An effort to educate people about Native American culture lacked support Wednesday as volunteers at 10 sites on campus and other Lansing-area locations failed to attend events.
The first North American Indian Women’s Spirit of National Gathering, which was organized to help end stereotypes and to teach people more about Native American culture, was plagued with low turnout at all 13 volunteer sites.
But Carlos Fuentes, assistant director at MSU’s Service-Learning Center, said he understood why there was a low volunteer turnout.
“I know this is a hard time to do things this time of year,” he said. “I hope it catches on here. It has great potential to go national. I have never heard of anything like this before.”
Laurie Elendu, assistant director at the Service-Learning Center, said the event cost $9,400. She said the day was crucial for educating people about Native Americans because it could eliminate preconceived notions.
“It’s good to know what contemporary native people and agencies and organizations are doing,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to bring people together from the campus and the community to help people understand the issues people deal with on a daily basis.”
Elendu said she thinks people should take advantage of opportunities to learn more about Native American culture. She said she hopes the idea could spread nationally to teach about the culture.
“Some people don’t know because they have never been exposed,” she said. “People think of Indians with what they have seen on television with Western shows. But Western shows are not reality. People think Indians have to be dressed up in a costume because they are going to a powwow. But they dress like you and me.”
Bryan Newland, a social relations junior and co-president of North American Indian Student Organization, said the day allowed people to experience Native American culture in the workplace. Newland said the day celebrated the achievements of Native Americans.
“It gave people a good opportunity to go out into the Native community and see for themselves firsthand what our community is like on a day-to-day basis,” he said.
“I hope locally it’s a big success and it helps out a lot of people who need it, and I hope the state of Michigan, and eventually, the whole country will recognize and embrace the accomplishments of Native Americans and especially Native American women.”
