Student Council feeds the hungry, feeds the soul Education by Eileen Soler - June 27, 2014April 8, 2015 CLEWISTON — With year-end school requirements satisfied and summer vacation closing in, a handful of Ahfachkee School Student Council members gave up an otherwise lazy Wednesday to work for people in need. The students, Elisah Billie, Kaitlin Osceola and Quenton Cypress, and Ahfachkee teacher Jarrid Smith, spent several hours May 28
Graduates shed joyful tears as they close one door, open others Education by Eileen Soler - June 27, 2014April 8, 2015 BIG CYPRESS — Ahfachkee School graduates may have received the best advice of their high school careers on the very last day. "Don’t let this be the last time you graduate," said Education Department director Santarvis Brown to five graduates during commencement ceremonies May 30. Dressed in mortarboard caps, academic gowns and
Students pledge ‘no’ to dope, violence, tobacco Education by Eileen Soler - June 27, 2014April 8, 2015 BIG CYPRESS — Peer pressure was turned upside down May 29 when Ahfachkee School kindergarten, third- and fifth-grade students were honored for taking a stance against drugs, violence and tobacco. With Seminole Police Officer Michele Short at the helm, children pledged allegiance to American and Seminole flags and then to the
Kindergarten grads show can-do attitude Education by Eileen Soler - June 27, 2014April 8, 2015 BRIGHTON — Coconut palm trees and funny monkeys set the scene May 27 for the sweet and giddy graduation of the Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School kindergarten class of 2014. Children paraded onto the Brighton Veteran’s Building stage to sing a lineup of melodies that spelled things ("Party in the Jungle"), counted
Tiny students launch to big futures in Brighton Education by Eileen Soler - June 27, 2014April 8, 2015 BRIGHTON — Some children were too excited to stay still. Others were so shy they could barely speak. But after plenty of cheerful songs and a heartfelt congratulation speech from Chairman James E. Billie, all graduates of the Brighton Preschool class of 2014 proudly marched dressed in cap and gown
Teens, youth compete at Jim Thorpe games Sports by Eileen Soler - June 27, 2014April 8, 2015 SHAWNEE, Okla. — Young Seminole athletes showed spirited determination June 8-14 at the Jim Thorpe Native American Games in Shawnee, Okla. Despite rain-soaked fields, slim turnout for individual sports and the cancellation of all softball events due to severe storms during the prior week, competitive attitudes prevailed. "It’s a fun and good
Indian Country musters at Gathering of Nations Community by Eileen Soler - May 29, 2014April 8, 2015 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Dozens of drums and thousands of voices filled "The Pit" arena floor at the University of New Mexico to reconnect ties that bind Indian Country peoples from Canada, the United States and Mexico. "We look across this sea of people and see our colors of red, yellow, white
Miss Florida Seminole represents at biggest pow-wow in North America Community by Eileen Soler - May 29, 2014April 8, 2015 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Twenty-three of Indian Country’s most talented and beautiful young women vied at the Gathering of Nations Pow-Wow in Albuquerque, N.M. for the coveted title of Miss Indian World 2014. Among them at the April 24-26 event was Miss Florida Seminole Tia Blais-Billie, 18, a Hollywood resident and graduating
Grass Dance contest held in memory of Casey Dean McCall Community by Eileen Soler - May 29, 2014April 8, 2015 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Drums and songs swelled to deafening decibels while men cloaked in quills, bones, ribbons and brightly colored fabric swayed and stomped, furiously mimicking grass that catches the wind on the Northern Great Plains. About 120 grass dancers filled the University of New Mexico basketball stadium April 26 during
Homegrown Hybiskus rocks Stage 49 Community by Eileen Soler - May 29, 2014April 8, 2015 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — All the way from South Florida, and in the midst of a New Mexico dust storm, the alternative rock band Hybiskus shook Stage 49 at the 31st annual Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque, N.M. Led by RC North Jr., of Hollywood Reservation, on lead guitar, with Gery K