Oklahoma Trio Educate and Entertain in Kamiah and Lapwai

With one side of the gym filled with high school students and the other half brimming with middle school students, Chance Rush (Hidatsa/Arapaho/Dakota) from Shawnee, OK, took the opportunity to point out the differences, often humorous, between the two age groups in Kamiah.

The younger students were still eager to show they were listening, while the high school students could appear disinterested or looking around first to see how others were reacting. The younger students rushed to be seated, while the older ones, especially the boys with the walk Athat makes them appear to have an injured leg,@ came at a slower pace. Similar comparisons, including girls whose necks moved around like a Abobblehead,@ ensued prior to the main point that the younger kids were looking to the older kids for direction and for someone to be like. And that a young person could take that to heart and represent himself or herself each day in the best way possible, so those who are looking up to him or her can have a good role model.

Chance, a motivational speaker, comedian, and former collegiate national champion runner, took this humor-based approach for two days of school assemblies, starting in Kamiah on December 11 and ending at Lapwai on December 12. Santia Picard, junior at Kamiah High School, and Phillip Weaskus, sophomore at Lapwai High School, stepped forward to make the introductions for the presentations.

On previous trips to the Nez Perce reservation, Chance came as a solo presenter. This time he brought Brian Frejo (Pawnee/Seminole), an actor, motivational speaker, producer, and DJ, and Emcee One (Osage/Puerto Rican), a rapper and motivational speaker. Both currently work out of Oklahoma City.

Julie Hart, Kamiah Indian Education Coordinator, came up with the idea to bring Chance since he did a successful assembly at her school two years ago. Julie partnered with Ni-Mii-Puu Health and Students for Success to coordinate the event, which also included Native American students from Clearwater Valley and Orofino. These students also attended a luncheon and talk with the presenters prior to the school assembly.

AI enjoyed the turnout for the luncheon. The students really enjoyed it,@ Julie said. AThe feedback from the Ni-Mii-Puu Health survey (on the assembly) showed that the students enjoyed having people who went through what they=re experiencing and seeing how they managed to make it.@

At Kamiah, Chance shared time with Brian and Emcee One to bring together an all-round positive message.

Brian talked about not limiting your dreams. In his career in film and music, he has been able to realize many exciting opportunities, including appearing in movies like AGeronimo@ and ALast of the Mohicans@ and being a DJ for shows with entertainers like Ludacris, Monica, Ginuwine, etc. He relates to today=s student by telling them that in high school that Abasketball saved his life.@ At the time it was his only motivation to keep up with school, because certain grades were needed to stay on the team. He has since developed other motivators, like his personal goals, but that he really set the course of his life by getting his high school diploma.

Emcee One had the Kamiah crowd doing the Awave,@ enjoying his beat boxing and rapping, and taking in his message about four words to remember.... Vision, Passion, Discipline, and Risk. He broke down the value of each word and how they complement each other. For example, one can have a goal or vision, but it can=t truly be fulfilled, or fulfilling, without the passion or joy for what you want to do. Also that Arisk without discipline,@ can be reckless and maybe even harmful. Overall, Emcee One shared that first one gets the Vision for what they want to be, then their Passion keeps them motivated and loving what they=re doing, then Discipline maintains focus and hard work, and finally to achieve one=s greatest dreams it often takes a healthy Risk

It was Chance=s vision to have all three of them together to give the Nez Perce reservation a high quality presentation.

AWorking with Brian and One makes me realize how important it is to be grounded, well, and be committed,@ Chance said. AI have seen them perform in venues with 10,000 people, but they still have the same heart and focus to give back to our smaller tribal communities, like Kamiah and Lapwai.@

Besides speaking, the trio was also able to showcase their creative talents at an evening show in Lapwai. Their comedy and music performances followed the premiere of the locally developed video, ANez Perce Youth Style Tobacco Prevention Campaign.@ Nez Perce Youth Leadership hosted the night along with coordination from the Nez Perce Tobacco Prevention Coalition, Nez Perce Arts Council, and Students for Success.

Donations for admission to the event were collected to send to Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). In recognition of December as ANational Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness Month,@ $32.27 was sent to SADD for their nationwide prevention efforts. Awareness materials were also distributed. Everyone in attendance received door prizes (shirts, stocking caps, stadium blankets) donated by the state of Idaho=s AProject Filter@ tobacco prevention campaign.

Working with the Lapwai Safe and Drug-free Schools and Multi-cultural Education Program, Chance presented a two-hour program on December 12. He started with split breakout groups of high school males and females. He had an informal discussion with the young people on topics such as relationships, maintaining personal control, expectations of how a boy/girl should treat you, the power of respect, not bringing down but supporting one other as brothers and sisters, and the value of education. The school plans to build on Chance=s breakout work by offering support groups in the spring semester. Chance then tied up the morning with a full assembly of grades 7-12 where he continued to show why humor is so important to one=s well-being.

AYou know you=re in an Indian school, when a dog walks down the hall and no one thinks anything of it,@ Chance joked. ASome of the boys were clearing a way for the dog saying >let it be free.=@

It was a whirlwind of activities for two days, but by the end there was plenty of laughing, dancing, rhyming/singing, and sharing of life=s experiences to keep everyone energized for some time. Chance, Brian, and Emcee One thoroughly enjoyed their time here interacting with the students and adults in the school and community.

AIt=s good to see everybody back in Lapwai. I know people in the community have been through a lot, but the kids still laugh,@ says Chance. AThat=s one thing I see at Lapwai is that everyone steps up to fill their role. They bless this hardship, pick up, go on, and don=t stop.@

Plans are underway to have them return for more training and performing in August 2004.