More than 100 students and adult volunteers and staff at Les Cheneaux Community Schools were recognized by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians' Youth, Education, and Activities program Friday, May 19. (Photograph by Alan Kamuda, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians) Eighty-five American Indian students in kindergarten through 12th grades received achievement certificates for academic, behavioral, and social accomplishments at Les Cheneaux Community Schools during the 2005-2006 school year.

The students met certain achievement criteria to be recognized by their teacher or principal to qualify for the certificates, which were distributed Friday evening, May 19, at the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indian's Hessel Tribal Center. Youth, Education, and Activities coordinator Lisa Burnside and newly hired YEA Youth Services assistant Arlene Graham distributed certificates and awards to students and volunteer helpers.

Another 12 students received certificates for completing the Character Education program.

Certificates were also given to the Hessel Tribal Youth Council members Joe Currie, Charlene Brissette, Karl Graham, Amber Mongene, Jordan Labranche, Leigh Ann Hamel, Brett LaLonde, and Hollie Currie.

Junior Tribal Youth Council members also received certificates, including Nicole Huffman, Ashlee Mielke, Jodie Price, Keely Gough, Kody Gough, Tanya Graham, Erin Currie, and Katelyn Williams.

Twenty adult volunteers were recognized for their work and contributions to the youth community. YEA recognized the efforts of Cedarville High School secretary Deb Beukema, Cedarville High Principal Randy Schaedig, Les Cheneaux Elementary School secretary Susie Rutledge and Elementary Principal Eric Cardwell, and Les Cheneaux Schools Title VII Indian Education coordinator Renee Hamel.

"Our school's support and our ability to work closely with the school enhances our ability to reach out to the students," Mrs. Burnside said. "They do a lot of footwork for the (youth) program."

Other volunteers recognized by YEA include Dorothy Currie, Midge Gugin, Helen Beacom, Lana Causley, Shellie Price, Joanne Umbrasas, Candy and Greg Currie, and Terrie Milligan, who is also a parent committee member for the Tribal Unit Two Johnson O'Malley Program.

Other YEA program supporters include Dorothy Royer, Roy Dutcher, Jim Andrews, Corey Hanna, Barb Galer, Tami Duncan, Joe LaLonde, and Cal Burnside.

Mrs. Burnside recognized the tireless efforts of Judy Hamel, a tutor who has worked at least 19 years for the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians' young people. She has provided in-school tutoring from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., helps at the school's homework lab, and works with tutoring programs at the Tribal Center in Hessel.

YEA and Mrs. Burnside coordinate youth programs for all of Unit Two, including in DeTour, on Drummond Island, and Clark Township. The group also provides programs to Pickford and Tahquamenon Area Schools. The program works with Title VII Indian Education coordinators in local schools to provide Character Education programs at those schools. Character Education covers the traditional American Indian teachings of the Seven Grandfathers over seven weeks, Mrs. Burnside said, and include lessons in love, honesty, respect, humility, bravery, truth, and wisdom.

"Those teachings are tied in with the medicine wheel teachings about self, community, and the environment," Mrs. Burnside said.

The YEA will launch its fiveweek Circle of Life program Monday, June 26, at the Tribal Center in Hessel. The program meets three days a week, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday unless participants are attending a campout. The program incorporates Medicine Wheel teachings that suggest that each person must take their own individual journey to find their own path. The wheel includes the Four Cardinal Directions and Four Sacred Colors of red, black, white, and blue that each symbolize one of the four directions. Young people enrolled in the program learn more about medicine wheel teaching and American Indian culture, participate in crafts, attend outings and field trips, and study the ecosystem. The program ends June 27 and is limited to 20 participants, so anyone who plans to participate should register as soon as possible. YEA also plans to host three-day sessions in Newberry and DeTour.

August 5 at Garnet Park in Rexton, young people will gather for the Annual Youth Empowerment Pow-Wow, followed by a feast. Young people from around the Upper Peninsula plan to attend the gathering. Vendors and drug use prevention booths are also expected to be there.

YEA has also scheduled a series of Ojibwa language classes for Mondays in June and July. Anyone of any language ability is invited to join the group. The first class was Monday, June 5. Subsequent classes are scheduled for June 19, July 3, July 17, and July 31. Rhonda Hopkins and Nancy Debassige of the Tribal Cultural Department teach the class.

To register for YEA activities or obtain information about the Youth Education and Activities program, call Lisa Burnside or Arlene Graham at (906) 484-2298.