at their age.
Do not blame the children, they are only able to learn what a person or group of people is able to teach them, they are being exposed to things such as geography, math, and science, but if they have difficulty, the answer from the educators to help them understand it tends to be "oh, it's okay, we will pass you." This is unacceptable. No child, regardless of origin, deserves to be shortchanged like that. Take the time. Teach and make sure they actually learn.
never claimed to be very educated.
Yes kpawsuh.
I am not very good at my grammar or english. growing up in schools here in Juneau and Southeast~I wasnt subjected to my culture, I was detered from it more or less and made to feel like an outcast because of people who thought our culture is just playing dress up and thinking our culture is just second rate touchy feely crap.
It is people like you that helped me to not want to be in school.
Racism is alive and well, not just in Juneau but all over, here in Juneau we Native People are still overwhelmed by racism on an almost daily basis.
If you are a teacher ( you speak as if you know all ) then I am sorry for your students.
I will say this once, if you care to look it up,,then please do.
our native culture is based mostly on respect of all things, it is a very important value that should be incorparated into our childrens education.
I am so tired of being ridiculed by people like you, I have kids that attended this class, they loved it, they actually teach me things.
They can speak a second language (english) and I am very proud of them, as they say,Just turn the other cheek or go the other way so you dont have to see or hear all this touchy feely crap as you say.
I certainly hope you dont install these one sided thoughts of yours into your homeschooled kids.
Agree with Kpawsuh, but also.....
As someone with a teaching degree - I agree with Kpawsuh that kids need to learn about all kinds of cultures, not just Tlingit. The purpose of this is for them to recognize that there are all kinds of people in the world, who are both the same and different from themselves, and that this is ok, even interesting. I do think there is an over-abundance of Tlingit in the schools - after all, teaching children about their heritage in-depth should primarily be the job of the parents, it is not the school's responsibility.
On the other hand, Kpawsuh, I apologize for picking on you recently for your spelling and grammar, clearly there are many and frequent abusers on this blog. I counted no fewer than 3 instances of "your" that should have been "you're" just today. However, if you are teaching your children, and as a reminder for all of us - it is simply not ok to be lazy about it, not caring about apostrophes, it's vs its; there, their, and they're, etc. It's important. Always. That is exactly how our kids get sloppy, and their kids sloppier still, and then we have athletes and commercials and politicians on TV saying "I seen" something. AAARRRGGGHH! Yes, clearly everyone makes mistakes now and then. But that is certainly NO excuse not to do your best every time you write something, no matter where it is.
Other cultures
It would be impossible to do justice to every culture out there, or even a minority of them, though. Tlingit culture is local, there are Tlingits living here, and it's a culture in dire need of preservation, so it makes sense to focus on Tlingit culture in our schools. It still serves the purpose of showing kids that there ARE other cultures, and hopefully fosters an interest in learning about them. I know a lot of kids would just roll their eyes and say, "what's the point?" if we taught them, say, Japanese culture in class, unless it involved gratuitous amounts of anime.
Just think of Tlingit as a gateway culture.