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UNCP produced video promotes Indian education program
By Scott Bigelow
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After School art teacher James Locklear teaches pottery to
an attentive group.
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A video promoting the teaching of American Indian culture in the public
schools was released this month by the Museum of the Native
American Resource Center (NARC) at The University of North Carolina
at Pembroke.
The 12-minute video documents the After School program of the Indian
Education Resource Center of the Public Schools of Robeson County. It
was directed, edited and narrated by Dr. Stan Knick, NARC's director
and curator.
"At the center, Native American students are learning about their
culture - about pottery, about mask-making, about creative writing,
about ceremonial dancing and singing," Dr. Knick said. "All
these elements of Native American culture allow students to look back
to their history, to the lives of their own ancestors and to look forward
to their own future, to what kind of citizens they will become."
"The video is another example of how we at the University collaborate
with our local public schools," Dr. Knick said. "We are able
to utilize our technical abilities and resources to support their programs."
The video is a tool for the Indian Education program to showcase one
of their programs, said Rita Locklear, director of the Indian Education
Resource Center for Robeson County.
"We gave each of the children in the After School program a copy
of the video, and we will use it as a promotional piece to show parents
what the program is about," Locklear said. "This year, we
focused on the Woodland period of Indian prehistory, and Dr. Knick was
a great resource for us."
"Partnering with the University is good for us; it gives us additional
resources," she said. "Dr. Knick took the extra step for us."
Dr. Knick, who also teaches in UNCP's American Indian Studies program,
said video is becoming a larger part of the museum's outreach.
"It is the third video produced by the Resource Center in collaboration
with UNCP's Mass Communications program," Dr.
Knick said. "The first, entitled 'Keeping The Circle,' featured
interviews and an exhibit by the SPIRITWORKS! Group of Native American
artists. The second, 'Lumbee By Grace,' was released in 2003 and documented
issues of Lumbee identity."
"Video is an increasingly important way that we at the Native
American Resource Center are able to communicate our message,"
Dr. Knick said.
George Johnson, assistant director of UNCP's broadcasting program,
provided technical and other assistance.
For more information about programs at the Native American Resource
Center, please call 910.521.6282 or online at www.uncp.edu/nativemuseum/.
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