American Indian children learn their history

By: ADRIENNE A. AGUIRRE - Staff Writer | Wednesday, July 14, 2004 11:58 PM PDT ∞

SAN PASQUAL INDIAN RESERVATION ---- Growing up on the reservation, life wasn't easy for Shanta Chaloux. Now a college graduate, he hopes to prepare the path to success for other American Indians while preserving their culture.

Chaloux, 29, works with children at the North County Resource Center, on the San Pasqual reservation in Valley Center, one of 17 reservations of the Kumeyaay Nation that runs through San Diego and Imperial counties and 60 miles into Mexico.

Chaloux said that when he was a boy, there was no electricity or running water on the reservation, let alone a center for children.

"I grew up here without anything," he said. "I know what it is like not to have a place to go."

The center he helped build fosters positive youth development, parent involvement, computer training, sports and fitness, tutoring, and cultural pride and preservation. Children learn about the contributions their ancestors made to the country and other truths they may not get in school.

"We come from a good people ... It's something to be proud of," Chaloux said. "We can't buy into the stereotypes."

The center's program also encourages children to go to college and Chaloux serves as a role model. Chaloux has lived on the reservation most of his life. He left for a short time to get his bachelors degree in sociology and Native American studies at Northern Arizona University, so he could come back and help his people. But after a history of abuse by mission institutions in the 1700s and government boarding schools in the 1800s, many American Indians still don't buy into the idea of going to college, Chaloux said.

"It's a challenging journey but I've accepted it," he said. "The train left 100 years ago and we are running to catch up with it, but you can't run too fast that you forget where you came from."

On Monday, children at the center learned the history of an old Kumeyaay gambling game called Peone, made their own set with wooden sticks and played against each other.

"The games were created way back," said Kumeyaay elder Al Orozco. "The tribes wanted kids from other tribes to know each other."

Andrej Dominguez, 12, of Santa Ysabel, said he enjoyed learning about his people.

"I'm learning a little bit more so I know about my culture," he said. "If we don't learn it, it might die out."

Parent Marilyn Lycett said she doesn't want to forget her heritage. On Monday, she and other parents and grandparents joined their children to learn how native plants traditionally sustained the Kumeyaay.

"A lot of plants have a lot of meaning to a lot of people," said Kumeyaay elder Jane Dumas, 80. "The willow gives us clothes to wear, the wood to build our homes and aspirin comes from the willow."

Elizabeth Lycett, 9, took diligent notes with one hand while her other hand stayed up to ask questions. She has also begun keeping a journal.

"I love the writing," she said smiling. "I got an idea and I started writing and writing and writing."

Chaloux said it's children like Elizabeth who will carry on their traditions after his generation is gone.

"If you have your culture, you have your foundation," he said. "If you forget it, you will fall as a people."

Contact staff writer Adrienne A. Aguirre at (760) 740-3526 or aaguirre@nctimes.com.

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