RED VOICES IN THE SCHOOLS:
The Red Voices in the Schools Program brings American Indians culture to the public schools
in AISD and builds awareness and understanding of one of Texas’ most significant
minority communities.
Red Voices in the Schools is a program where American Indian master artists and craftspeople
visit classrooms to present their expertise to school children.
The Great Promise Inc. has developed an educational program focused on American Indian art
and culture for the AISD Area Students.
The Red Voices in the Schools focuses on educating students about the traditional culture of
American Indians, including art forms passed down from generation to generation, either within
a family or within a community.
This program gives students the rare opportunity to interact with some of the finest
tradition-bearers from several different tribal communities in an intimate classroom setting.
Before the artists visit the classrooms to discuss and demonstrate their work, The Great
Promise Inc. orients the host teachers on American Indian culture, and provides them with
curriculum guides and activities to aid classroom discussion before and after the artist's
visit.
The week before the Powwow in Austin, participating students have the additional
opportunity to see the traditions discussed in the classroom come to life in the vibrant
and exciting atmosphere of the powwow.
The Great Promise Inc. will hold THE RED VOICES IN THE SCHOOLS program on Nov. 4th - 6th,
2009,
The Red Voices in the Schools focuses on educating students about American Indian cultures.
This year, students will learn about the traditional and contemporary art forms of storytelling,
ceremonial regalia making, and beadwork, each having been passed down from generation to generation,
either within a family or within a community.
Accomplished artists will demonstrate their crafts and talents in
For more information on these events, please click on AIEP below to review the schedules
For a week, preceding The Austin Powwow,
nationally renowned American Indians Artists will go to several
schools in the Austin Independant School District and teach children about
their American Indian cultures and crafts.
bringing traditional American Indian artists into several classrooms at several
AISD Schools,
Students in grades 4th-12th will have the opportunity to interact
with contemporary American Indian artists.
Austin, Bastrop, Leander/Liberty Hill, and Round Rock/Pflugerville
in 2009.
AIEP
THE RED VOICES IN THE SCHOOLS
AMERICAN INDIAN ARTISTS:
Vanessa Paukeigope Jennings;
Award-winning Kiowa bead worker,
has been called a "National Treasure"
for the quality of her skill and her
preservation of Kiowa tradition.
As the only recognized Kiowa bead worker
currently creating full-size, traditional cradleboards,
she continues to live the tribal way of life.
She spends her days doing beadwork and caring for
her young grandson and nephew, unchanged by the award
she earned from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Since she received a prestigious National Heritage Fellowship
over 18 years ago, Vanessa has continued to live according to
the ways that brought her the national honor.
Vanessa’s grandmother, Jeanette Berry Mopope, taught her to
work with her hands in the Kiowa woman’s way.
One of the Vanessa’s first tasks as a child was to scrape
and prepare rawhide used to create cradleboards and other objects.
She remembers that it was dirty work, but adds with a laugh that
kids like getting dirty.
It made her feel like a grown-up to do a good job,
and she earned her grandparent’s respect.
Soon she was learning to stitch and bead, essential skills in a
culture where dance and ceremonial clothing and objects are made by hand.
In more than 30 years that she has shown her work at the Santa Fe Indian
Market in New Mexico, Vanessa has been awarded numerous first-place ribbons,
and she received their prestigious Standards Award in 2005 and 2006.
In 1992, she was given the President’s Award at the
Red Earth Festival in Oklahoma City.
Vanessa honors her beadwork.
Prayer is an important as color choice and design, she points out:
“You can plan it out and plot it out, but in the end, the cradleboard
has its own life force. Each one is different, just like babies. Some take
hold of you and won’t let go, won’t let you sleep, because it wants to be born.”
Carl Jennings;
Is a Master Traditional Artist specializing in
Southern Plains Indian material culture.
His is a lifelong passion that began with
the Boy Scouts of America.
Jenning is a veteran of the U.S. Army.
He enjoys attending Kiowa ceremonials,
singing and gatherings.
He is a dancer who enjoys and admires
beautiful beadwork and dance clothing.
His work focuses on family as they
participate in respected ceremonies,
such as;
the Kiowa Black Leggings Society,
the Sundance,
O-Ho-Mah Lodge Society,
the Ponca Heluska and
Lonestar War Dance Society.
He offers his expertise to anyone
who is interested in the Kiowa and other
Southern Plains Indian material cultures.
Jennings lives on an Indian allotment west of
Anadarko, Okla. With his wife, Vanessa, and family.
Austin NAPC and Great Promise for American Indians
Red Voices Program Presents:
An Evening with Vanessa and Carl Jennings
Revered Kiowa Elders
Master Bead-Worker and 2009 Head Gourd Dancer
Wednesday - November 4, 2009
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Hancock Recreation Center
811 E. 41st St.
Austin, TX 78751
(pizza, veggies, fruit, drinks provided)
