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Mt. Sanford
Tribal Consortium
Through the Mt. Sanford Tribal Consortium Learn and Serve Programs,
students in Chistochina and Mentasta, Alaska, are exploring ways they
can promote healthy choices that will protect and preserve their land
for future generations. MSTC was awarded grants from the Corporation
for National Service, Learn and Serve America Program, and began
the development of this curriculum based on traditional knowledge. Our
students are exploring ways they can 'make a difference' through a variety
of community, school, and summer camp activities. Our Elders share traditional
ways of living that develop self-respect and show respect for the land
and others. With their input, along with other community members and
teachers, MSTC has developed this culturally relevant environmental and
wellness curriculum to be used by our own schools. Additionally, it is
our hope that it will help and inspire other communities to begin similar
service-learning programs.
OUR PROGRAMS
Whouy Sze Kiunalth
("Teaching Our Many Grandchildren") 1998-2000
MSTC received the first grant, Whouy Sze Kiunalth ("Teaching Our Many
Grandchildren) and our students began exploring ways they could make
a difference in protecting and preserving our local environment. Elders
spent time teaching students traditional Alaska Native values about caring
for the land during special community events, in the classroom, and at
our summer culture camps. At the beginning of the project, students were
unconcerned about all the junk in our Villages, but over the course of
the program they have changed their attitudes. Old appliances such as
refrigerators and freezers have now been safely disposed of and both
communities joined together for a massive junk car removal project when
300 cars were crushed and removed from our Villages!
Youth Engaged in Outreach (YEO) 2000 - 2003
Using the former project model, our students have continued to explore
ways they can protect and preserve our environment for future generations.
The Youth Engaged in Outreach program engages our students in
service activities such as cleaning up our local lake and stream shores
and restoring historical trails that our ancestors occupied and subsisted
on for centuries. In addition, the YEO Program will establish
an informational and supportive system for their neighboring Villages'
cleanup efforts. The project supports efforts of community members for
a healthier physical environment and relies on traditional ecological
knowledge built into this curriculum to produce long-lasting change.
Health Awareness Partnership Initiative
(HAPI) 2000-2003
Providing quality health care in rural Alaska presents many challenges.
Our students are working to raise community awareness about some of the
crucial rural health issues while learning how to make responsible choices
that impact their own health. The HAPI Program began in 2000 as
a partnership between MSTC and the Village Councils, University of Alaska-Fairbanks,
Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry,
and Alaska Gateway and Copper River School Districts to provide health
education opportunities to our students and community members. Students
conduct research about proper nutrition and good sanitation habits through
fun hands-on, culturally relevant health lessons. They develop exhibits
around topics they have selected and provide a health fair in each Village
to share what they have learned.
Building Digital Traditions
The Building Digital Traditions program is helping both Villages
develop technologically capable residents, allowing them to compete in
today's global society while reflecting local culture and traditions.
Students are taking the leadership role in technology development in
their Villages, and they work side by side to help teach Village members
the nuts and bolts of using an Internet connected computer. In addition,
they receive training from technology experts from around the state,
and are working to build computer labs in both Villages, which are available
for community use.
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WHOUY SZE KUINALTH
