MANIDOO GIIZIS ✨🌕
( Spirit Moon)
( Spirit Moon)
Aanii families,
With the new year comes exciting opportunities to connect and grow together. Our elementary teaching aide has begun visiting schools, and we’re thrilled to see students engaging with culture and language. Elementary students will be working on an introductory Boozhoo color sheet that fosters connections and helps students to learn how to introduce themselves in Anishinaabemowin as well as playing Anishinaabemowin games.
We still need your support in a few areas:
Feedback: Please take a moment to complete this short Google Form to share your input on how we can best allocate student needs funds and plan evening events.
Snowsnake Project Volunteers: We’re excited for each of our Indigenous Education elementary programs to design their own school snowsnake! To make this possible, we’re looking for volunteers to help cut the wood we have. If you’re able to assist, please call (231) 933-5897 or email baldwinsu@tcaps.net.
Looking ahead, we invite you to join our Parent Committee meeting next month on February 10, 2025, at 6:00 PM at the West Middle School Library or via Google Meet. Your involvement is vital to our shared success, and we hope to see you there!
Miigwech, Oose, Thank you!
Summer Baldwin
TCAPS Indigenous Education Coordinator
Elementary
In addition to academic support during January, Indigenous Education students will work on the following:
Work on Anishnishinaabemowin, Fort Belknap, and Shoshone introduction comic strip (pictured)
Read the Mishomis Book
Play Anishinaabemowin games
Watch a special video made just for our students from Miss Indian World, Kassie John!
Middle School
Our middle school January Cultural Connect topic is Anishinaabe 101. Students will learn about Anishinaabe history, clans, and the 7 Grandfather Teachings.
High School
Indigenous Education students at West Senior and TC High will be meeting to begin planning an inaugural student-led round dance.
Additionally, they will work on beading and building comunity.
"How Sleep Heals" diagram from "The Seven Circles: Indigenous Teachings for Living Well" by Chelsey Luger & Thosh Collins
Download the book enhancement PDF
At a glance
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report for Dietary, Physical Activity, and Sleep Behaviors: 2013–2023 tells an important story about adolescent (high school students) health and well-being.
This report uses Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data to describe data and trends on youth behaviors and experiences related to diet, physical activity, and sleep.
Dietary behaviors
Adolescence is a time of rapid growth and development. Eating healthy foods is important for physical growth, immunity, brain health, and cognition. It can also prevent chronic disease later in life.
Trends From 2013 to 2023:
There was a decrease in the percentage of high school students eating fruit, vegetables, and breakfast daily.
There was an increase in the percentage of students who drank plain water at least 3 times per day and did not drink soda and sports drinks.
Physical activity behaviors
Regular physical activity benefits adolescents' physical health, aids cognitive functioning, and may reduce the risk of depression.
Being more active, participating in team sports, and attending physical education daily have also been linked with school connectedness.
Sleep behaviors
Getting enough sleep is linked with better emotional regulation, physical and mental health, attention, learning, and behavior. Not getting enough sleep increases the risk of chronic disease.
Trends From 2013 to 2023:
Sleep behaviors on an average school night:
The percentage of students who got at least 8 hours of sleep decreased.
Biboon (winter) book reviews!
Who can submit? TCAPS Indigenous Education Students
What to submit? Provide a book review. Submissions can be written, video, or audio. (Check out the book list in this newsletter for some book ideas)
When to submit? Winter 24/25
Multiple book reviews are welcomed and encouraged!
An anonymous and fellow bookworm donor sponsored two $10 gift cards!
Winners will be selected and notified on the first day of spring, March 20, 2025.
For more information and to submit click here! 👈
🔊 Calling All Volunteers!
The 2025 Kchi Wiikwedong Anishinaabek Maawnjidowin - Round Dance is seeking volunteers.
📅 Date: Saturday, February 1, 2025
📍 Location: Grand Traverse Resort & Spa - Governor’s Hall
Seeking enthusiastic volunteers to join and assist with:
✨ Sign-In
🔥 Fire Keepers
🚨 Hall Monitoring (Security)
🎟 Raffles
🎁 Give-A-Way
🧹 Clean-Up
⏰ Volunteer Shifts: 2-hour blocks between 3:00 PM - 2:00 AM
💻 Sign Up Here: Volunteer Form https://bit.ly/GTB_RDV2025
📧 Questions? Contact TaShena Sams at:
✉️ tashena.sams2@gtb-nsn.gov
📞 (231) 492-3332
Visit the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Tribe's website for more information about the event.
Be part of this cultural celebration, and let’s make this a night to remember!
---
Juniors and Seniors planning on going to college this is a great cultural volunteer
opportunity to include on your scholarship and college applications.
2024-2025 Miss Indian World Kassie John shares advice for the Miss Indian World Pageant
Miss Indian World, Kassie John, is hosting a special virtual gathering to welcome & inspire future generations of Indigenous women leaders. Learn more about her experiences in the Miss Indian World pageant with special guests sharing sage advice & helpful tips.
She encourages all Deezhí K’é (younger sisters -Diné bizaad ) to join with friends and family.
When? Saturday, January 18th, 2025
Time: 2 pm EST
Register: https://forms.gle/1vg4psF8mHRPYzRH8
Heard Museum Youth Art Show & Sale, Indian Fair & Market
The Heard Museum calls for artist submissions from students 7 - 12th grades for the Youth Art Show & Sale, Indian Fair Market. This is a fantastic opportunity for young artists to have original artwork judged by a professional panel, compete for ribbons, and earn over $10,000 in cash awards. Best of all, work will be displayed and available for sale to the public!
Registration Deadline: February 14, 2025
Artwork Submission Deadline: All entries must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Monday, February 24, 2025
Event Dates: March 1-2, 2025
For more information and to submit click here! 👈
This month's book theme is the setting of winter. We hope you make time to cozy up this winter and read.
📚 Winter's Gifts (An Indigenous Celebration of Nature) by Kaitlin B. Curtice (Potawatomi Nation)
Reading Age: 3 - 7
Grade Level: Preschool - 2
📚 Fishing with Grandma by Susan Avingaq (Inuk)
Reading Age: 6 - 8
Grade Level: 1 - 3
📚 The Sea in Winter by Christine Day (Upper Skagit)
Reading Age: 8 - 12
Grade Level: 3 -7
📚 Where Wolves Don't Die by Treuer, Anton (Ojibwe). Cover and interiors drawn by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley (member of Wasauksing First Nation)
Reading Age: 10 - 16
Grade Level: 5 - 11
Monday- Tuesday- Thursday: 2025 Virtual Anishinaabemowin Classes from 11 am to 12 pm on Zoom
Monday- Tuesday- Thursday: Winter Music Lessons (by appointment) at Heritage Library and Online Via Zoom from 10 am to 5 pm
Wednesdays: Anishinaabemowin In-Person Classes at GTB 3-Mile office from 5 pm to 7 pm
Tuesday, January 14: Dreamcatcher Workshop presented by Heritage Library at GTB 3-Mile office from 5 pm to 7 pm
Tuesday, January 14: Growing Anishinaabe Families Together at GTB 3-Mile office at 5:30 pm
Saturday, January 18: Kché Mko Gises Wawyégawen: Big Bear Moon Round Dance at Wayland Union High School, Wayland, MI at 5 pm
Monday, January 20: Online Cooking with Anishinaabemowin Online Via Zoom at 5 pm
Monday, January 20: Learning the Seven Grandfather Teachings Series - Honesty (adults) at GTB 3-Mile office at 5:30 pm
Thursday, January 23: Series of Elders Sharing Their Knowledge - Online Via Zoom from 6 pm to 8 pm
Saturday, January 25: Anishinaabeg Winter Games & Maawnjidowin "Festival" at the Strongheart, Peshawbestown from 11 am to 2 pm
Tuesday, January 28: Growing Anishinaabe Families Together at GTB 3-Mile office at 6 pm
Saturday, February 1: Kchi Wiikwedong Anishinaabek Maawnjidowin - Round Dance at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa from 2 pm to 1:30 am
All events listed above are free and open to all.
Local/Regional Tribal Event Calendars:
The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa events website
Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians event website
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians event website
Traverse City Area Public Schools Indigenous Education
231.933.5897 (office)
231.499.2421 (cell)
Indigenous Education Office
Traverse City High School
3962 Three Mile Road North
Traverse City, MI 49686
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