Seeds for Menominee (ods)
Menominee Immersion Club
The Menominee Immersion Club is a high school club created in response to a high school student’s desire to learn the Menominee language. This club was a collaboration between the local Extension office and the Menominee Indian School District. The high school supported the club by providing space and transportation for youth. A high school teacher, along with an Extension staff member, were adult advisors to the club. The club meets weekly after school and students learn Menominee language, Menominee culture, healthy eating habits, leadership skills, and team building skills. What makes this group special is that the youth are the decision-makers and the drivers behind what the club engages in. We ask only that youth are mindful of language, culture, and healthy eating. Adult advisors support youth decisions by providing structure, supplies, and connections to resources. All club activities are hands-on learning experiences that seamlessly integrate language, culture, values and other elements. For example, at each meeting, youth learn how to make a healthy snack and within this one activity, there is an entire system of learning. All snacks and recipes contain a food ingredient (such as berries) connected to the Menominee food system. Menominee vocabulary words related to food, cooking utensils, and cooking actions are shared along with Menominee cultural teachings about the food. Youth make the snack as a group and decide among themselves who will be responsible for each part of the recipe. These young people learn about making food with intention, share their snack with an elder who works in the high school, and enjoy their healthy snack themselves. Within this single activity, there is much learning that takes place. An important anchoring activity for the club is connecting to the 4-H pledge. The English language components of the 4-H pledge include Head, Hands, Heart, and Health. These have been adapted to Menominee language, and at the beginning of each club meeting, youth say these four words: Nes (my head), Netaeh (my heart), Nenaehkan (my hands), Nepematesen (my health). This opening activity is important to youth as it begins each Club meeting in a cultural and positive way. Further, the club members have taken it upon themselves to close each club meeting with these same words so that they leave feeling connected to each other.
Common themes among club activities are sustainability and food. Examples of recent activities include the following:
Gardening. Youth planted a themed garden based on local food values. Vegetables from this garden were donated to the community. The theme of a recent garden was boiled dinner foods, including squash, cabbage, and beans. The Omaeqnomenewak (Menominee) Master Gardeners assisted youth with planting and garden layout.
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