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(Washington D.C.) -- The Hannahville Indian Community of Wilson, Mich., uses service-learning as one strategy to preserve its culture. A recent service-learning project, building a wigwam, is the subject of a film, Earl’s Wigwam, which will be shown at the National Museum of the American Indian at 1 p.m., Saturday, July 30. The service-learning program is supported by a grant from Learn and Serve America.
Seven members of the Youth Advisory Council will be on hand during the special showing of the film, made last summer as Ojibwe tribal elder Earl Otchingwanigan schooled the tribe’s service-learning students in the methods of harvesting bark and construction the traditional home.
"There are not a lot of people left who know how to do these things," said Rod Lovell, director of Youth Services for the Hannahville Indian Community. Otchingwanigan’s work was the subject of an earlier Smithsonian film, Earl’s Canoe. According to Lovell, future films are planned on other aspects of Ojbiwe culture, including making snowshoes, different types of beading, and creating quill baskets.
Before returning to Michigan, the members of the Youth Advisory Council will attend the National Youth Summit in Washington, DC.
Besides Lovell, others attending the screening and conference with the students will be Rich Sgarlotti, who directed the movie, and Gina Zanon, director of service-learning for the Hannahville Indian Community.
Learn and Serve America is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, which also oversees Senior Corps and AmeriCorps. In addition to making grants, Learn and Serve America serves as a national resource on service-learning to nonprofit groups, educational institutions, teachers, faculty members, schools, and community groups. Together with the USA Freedom Corps, the Corporation is working to build a culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility. For further information, visit www.nationalservice.gov.
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