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News of the Institute and Lasallian Family
Rome, April 20, 2004
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OKI-NI-SOO-KA-WA (Come and See); "Good News" from the International Council of Young Lasallians icyl@lasalle.org: Located ten miles or seventeen kilometers east of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, where the Rocky Mountains meet the expansive Plains of middle North America, the Blackfeet Reservation is home to the Blackfeet American Indians. The Blackfeet, once the proud and fierce "Lords of the Plains," now suffer from high rates of unemployment, dropout rates in schools, drug and alcohol abuse, and domestic violence.
Upon invitation, the De La Salle Christian Brothers opened De La Salle Blackfeet School in the city of Browning in September of 2001. Besides educating the youth of the Blackfeet Reservation, the school, with the help of the Lasallian Collegians of the San Francisco District, has developed a program OKI-NI-SOO-KA-WA (Blackfeet for Come and See) that hosts almost twelve High School and University service oriented youth groups from all over the United States each year.
Each group has five preparation meetings before arriving in Browning. While in Browning, each group examines the present culture and history of the Blackfeet American Indians. Faith, Community, Service Learning and Social Justice are the foundation of the program. Each group tours cultural sites, discusses related topics with Blackfeet Elders and leaders, and shares their hopes and dreams with DLSB's students in addition to offering tutoring.
The youth groups take home with them strong relationships forged while in Browning, a greater awareness of the needs and issues the larger community faces each day, and a deeper spirituality found in the isolation and beauty of the area. The students of the DLSB gain new friendships and meet people with ambitions of pursuing not only a high school diploma, but also College and University degrees. These relationships reinforce our students resolve to also obtain these degrees which in the future will help to alleviate the problems facing the people of the Blackfeet Reservation.
If you have any questions or would like to start an immersion group program at your school, please contact Jeb Myers at De La Salle Blackfeet School via e-mail: cjkmyers@yahoo.com
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