Ha-ve. Hello! Exploring Indigenous Cultures at Yokosuka Middle School
“Ha-ve. Hello!” With these words from the Osage language, Ms. Olivia StandingBear, a member of the Osage Nation, greeted Yokosuka Middle School students each week throughout November in a video message. These weekly videos kicked off a series of learning opportunities designed to celebrate Indigenous People’s Heritage Month and to help students connect the Native Americans in their history books to the vibrant, living cultures of today.
Ms. StandingBear, a fifth-grade teacher at YMS, brought her Osage heritage to life through videos filled with cultural insights. She shared traditions, clothing, food, music, dance, symbols, and motifs, creating a window into her tribal culture. In one video, Ms. StandingBear welcomed community member and YMS parent Ms. Donna Hoffman, who shared insights about the Navajo Nation. Each video was paired with interactive trivia questions that challenged students to deepen their understanding.
Students were interested to learn that their principal, Ms. Teresa Hahn, is a member of the Bad River Band of the Chippewa Nation. To encourage further exploration, Information Specialist Barbara Hertz curated interactive research choice boards using DoDEA resources, allowing students to dive into the histories and traditions of both the Osage and Chippewa Nations.
The learning didn’t stop there. In fifth-grade classrooms, students brought history to life by creating Native American Live Wax Museums. They prepared one-minute speeches and invited other grades to experience a "gallery walk" of interactive presentations. Fifth grader Kabryn Cooper said, “I thought the live wax museum was neat because I got to learn about history in a fun way. It was like I was talking to that historical person.” Ms. StandingBear also taught students traditional hand games and dance choreography, adding fun and movement to the cultural learning experience.
The highlight of the month came during school assemblies, where Ms. StandingBear and two Native American students, fifth-grader Graeson Vanderwege, of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, and seventh-grader Mila Hoffman, of the Navajo Nation, delivered lively dance performances. Dressed in traditional Pow Wow attire, the students were joined by their mothers, who shared meaningful details about their tribal customs. Students in the audience cheered on their classmates in an enthusiastic response and were able to ask the participants questions about the represented Indigenous cultures.
To make the activities accessible to all, students had the flexibility to participate during Seminar, from home, or even with their families via the school’s Facebook page. The response was positive, with participation from many of Yokosuka Middle School’s fifth and sixth-grade students, and the month fostered meaningful connections to Indigenous cultures. As the various activities ended, Ms. StandingBear shared her appreciation for “working in an environment that encourages diversity and cultural education.” The Yokosuka Middle School staff and students couldn’t agree more, Ms. StandingBear!
