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Positive Alternatives Coalition - Intercultural
Leadership Initiative
Community Wide Prevention Meeting #7
August 21, 2007
AVW
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There
were about 30 people at the meeting, including two students. The
evening
started with introductions around the circle. We’d very much like
to thank all of the folks who took time out of their busy days to come
together
to discuss some very important issues. We had a good representation of
tribal
and other community members, school administrators, school board
members, and
parents. We are coming together to be a positive voice for our
community, one
that promotes positive actions for change to insure the health and
well-being
of all youth, equally and fairly. Bob talked briefly about why we
are
hosting these community meetings: to develop a Plan that people in our
community can commit to that builds healthy people and communities. He
then
asked people in the circle to help by sharing their views, opinions and
suggestions on how to move forward and take action. Below are the
different topics we discussed and the comments that people contributed.
Continue Small Groups from
the 5th meeting in Lac du Flambeau:
*The four groups were:
Parent, Youth, AODA
and Racism.
*Use small groups as
place to take action.
We’ll identify these groups and develop email lists so they can work
together and network outside these meetings.
*The small groups can
communicate amongst
each other and then report back to the large group. It was felt
that we need
to break back down into these small groups as we move to action.
Volley Ball
*The issue of the LdF
8th grade
conference champion volleyball girls not making the freshman volleyball
team at
LUHS is an important issue and there was a lot of discussion about this
issue. Everyone
agreed that LUHS Administration moved quickly to respond, but there are
still a
number of concerns: the girls are apparently on a “B” team, and
still have no games to play. More importantly, we talked about how this
whole
issue will impact these students and the rest of the community? What is
the
message-especially in the historical context and tensions that swirl in
our
community? What can we do? How do we respond? There was also a
story
related about a girl from MHLT who felt badly and was confused because
she was
chosen over other girls who she felt were much better athletes than she
was.
There needs to be some way to help explain this to these girls as well.
It was
pointed out that a lot of these girls are friends because of their ILI
experiences throughout grade school and they feel
for, and support, each other.
*There was discussion
regarding the summer
volleyball camp (not all the girls were contacted) and the expense:
some
families cannot afford an expensive summer volleyball camp. Why should
economics be a barrier to children? It was mentioned that,
historically, only
the students who attend the summer camp are chosen for the team. Should
we
raise funds for scholarships to these camps?
*Now there is a ‘no cut’
rule-a
new policy for LUHS- for all freshmen sports-which some folks felt was
real
victory since its been an issue for many years. But the question
was
asked, will all these students get to play, or just suit up for games.
*This group felt
strongly that this coach
needs to be reprimanded since this whole issue has caused such angst
and hurt
feelings throughout the community. We need to find a way for folks to
be held
accountable for their actions in ways that serve to heal the whole
community
when something that is viewed by a large segment of our community as
“wrong” has occurred.
*For all sports: set-up
communication
process between middle school and high school coaches about incoming
athletes. Possibly have middle school coaches present at high
school
tryouts.
Schools
*It was felt by many in
the group that the
volleyball issue is part of the bigger issue at hand-prejudice.
It is an
issue that has been around for a long time, it is often subtle but
always very
damaging. How do we deal with this?
*It was suggested that
parents have to
speak up and voice their concerns. Some parents are afraid to speak out
because
they feel their children will be impacted negatively by retaliation-and
many in
the group felt that this was the case. Others in the community with
close ties
to schools are afraid to speak too loudly because those in positions of
power
can easily negatively affect their efforts. We need to find a way for
it to be
“safe” to disagree as we search for solutions.
*Because of the long
often contentious
history that exists between American Indian and non-Indian people in
the
Lakeland area, we would like our schools to be extremely sensitive to
how students
are treated in the classrooms and athletics so as to not further ignite
issues,
fears, misunderstandings or anything that may have a negative impact on
the
health and well-being of our youth and families. This requires genuine,
consistent effort.
*There is zero tolerance
for how students
behave in schools, we should have the same policies for adults who
serve our
children.
Petition
*A petition for the
volleyball issue to
request a reprimand for the coach was discussed. The question was
asked-“who here believes that the volleyball coach should not be
reprimanded?” Everyone agreed that there should be a reprimand. It was
pointed out that any such reprimand from LUHS would be considered a
confidential issue but that LUHS was taking action to rectify the
situation.
Some felt that a petition was too negative an approach and that we
could write
the Community Plan we have been meeting about this past year and
address these
same issues in a positive way.
Action Plan/Covenant
*We had a long
discussion regarding our
action plan, what we have done, and hope to do, invite others to
support us,
include those in leadership in the community. Clearly state what
we are
about. “I will” statements. Bob will draft up a document that
draws from all of our previous meetings. He will send it out by
e-mail
for people to read through and make suggestions to.
*Another way to show
others that we are
committed is that people are coming together.
*It is important to show
that there are
many people in the community committed to our youth. The amount
of
support will be just as, if not more, important than how we present the
issues.
Things we can take action
on
*Attend School board
meetings. On the
flip side, some have attended the meetings and feel there is no
change.
The next one is Monday, August 27th at 5pm in the library at LUHS.
*Vote for people to get
on the school board.
*Call people.
*Invite more people to
join
*Present issues clearly
to administration
with documentation.
*Ask for action.
Questions
*Will we in this group
truly be listened
to?
*What do we need to do
to be heard?
*What are the barriers?
Comments
*First time seeing
people from all communities
coming together to focus on these issues.
*Subtlety of
racism. It
happens. But how do we respond to it, and hold people accountable
for
their actions.
*We should institute
both a Parent and
Teacher ILI: a training place for adults to learn and to gain
understanding.
*Have mission, tenets of
the community
meetings visible at each meeting.
The meeting closed with
Cathy Kurtyka
sharing the story of 7 students from Lac du Flambeau who attended an
Engineering camp at UW Madison this summer. She told the group
how well
they did, how the Dean of Engineering noticed the great way they
interacted
with other students, and how we need to continue fighting for our youth
to have
these kinds of opportunities. She also shared about the history
of this
area and how people have come together through petitions and other
actions for
many years to make their voices heard.
Next Meeting
September 25th
5:30-8:30pm at
LUHS
Bob
Kovar, Project
Director
Intercultural Leadership
Initiative
Positive Alternatives
Coalition
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