VIRGINIA
TECH FORESTRY PROFESSOR TEACHES
OJIBWE RESERVATION STUDENTS
BLACKSBURG, Sept. 7, 2002
- Jeff Kirwan, associate professor
of forestry and Extension
specialist in the College
of Natural Resources at Virginia
Tech, recently taught basic
forestry principles pertaining
to a maple basswood forest
to a group of Native American
high school students from
the White Earth Indian Reservation
in Mahnomen, Minn.
Kirwan
and his sons, Matthew and
Peter, spent their family
vacation teaching at the reservation's
science and math summer program.
Kirwan's roots go back to
the Native American Indians
off Maryland's Eastern Shore.
The Kirwan's taught the students
different types of forest
measurements in their native
maple basswood forest. In
return, the students taught
the Kirwan clan how to make
baskets and ties out of basswood
bark fibers. "The kids loved
using the Global Positioning
Systems (outdoor-based technology)
the best," notes Kirwan.
This award-winning program
began three years ago when
University of Minnesota Extension
visited an Ojibwe Indian reservation
as part of a Kellogg Foundation-sponsored
event. The program has evolved
into a six-week outdoor summer
program integrating native
culture with math and science
concepts. Youth in grades
8-12 study soils, water quality,
fish hatchery science, identify
birds, and harvest wild rice.
They prepare nutritious meals,
measure trees, and compare
Native and western perspectives
on nature.
The
program involves "at-risk"
youth, or kids who do not
do well in traditional public
schools. Participation from
the Rural Minnesota Concentrated
Employment Program, Inc.,
gave the program a job-like
flavor, including pay and
a commitment to attend regularly
and actively participate.
"That not only kept attendance
high, but taught participants
skills they can use in future
jobs," explains Deb Zak, the
Extension northwest district
director who is the driving
force behind the program.
"Prior
to this program, the opportunity
for our kids to get connected
with students and instructors
outside of the reservation
was nil," says Mitch Vogt,
Circle of Life school principal.
"The likelihood for college
was a rarity. Now, I think
it's more likely." Vogt reports
that students tend to be more
attentive and value school
more after participating in
the summer program. Discipline
problems have dropped and
graduation rates have risen.
An
unexpected benefit of the
program was the interest of
many K-12 White Earth teachers.
"Very few teachers learn about
natural resources management
from professionals in the
field," explains Kirwan. "One
of the teachers I met was
finding the field trips an
awakening experience, and
was becoming more appreciative
of professional natural resources
management. Soon, I expect
White Earth teachers will
be incorporating natural resource
education into their lesson
plans."
While
participating in a fish stocking
exercise, Kirwan met four
former Virginia Tech graduate
students, each instructing
a different section of the
program. University of Minnesota's
forestry Extension specialist
and former Virginia Tech student,
Charlie Binn, said participating
in the White Earth program
will help him and his colleagues
better serve American Indian
students at the college level.
"By being exposed to different
learning needs, we can become
more effective teachers and
advisors." Another former
Virginia Tech forestry student,
Mike Smith, told Kirwan, "Being
a forester for the reservation
is the most challenging job
I have ever had."
The
program was developed by the
University of Minnesota's
College of Natural Resources
forestry department with the
Circle of Life School, White
Earth Reservation Tribal Council,
White Earth Reservation Tribal
and Community College, and
Rural Minnesota Concentrated
Employment Program, Inc.
