Essay Contest for Native Youth -- Meeyaanm (Our Father in Heaven)

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 23:08:22 02/13/10 Sat
Author: echohawk
Subject: Essay Contest for Native Youth

The Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation recently announced the call for essays in its fifth annual Young Native Writers’ Essay Contest. The national writing contest focuses on the richness of Native American life and history, and challenges youth to speak out on issues important to their tribal communities.
For 2010, students who participate will be asked to write on the following topic: “Describe a crucial issue confronting your tribal community today. Explain how you hope to help you tribal community respond to this challenge and improve its future.”
The contest is designed to encourage young Native American writers to explore their heritage while becoming positive forces in their communities. It is open to high school students from all tribes throughout the United States. The Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation partners with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian.
“We are greatly inspired by Native American students who share their experiences and aspirations through their writing,” said Angela Ruth, executive director of Holland & Knight’s Charitable Foundation. “For us at Holland & Knight, the essays open doors to new understandings of the challenges of hope emerging from Indian country.”
“The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian is proud to be involved in a program that inspires high school students to think innovatively about their Native communities,” said museum Director Kevin Gover, Pawnee. “Each year we look forward to honoring the winners at our building on the National Mall.”
Students interested in participating can visit the Holland & Knight Young Native Writers’ Essay Contest Web site for official contest rules and to view past winning essays. All essays must be postmarked by the entry deadline, May 10, 2010 and mailed to: Young Native Writers, c/o Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation, P.O. Box 2877, Tampa, FL 33601-2877.
Five finalists will be named in June and all finalists and their teachers will receive an all expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C., where their activities will include an honor ceremony at the National Museum of the American Indian; a tour of the Cultural Resources Center where tribal objects can be viewed and studied; Native American author symposiums for students and their teachers; a tour of the Capitol and a tour of American University. The winners will also receive a $2,500 scholarship to be paid to the college or university of their choice during a scholarship ceremony that will take place Holland & Knight’s Washington, D.C. office.
The contest debuted in 2006 in Red Lake, Minn. in response to the March 2005 event where a student of Red Lake High School shot five fellow students, one teacher, one security guard, members of his family and then himself. The foundation developed this contest with the hope that the Red Lake community would find healing by promoting its rich culture and traditions.
“Indian youngsters have learned, better than any generation before them, how to ‘walk in two worlds,’” said Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a former senator and current senior policy advisor with Holland & Knight. “Many have mastered the tools of the technological age while preserving the traditions vital to their culture. I am pleased that Holland & Knight and the National Museum of the American Indian have continued their partnership in providing a forum for these talented and thoughtful young people to offer their perspectives on issues of importance to all in Indian country.”

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]