Minneapolis Youth
Movement formed by students to bring about changes in their school district
by Tesha M. Christensen
What began as a protest by Native American students grew into
a walkout that united all ethnic groups at South High School on Monday, March
11, 2013.
Organizers estimate that 500-1,000 students peacefully walked
out of the school in a show of solidarity.
The event was organized by senior Winona Vizenor, a Native
American student enrolled in the All Nations program. The walkout came three
weeks after a riot at South High on Feb. 14 that involved up to 300 students
and required police intervention. After seeing the Somali students stand up for
themselves following the riot, W. Vizenor was inspired.
“We wanted to organize something so we could be heard,” said
W. Vizenor.
“We’ve tried talking to the principal, and we were brushed
off,” said W. Vizenor. “We don’t have a teacher in our program who stands up
for students.”
WHAT
IS THE ALL NATIONS PROGRAM?
The All Nations SLC program at South High is a program within
a program at the high school. It began in 1989, and is open to students
citywide. In addition to the typical math, English and science and other
standard classes, Ojibwe culture and language are offered. Ninth and 10th
graders enrolled in the program take classes only with other All Nations
students; upperclassmen are integrated with the rest of the student body.
However, in recent years several pieces of the program have
been eliminated, including the drum group and smudging.
During an assembly in the 700-person auditorium on Monday
morning, March 11, prior to the walk-out, students told fellow students,
community members, school staff, Principal Cecilia Sadler, Director of Indian
Education Danielle Grant, and Minneapolis Public School Associate
Superintendent Stephen Flisk that they don’t feel they are “getting the full
cultural program they could be getting,” said Lisa Bellanger, from the
Minnesota Transitions School who attended as a community member.
“They want it to be enriched,” stated Winona’s mother,
Lynette Vizenor. She added, “The program has been falling down, and the
students feel that.”
L. Vizenor pointed out that this spring, her daughter will
graduate with only one-fourth of the students who entered the All Nations
program with her in ninth grade. The rest have dropped out, been suspended or
received academic transfers out of the school. At one time, the suspension rate
for Native American students at South High School was so high that it was
garnering attention, she pointed out. Today, the rate of academic transfers out
is high.
“There is still segregation and racism,” L. Vizenor remarked.
“There is a problem with administrators.”
STUDENT
REQUESTS
Native American students have asked that they be allowed to
smudge once more. Smudging involves the burning of sage in a ritual of
purification. “It’s a way of cleansing when you feel bad,” explained L.
Vizenor. “They find strength in that.”
They have also asked that the drum groups be returned.
And they’ve asked that students not in the All Nations
program be allowed to participate as desired. They want to be more integrated
with the rest of the school, according to W. Vizenor, and to have other
students attend the All Nations classes if they wish.
“My culture is judged out of ignorance,” said W. Vizenor.
“And I know I’m not the only culture judged out of ignorance at South High.”
With that in mind, W. Vizenor asked students from many
different ethnic groups to speak at the assembly held prior to the walkout.
“All recognized the need for diversity and gave a powerful
message about learning and recognizing each other.” Bellanger. “I was really
impressed with them.”
“If this is an example of the young people coming up, I’m
very happy.”
FROM
ASSEMBLY TO WALK-OUT
W. Vizenor had initially planned to organize a walkout, but
then agreed to work with school staff to hold an assembly inside instead. Her
main stipulations were that any student at South High who wanted to and any
community member be allowed to attend. However, during the event, she learned
that there were people from both groups who were not allowed in, and at the end
of the assembly, she asked those in attendance if they wanted to proceed with
the walk-out. They did.
“The walk-out was successful and peaceful,” said W. Vizenor.
She added, “We walked out to support the All Nations program.
We walked out to support each other.”
The drummers followed the students out of the assembly into
the street to help keep the students focused on peace and unity, noted Bellanger.
The school locked the building down during the walkout. As
part of that, administrators said they would not allow students back in to get
items they left inside, including their coats and house keys. However, after
local Native American activist Clyde Bellecourt insisted students had the right to get their things,
administrators agreed to allow students back in one at a time with supervision,
according to W. Vizenor.
Students were also warned before they left the building that
their departure would constitute an unexcused absence and that they would not
be allowed back without a parent. They were welcome back the next day.
WHAT’S
NEXT?
Following the walkout, 50 students gathered at MIGIZI Communications
at 3123 E. Lake St. to discuss their next steps. They said that they felt good
about what they had accomplished that day. They said they wanted change. And they
challenged each other to stay responsible.
The students have formed the Minneapolis Youth Movement,
which can be found on Facebook. They intend to start meeting with people from
other schools to broaden their understanding of cultural awareness, according
to W. Vizenor. Once they’ve listened to each other, they plan to approach the
school district with ideas for change.
Their parents and other adults have also taken up the call to
action, and plan to begin meeting. To get involved, contact Lynette Vizenor at
either lynettevizenor@rocketmail.com or call 612-481-3266.
“Let’s make a
change,” said W. Vizenor.
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