Traditional Tasks
NIYLP students help McKinley Manor residents

From left, Mark Davis, Chee Tom and Fanny Smith maintain the garden at McKinley Manor on Nizhoni Blvd. Residents work a little each day to maintain the corn and squash growing in the garden. [Photo by John A. Bowersmith/Independent]

By Mervyn Tilden
For Fhe Independent

GALLUP — As a cool breeze blew and the gray clouds looked intimidating, a group of service learning students arrived last Tuesday afternoon at the McKinley Manor resident home to begin their project.

The students volunteered their time to re-plaster a traditional bread oven that is used for cookouts and other events held for the elder residents. The program is headed by the National Indian Youth Leadership Project (NIYLP), and this year the students were from Wingate and John F. Kennedy Mid-Schools.

The student participants included Brittanie Begay, Amberdawn Morgan, Cacy Lee, April Chavez, Ashley Russell, Felicia Begay, Melody Baldwin, Clarissa Howe, Evelina Thompson, and Desiree Dayea.

Renee' Tso, NIYLP project coordinator, said the event is one of several based on science that is combined with traditional teachings and cultural values. "We want them to learn new things and certain components have to be cultural," Tso said. "We're giving them that chance to empower themselves.

"We model the program for them but they have to use it," she stated. "In our program, the children have to know their clans and who they are." After the activity, the participants will report back to their peers, Tso added.

Cacy Lee, 12, who will be a seventh grader next fall at JFK, said she thought it would be a good activity, instead of watching TV. "I try to do something I've never done before; so, I wanted to be a part of this project," she said. "I like helping people that helped us and made us who we are. It makes me happy."

The bread oven was built several months ago by another group that also planted corn in a 50-foot by 20-foot plot nearby. According to House Keeping supervisor Nathan Spencer, the cornfield was requested by the residents themselves, and several workers and the students did the rest. "They enjoy that. Sometimes they ask when we're going to cook out again," said Spencer. "We're just waiting for the harvest. We'll probably have a cookout with the fresh corn."

Corn is a sacred plant to Native Americans and is also used in many traditional ceremonies.

There is a ceremonial Hogan that sits beside the cornfield that is utilized by the residents upon their request. The families provide the necessary elements and bring the medicine person in to conduct the ceremony. Spencer said the last one was in Nov. 2004.

Most of the students said respect for their elders and being able to help them in whatever way they could was the immediate reason for participating in the program. Getting muddy was another. They mixed the mud with straw, used chicken wire for re-enforcement and began the two and a half hour undertaking.

Assisting Tso were Sarah Longhi, NIYLP mentoring coordinator, Gloria Tom, evaluation assistant, and Sharona Secatero, service staff.

Secatero,21, who plans to major in pediatrics, said she likes to participate with the children in all activities. She observed their personality changes through the months and years. "It's a good experience for me. I never worked with children until NIYLP," Secatero said.

Longhi added the growth is noticeable because they create the right conditions. "This program offers them the opportunity to see what's out there," Longhi said. "We show them there is another way to treat people. This includes their family members and reaches out to the community."

Director of Social Services Loretta Begay was thankful for the children's presence. "A lot of our elders are cultural-wise, and for them to see young people in our facility, saying 'hi' to grandma and grandpa, is good for them," she said. "From my standpoint, I would encourage people to stop by and visit us. Come in and say 'hello', there's nothing wrong with that."

Begay added that there will be a cookout to coincide with the harvest and everyone is invited to attend. McKinley Manor is located at 224 Nizhoni Blvd. and can be reached at 505-863-9551.

Resident Kee Hoskie is ready. After the group of students finished the job, cleaned up and packed things away, he remarked, "I'm hungry. I want some bread."

The sun was shining brightly when all was over. Ten student volunteers made that happen when they showed up and re-plastered the bread oven for their elders.