OKMULGEE – On Aug. 29 a Cultural Lunch and Learn class was presented by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Education and Training in collaboration with the Historic and Cultural Preservation Department. Each month, the Native Youth Community Project (NYCP) Department plans topics discussing Mvskoke culture for citizens, educators, and MCN employees. The August class was held at the College of the Muscogee Nation (CMN) Lecture Hall with the topic “Mvskoke Mounds, Grounds, and Tribal Towns.”
Mvskoke artist Johnnie Diacon was the featured artist, and MCN Secretary of Culture and Humanities RaeLynn Butler (Mvskoke) presented the lecture.
NYCP Curriculum Specialist Cassandra Thompson spoke to Mvskoke Media about the monthly meetings, the topics that they choose and goal when organizing the class sessions.
For Thompson the lunch and learn is all about enriching and engaging with history and community. “These classes aim to enhance cultural knowledge about the Mvskoke people and tribe. They provide cultural workshops and historical courses that enrich our understanding as we engage with our communities,” Thompson said.
“The Cultural Learning Classes originated from NYCP’s Future Mvskoke Educator’s Cohort (FMEC) and the meetings of our Cultural Education Resource Council (CERC). The FMEC provided valuable insights on what would support their educational journeys, while CERC offered suggestions for developing the Native Art curriculum supported by our grant. NYCP has successfully delivered three key outcomes,” Thompson said.
The two other outcomes focus on cultural knowledge that can be used in education. The Future Mvskoke Educators Grant includes reimbursement support of up to $200 for teacher certification expenses, exams, and classroom supplies. It also offers support to MCN Cultural Educators teaching the Mvskoke language, culture, and arts. The Future Mvskoke Educator Meetings give updates for educators, workshops on Native American cultural sensitivity, discussion panels with fellow educators, and opportunities for professional development.
Thompson hopes that NYCP can offer these sessions for the remainder of their current grant, which is two years. She also shared that classes are limited to the first 100, and they reach full capacity fast
The August class focused on the foundation of Mvskoke culture: mounds, grounds, and tribal towns. The presentation was developed by MCN DCH and was previously presented at the Mvskoke Art Market. According to Thompson, it was the perfect fit for launching the series. When choosing topics and choosing the speakers Thompson consults and discusses with the MCN DCH and Secretary Butler, Robin Soweka Jr. and Na-komas Alsover.
“This initiative represents a genuine collaboration, combining the department’s extensive expertise with our program’s desire to organize these types of workshops,” Thompson said.
Thompson wants to make sure to involve tradition and culture.
“For our program, I know that we not only enjoy that there is a demand for classes for educators, but also our adult citizens. Personally, I have worked with youth most of my life and created Native art camps and organized activities by bringing in our Mvskoke artists or people I know who take a cultural approach to things they do in life,” Thompson said. “Each time, a parent or adult would say, ‘I wish we could do this.’ So now, we often hear ‘Thank you for putting this together.’ I love that our people are getting to take a moment and appreciate the knowledge that is being passed on.”
The community lunch and learn format came about through Thompson’s work in developing Native Art education. “When we initiated the Cultural Learning Classes last year, we produced videos featuring the speakers from those sessions. As the Curriculum Specialist, my goal was to develop lessons for the Native Art curriculum based on these videos, ensuring that our people and our stories are preserved,” Thompson said.
“Beyond the high school curriculum, we are exploring ways to make these lessons and videos available to our citizens. We are currently looking into platforms that will host our videos, as well as other educational opportunities through collaborations with programs within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation to expand the lessons and videos reach.”
“With this inaugural class, we have achieved a significant milestone: the College of Muscogee Nation (CMN) has recognized this class and our future offerings as a microcredential under their Upskill Mvskoke initiative,” Thompson shared.
“This alignment with our goals represents a major achievement for our program.”
The next monthly session will be Sep. 19 and cover Mvskoke Hymns and Churches-Vnokeckvt Omecicen. The featured artist will be Dana Tiger and Thompson will present.
The date for the October session is yet to be announced, however the presentation will be given by the MCN Historic and Cultural Preservation Department. The topic is “Nene Estemerkv”- Road of Misery and the Council Oak Tree.” The November topic is “Sacred Places and Locations.”
For information about the monthly learning series and registration visit the MCN Department of Education and Training website and facebook page.
You can contact Cassandra Thompson to be added to the list when the class opens, at 918-549-2769 or 539-286-4599 and email at cthompson@muscogeenation.com.
