EXPOSURES 2006

Each year Exposures succeeds on deeper levels of creative programming and community connections. Staff work throughout the year crafting pre-trip orientation projects, curricular programming, and ways to connect more successfully with the host community on the Pine Ridge Reservation. These efforts result in the group being invited to participate in a wider array of activities related to reservation life. The cultural diversity in backgrounds of Exposure participants has had a positive impact on the program – from geography to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, previous artistic experience and education - each youth had the opportunity to learn and to teach others. Through creative arts programming like Exposures, self esteem is nurtured, creativity inspired, and tolerance, respect and enthusiasm fostered.

This year’s pre-program assignments included researching the history and implications surrounding Mount Rushmore National Monument as well as reading the book “Neither Wolf Nor Dog” by Kent Nerburn. “Neither Wolf Nor Dog” is a wonderful dialogue between a native elder and the author about cultural differences between native and non-native people. Kent Nerburn and his seventeen-year old son Nik traveled from their home in Minnesota to join the Exposures group in Pine Ridge. Kent discussed his writing and led exercises in seeing, listening, feeling and expressing a sense of place in response to the situations around us. The group also traveled to the Black Hills where we met with Superintendent Gerard Baker of Mount Rushmore. Gerard is the first Native American to be given the honor and responsibility of being superintendent of a national park. He spoke generously about the importance and value of being culturally educated, standing up for one’s beliefs and creating positive change from within the system. He challenged and motivated everyone to commit to personally do so in his or her life.

This year Exposures gave back to the host community in ways not previously achieved. Our stay on Pine Ridge lasted for an additional week, permitting the group to complete visual projects and prepare a community exhibit. We rented the Billy Mills Gymnasium in the center of town for one evening. All of the Exposures participants worked together to fill the gym walls with artwork. Young representatives of the group spoke on Kili, the reservation’s radio station, describing their overall Exposures experience and inviting listeners to the evening exhibition. In the traditional Lakota manner participants also prepared contributions of food and fed over one hundred and fifty tribal members dinner that night. A group of sacred singers and drummers who are supportive of the program came to sing during the meal. This year everyone felt the circle of giving and sharing had been more successfully brought to completion. Community members came to the closing event to learn about the Exposures program and to share

the food and festivities, and left asking with enthusiasm about next year’s programming. Everyone left inspired to help the experience become even better in the future. Future collaborations are already being planned. We look forward to having more good stories to tell of Exposures Cross Cultural Youth Programming domestically and possibly even internationally.

For more information, please call 802/251-9960 or e-mail tipp@sover.net.

And, of course, please stop by when you are in the area!