November has been the official month for the
celebration of Native Americans since 1994 when President Bill Clinton made the declaration. During the month of
November Messmer High School provided a wide range of events. These events
included making dream catchers, raising money at lunchtime for an organization
that supports Native Americans, and saying traditional Native prayers in the
morning announcements.
This was the very first time Messmer celebrated Native
American Month. It gave Native American students the opportunity to
connect with their culture inside their very own school, and raised awareness of the culture for the other students. Some teachers also
connected to the celebration as well. According to Social Studies Teacher Ms. Anna Luberda, “This
Native American month was a good effort for the first time and if they get more
people involved next year it will be even better. Also I was adopted in the
Crow tribe because I used to live on an Indian Reservation.” She also said, “I
liked the announcements because they captured the Native American
spirituality.”
Mr. Jack Hauser, Family Ministry and Theology, volunteered to be
the head of the first celebration of Native American Month. His
thoughts were, “I have a great interest in all cultures and think as a school
we should continue to grow in our understanding and appreciation of all people.
Messmer has a done a great job with both Black History Month and Hispanic
Heritage Month over the years and it is good to continue to grow them both and
add other ethnicities and cultures.”
The Native American Month celebration
was an all around nice way for all students to experience a new culture besides
their own, and for other students who are Native American the ability to feel
more connected.
--Contributed by junior Dominique Steed and senior Neena
Mathews
