EUFAULA – Every September, the Eufaula Dormitory hosts a back-to-school bash. This year, the MCN Department of Education and Training held a cookout for students, staff, and Tribal dignitaries, and hosted the Muscogee Nation Royalty. The early-semester celebration is a time for students to connect, play games, and ease their anxieties. It’s also a time for alumni to connect and support current students.
This year, for the third year in a row, dorm alum Joe Martel provided the meal. Martel contacted the MCN Secretary of Education and Training, Dr. Kaila Harjo, to see how he could give back to the dormitory. Martel is the owner of Jo-Jo’s BBQ and provided a three-meat BBQ dinner for all guests at the Back-to-School Bash.
“Jo-Jo contracts with many MCN programs to provide meals for their workshops and also frequents the Muscogee Nation festival as a vendor. Jo-Jo’s wife also works for the Department of Education, and when I was hired in 2021, Jo-Jo introduced himself to me and mentioned he wants to give back to the dorm,” Harjo said.
During this year’s bash, Martel spoke about his experience in the dorm; he was a dorm student himself from age 10 until graduation. Currently, Jo-Jo’s BBQ can be found in the community, helping youth or providing meals for MCN Programs.
Harjo said the students enjoyed the meal and that she heard one of them say it was some of the best smoked chicken they had ever had. Harjo saw everyone looking happy and full.
This year, students and guests also enjoyed unlimited snow cones and played a game of Mush Ball thanks to the collaboration with Muscogee Nation Youth Services and Behavioral Health, Harjo explained.
Seeing alums like Martel, looking back on how they gave back during their time at the Eufaula Dorm and using that as their foundation for future success, is a true testament to what the dorm represents, Harjo stated.
Harjo said, “We have even had discussions about establishing a dorm alumni association to support our current and future students.”
Martel not only graduated from there but also served in the United States Marine Corps. Harjo said he is proudly serving both his country and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
“The Eufaula Dorm provided him with an opportunity to stay connected to his identity as a Mvskoke man while pursuing his education. It helped shape the person he is today: a father, leader, business owner, and community member committed to giving back,” said Harjo.
“His willingness to return and support current students reflects the lasting impact the dorm can have by providing Native students with opportunities, support, and a sense of belonging that many seek every day.”
Harjo enjoys seeing how former dorm students consider that place their home and loves seeing them return. They love giving tours, showing the change throughout the years and how it has grown since their time there.
“Both Jo-Jo and Rep. William Lowe are actively involved in supporting the dorm and are always looking for opportunities to help us expand resources and create better opportunities for our students,” Harjo said.
“Hearing them share stories about their experiences, the friendships they formed, and the memories they made here reminds us of the lasting impact the dorm has on so many lives.”
Speaking about memories and how the dorms have changed throughout the years, Harjo brought up Ms. Francile Burnham. Burnham served at the dorm for nearly 40 years and retired about two years ago, according to Harjo.
They often told Burnham that she could write a book of the stories and memories from her time being at the Eufaula dormitory. Harjo stated that throughout her career, Burnham has witnessed nearly four generations of students pass through those halls and touch countless lives along the way.
“What made her stories even more meaningful to me was that she remembered my mother and her siblings when they attended the dorm in the late 1970s and early 1980s. My mother was a dorm student and graduated in 1980. She passed away in 1990, so being able to walk the same halls she once walked and hear stories about her from Ms. Fran and Jonas Higgins are deeply personal and sentimental,” Harjo shared.
“It serves as a reminder that the Eufaula Dormitory is more than a residence for students. It is a place filled with history, connection, family, and generations of memories that continue to shape our community today.”
Looking back and seeing the students grow over the years has been rewarding for Harjo. During dinner, Harjo saw several students who had begun their journey with her at age 6, and now they are in fourth grade.
For Harjo, being in that moment is a reminder of how quickly time can pass and how much the students grow academically, socially, and emotionally.
She is very grateful to have had a small role in changing the perception of residential schools.
“At the Eufaula Dormitory, we strive to create an environment rooted in healing, hope, and holistic support, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive. The growth and success we see today would not be possible without the dedication of our dormitory floor staff,” Harjo said.
“They are the ones who keep this place going. They provide more than parental guidance to our students; they are their aunties, uncles, moms, and dads. Their love for these kids makes this home.”
She is also thankful for the support from the Executive Office and the leadership of the Legislative Office. They’ve supported her 2023 supplemental budget request; this supplemental budget enabled them to transition from a five-day to a seven-day residential program, according to Harjo.
“This change has strengthened our students’ sense of belonging within the Eufaula Public School District and has contributed significantly to improvements in their behavioral, emotional, and overall well-being,” Harjo said.
“We are incredibly thankful for the continued support of the community, the school district, and the Muscogee Nation. Their partnership and investment in our students help make these successes possible and reinforce the collective commitment to providing brighter opportunities for future generations.”
