Cultural proficiency seminars open to the public at no cost
Karen, American Indian, and Ethiopian cultures. The Spring Lake Park School District's Professional Learning Academy is hosting a three-part Cultural Proficiency Series for staff to learn more about the changing community, and is also opening these learning opportunities to community members at no cost.
Staff and community members will learn -- side by side -- in these two-hour seminars held at the school district's District Services Center.
Presenters are from the Neighborhood House in St. Paul which offers these seminars to provide tools to bridge the cultural divide and establish mutually beneficial and respectful relationships. They have powerful stories to tell, from personal experience as first- or second-generation immigrants or as part of resilient refugee families.
They are inspired to share their cultural knowledge and insight and able to answer questions and curiosities about their culture. They are experts, rooted in their culture's history and tradition. Their journey into American life is filled with keen sensibilities about cultural differences and similarities.
Introduction to American Indian Culture
District Services Center, 1415 81st Ave. NE, Spring Lake Park, MN 55432
Online registration for community members
The course will cover:
- The unique political, cultural, traditional and spiritual values of American Indian nations
- History with an American Indian perspective
- Respectful interaction between American Indians and other ethnic groups
- Attitudes and barriers relating to education
- Specific challenges and tensions between tribal identity and tradition, and mainstream American culture
About the Presenter
John Wabaunsee was born and raised on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. He is a member of the Prairie Band Potwatomi Nation of Kansas. He is a Lawyer formerly employed by the Native American Rights Fund and the Wisconsin State Public Defender. He has taught and lectured extensively on Native American treaties, Native American law and criminal law. At present, he is Chief Judge of the Prairie Band Potwatomi Nation Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the Nottawasippi Huron Band of Potwatomi. The Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin appoints him as a special judge on a case-by-case basis to its trial and appellate courts.
Introduction to Karen Culture
District Services Center, 1415 81st Ave. NE, Spring Lake Park, MN 55432
Online registration for community members
The course will cover:
- The Karen people's struggle against the oppressive Burmese government
- Karen family systems, beliefs, religions, and practices
- The journey of the Karen to the United States, and specifically Minnesota
- Struggles and successes of Karen people to integrate and thrive in American culture
- Educational attitudes, beliefs and challenges
About the Presenter
Bwei Paw is a Family Worker in Neighborhood House's Refugee Resettlement program. He works with new refugees, primarily Karen families, and helps guide them through the process of settling into a new home in Minnesota.
Introduction to Ethiopian and Oromo Culture
High School, Room B245-Stadium Suite, 1100 81st Ave. NE, Spring Lake Park, MN 55432
Online registration for community members
The course will cover:
- The history and culture of one of the oldest civilizations in the world
- The similarities and differences of Ethiopians, Eritreans and Oromo
- The unique Ethiopian Day
- How Ethiopians and Oromo fleeing oppression have become the fourth largest refugee group in the state
- The 80+ different languages spoken in this area of the world