Copyright © 2003 NLThomas
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TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - The Cherokee Nation dispersed a total of $54,400 to eleven local schools to fund special projects that teach children Cherokee culture as they serve their community.

Each school has their own individualized project concentrating on a specific cultural concern. For example, Bell School in Adair County received $5000 for their project entitled "Learning While Serving". Bell School project activities will teach students to identify plants used for food and medicinal purposes, and will provide opportunities to learn basket-making and other Cherokee art forms from community elders.

Oaks Mission Public School in Delaware County received $4,000 for their project entitled "Cherokee Native Roots: Growing a Future from a Past". Students will learn the basic elements of growing and maintaining a garden and, in collaboration with elders, will be able to identify four edible plants growing in the wild. The project also emphasizes the importance of physical activity.

Service learning is advocated strongly by the Corporation for National and Community Service as an effective teaching strategy according to Donna Gourd, program manager for the Cherokee Nation Learn and Service program.

"Service-learning is similar in practice to tribal methods of instruction where young people work with their elders for the benefit of the whole group", Gourd said. "Service-learning is a proven method of involving students in civic activities that benefit their communities as well as teaching skills needed to grow academically. It is a way of showing kids how to behave as responsible citizens rather than just telling them."

Each school received between $3,000 and $10,000 for their project. The total of $54,400 was dispersed to public schools throughout the Cherokee Nation’s fourteen-county jurisdictional service area as a result of applications submitted to the Cherokee Nation’s Education Service Department.

The schools receiving funding from the Cherokee Nation Learn and Serve program were Bell, Briggs, Collinsville, Jay, Leach, Miami, Oaks, Peavine, Sallisaw-Central, Warner, and Wickliffe.

For more information about the Cherokee Nation Learn and Serve program contact Donna Gourd, phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2641) or toll-free 800-850-0348 (ext.2641).

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma Attn: (Department Name) P.O. Box 948, Tahlequah, OK 74465 Telephone: 918-456-0671 (Toll Free OK) 1-800-256-0671