DOINews: DOI Educational Partnerships Program: DOI Employee Participates in Native American Heritage Month Observance

	In observance of Native American Heritage Month, Nita One Bear-Personius, Indian Affairs, reads to students at Ross Elementary School, a DOI Partnership School. Personius said the children were curious about her traditional dress and asked a wealth of questions.

On Nov. 5, 2013, in observance of Native American Heritage Month, Nita One Bear-Personius, travel coordinator for the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, was a guest reader at Ross Elementary School. Personius is a member of the Crow Nation of Montana. Dressed in Native American regalia, she read a children's book titled, "Mama Do You Love Me?," by author Barbara Joosse, to first-grade students.

In addition, to the book reading, Personius shared with the students information about her regalia, a traditional dress only worn by women of the Crow Nation of Montana. She also displayed to the students a shawl made of elk hide. The shawl is used by the Plains Tribes. The students were curious about her traditional dress and excited to touch the shawl. They asked a wealth of questions.

“This was such a great opportunity for me to read to these young children, Personius said. "It made me think of how I used to read to my own and knowing now, with two in college and one in the Air Force, how important it was. These small children were filled with curiosity, excitement and enthusiasm. It was quite wonderful, and am thankful I was able to do this!"

The Department of the Interior has an ongoing Reading Program at two of the DOI partner schools. The purpose of the reading program is to promote reading, and bring the literary world to the students. The program also supports DOI's mission to preserve our cultural heritage, and natural resources by bringing guest readers to the classroom to read books that will broaden the students' knowledge about preservation, conservation and cultural heritage. Ross Elementary School is a public elementary school in Washington, D.C., that serves students from pre-school through fifth grade.

For additional information about the Reading Program and volunteer opportunities, contact Brenda Woods, program manager, at (202) 208-3617 or via e-mail brenda_woods@ios.doi.gov.

By: Brenda Woods, program manager, Educational Partnerships Program, OS
Dec. 20, 2013