With
increasing numbers of juveniles under federal supervision in Native American communities,
federal court officials are trying to deter drug and alcohol abuse by encouraging
the youths' artistic expression. And they have enlisted the help of a faculty
member of the performing arts school depicted in "Fame," a hit 1980
movie and '80s television series.
"Share the Fame," a pilot community-outreach prevention program on North Dakota reservations, is intended to tap into Native American art and culture as a way of getting the message across. The idea for the pilot was born, literally, in mid-air during a flight in which Rene Green, a probation administrator with the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, took a seat next to Patrick Byers, dance musician and instructor with New York City's LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and the Performing Arts. Green and Byers discovered that they had a common interest in young people's education and development.
"Rene is the person with the vision in this," said Byers, who composes music to accompany dance performances at LaGuardia, where students pursue academic studies while developing their artistic talents. "She recruited me to visit the reservations to see the tremendous talent there. I'm really impressed with her commitment to the kids."
Said Green: "Because art and culture are so important in the lives of Native Americans, I thought Patrick's approach to education would be an effective way for us to reach the kids and emphasize the positive values that Probation and Pretrial Services works to reinforce."
An October kick-off ceremony for "Share the Fame" featured about 300 students from North Dakota's Turtle Mountain Tribe, Standing Rock Tribe, Spirit Lake Tribe and the Three Affiliated Tribes who showcased their talents. Performances included traditional Native American singing, drumming, dancing, and fiddle-dancing. "The children who performed during my visit are very talented. Many of them are at the same level as the students we would admit into our freshman class," Byers said.
Students also displayed their paintings and drawings, which will be shown at LaGuardia High during November, Native American Month
During the 2003 spring break and summer vacation, other LaGuardia faculty members will travel to North Dakota to work with students. And plans are being made for a group of Native American students to attend classes at LaGuardia for a week. "I think the project is fabulous. We're really excited about this," said Michelle Mathesius, chair of LaGuardia's dance department.
There also are plans to expand "Share the Fame" to other reservations across the country. Rich Crawford, chief probation and pretrial services officer for the District of North Dakota, says "Share the Fame" is a good idea, and just one of the ways his office is responding to the needs of reservation residents. "For example, we decided some time ago that instead of officers having to travel 70 to 100 miles to get to reservations, each reservation would have Native American officers," he said. "I think there's an advantage to having officers who know the culture. Native American probation officers help us implement programs that are effective."
Todd Pope, a probation and pretrial services officer in North
Dakota, also is a member of the Three Affiliated Tribes. As part of the outreach
program's first phase, he invited tribal elders to tell stories to fifth-grade
students at his former elementary school. "The message of the stories was
not about the Office of Probation and Pretrial Services. It was more about living
a conscientious, moral life," Pope said.
Citing incidents of drug and alcohol use by Native American high school students
and their high drop-out rate, Pope said, "We see 'Share the Fame' as an
effort to be more in touch with the youth. We are familiar with the problems
that many of the young people face."