MVSKOKE RESERVATION – July and August brought Back-to-School bashes across the Mvskoke Reservation. Events were sponsored by community organizations and Muscogee (Creek) Nation departments, such as the Dewar Indian Community Center, MCN Recreation, and the MCN Department of Education and Training. The events were aimed at helping students before they start their school year.
The Dewar Indian Community Center held its Back to School Bash on Aug. 9 for Mvskoke children living within the Dewar Boundaries, from pre-k to high school. They went to Okmulgee’s Shoe Sensation, where they purchased shoes, socks, and backpacks.
The Dewar Indian Community Center Chairperson, Jennifer Jones (Mvskoke), spoke about the great turnout and said she saw many of their community members happy with what their center provided. They had around 45 applicants, and Jones said their community got everything they wanted.
“They told us they couldn’t thank us enough for what we are doing for them,” Jones said.
Jones said that providing this bash brought smiles to the kids, and they wanted to show that the Dewar Indian Community Center cares for its people, especially the parents.
This was their first time choosing Shoe Sensation as the venue for their Back-to-School Bash. Jones said that she shops there herself and always sees sales such as buy one, get one half off. She thought this could help parents, since they could get more at Shoe Sensation, where some of those items were half off.
“I like seeing everyone happy, and I like helping. That’s how my family is. My dad always said, ‘You help somebody, somebody will help you.’ That’s what I enjoy doing, and it makes my heart happy,” Jones said.
On Aug.11, two events were happening within the MCN: MCN Recreation held its back-to-school event at the Mvskoke Dome, where they offered free school supplies, haircuts, backpacks for kids, and free eye screenings and hearing tests. They even included the adults for eye screening for diabetic neuropathy and glaucoma testing.
The second event was the back-to-school supplies giveaway hosted by the MCN Department of Education and Training. This event was open to all and was on a first-come, first-served basis. The items that were distributed were Clorox wipes, Kleenex, pink erasers, pencils, colored pencils, crayons, markers, 2-prong folders, glue sticks, spiral notebooks, composition notebooks, scissors, pencil boxes, and headphones.
The MCN Secretary of Education and Training, Dr. Kaila Harjo (Mvskoke), expressed appreciation to Alston Construction, a national general contracting company, for its donation supporting its students and families in the communities.
Harjo shared that the department doesn’t do many school supply events since other organizations already provide them, so they felt those resources could be directed to other forms of direct assistance. They were approached by the construction company, which donated thousands of dollars’ worth of school supplies for the youth.
When it comes to private donations, Harjo said their department makes decisions based on the donor’s recommendations. Alston Construction asked that donations be made available to any Native students.
“We were very thankful that not only do we help our Mvskoke youth, but our other tribal relatives as well,” Harjo said.
Their department decided it would be best for citizens to come by their location. She said this also allowed everyone to know where they were located, so they could provide information about the programs within their Department of Education.
They also wanted to make sure that all the students were able to return to school with quality items needed for the start of the school year.
“It’s always nice to see other students from different communities come in, but I think the biggest piece was just knowing that our students went to school with what they needed to be successful. For some of our parents, times are hard, even in a two-income household,” Harjo said.
“It’s hard for families to buy Clorox wipes, Kleenex, and all these different things on school supply lists.”
Harjo said that the turnout went really well. The giveaway was planned as a two-day event, but they quickly ran out of supplies on the first day due to high interest.
“For us to kind of alleviate that financial burden for some of our families, it meant a lot. It really kind of opened our eyes up to how maybe we could create future programs to help offset costs similar in the future,” Harjo said.
Harjo shared feedback from a grandmother who has four grandchildren in different grades. Harjo said that, under JOM, school supplies are based on student count, so the grandmother’s grandchildren school doesn’t receive much JOM funding for supplies.
“So for her to come in and get the basics of what all 4 needed and to make sure that they were grade-level appropriate supplies really meant a lot to her,” Harjo said.
Harjo said that after that, the kids went to the Mvskoke Dome to get free haircuts and items from the MCN Recreation event. Harjo feels that they are helping their elders and current youth, and that they have helped every generation that comes through their program. Harjo said it meant a lot, and she feels that the citizens were appreciative as well.
Harjo added that their department partnered with MCN Childcare and another school supply event. “We are delivering a bunch of different school supplies to about 6 other school districts South of I-40,” Harjo said.
Additionally, the department will provide headphones with microphones to almost 300 students for use with the new reading software required by the Oklahoma State Education Department.
“We’re excited to continue to collaborate with other programs and to really meet the true needs of what our students need to be successful,” Harjo said.
For information about their programs, contact the MCN Department of Education at 918-732-7727, and keep up to date on their Facebook page at Muscogee Nation Department of Education & Training.
