Holy Family students get a taste of culture
Globe staff report
Posted May 2, 2002

Students at Holy Family School's St. Joseph Center in Sioux City got a taste of the Native American culture last week when fellow Catholic school students from the St. Augustine Mission in Winnebago visited their school for song and dance.

A drum group performed various songs and dancers, outfitted in traditional Native American dress, thrilled the students with fancy footsteps. Jeff Pope, a teacher at St. Augustine's, served as the master of ceremonies. He explained how many of the songs served as assorted forms of prayer such as thanksgiving.

The St. Augustine teacher also offered information about the Native American garb. Many of the costumes were handmade and incorporated natural products such as bones, feathers, fur and porcupine quills.

Janet Finzen, third-grade teacher at Holy Family, pointed out that the assembly was made possible by Briar Cliff University. The university received a grant to offer multi-cultural programs and opted to focus on Native American culture.

The Holy Family teacher suggested this particular assembly with the St. Augustine students. Having worked at the mission school in the past, Finzen was aware that a group of drummers and dancers would perform for a donation.

"Briar Cliff also bought Native American books and donated them to St. Joseph Center's library," said Finzen.

Two Holy Family fourth-graders that are Native American, Cody and Serena Campbell, dressed in costumes and danced with the St. Augustine students. Their family participates in powwows each summer.

"The kids were really impressed with their fellow students," noted Finzen. "Our students didn't know the Campbells took part in the dances."

She said that having two of their students participate in the dance helped other Holy Family students realize that the Native Americans students are your average kids, just as they are.

With many Hispanic and Asian students, Holy Family students occasionally have a chance to experience unique traditions of other cultures but the majority of the time the customs are Mexican or Vietnamese.

Getting a glimpse of the Native American culture not only allowed Holy Family students to experience traditions of fellow students but also was fitting as students in all three grades, third through fifth, studied it at some point this school year.

"It really helped bring the lessons to life - hearing the drums and songs sung in the Winnebago language," said Finzen. "The costumes were magnificent, it almost transported you back into time."

The assembly was yet another way for the school to celebrate its diversity.

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