Entewarihwahsere’ – Our Vision
Based upon our traditional teachings, Skaronhese’ko:wa Tsyohterakentko:wa Tsi Yontaweya‘tahkwa will ensure that these values are incorporated into what we teach, how we teach, and how we govern the school:
1) Tetewatenonhwera:tonnyons – Be thankful, and express it daily and whenever the people gather for any event. We will help our children observe the Annual Cycle of Ceremonies.
2) Ka’nikonhri:yo – To keep the Good Mind. We will use the Good Mind in thought, word and action – show respect and fairness to all people.
3) Kanoronhkwatshera – To care and love one another. We will greet each other with kindness and thanksgiving. Be good to one another, and love each other as if members of one family. We will also teach our children how to take care of themselves as they grow up.
4) Tewatatkwenyenhstha’ – To respect one another. Children are to be respected and be respectful of others. One way to show respect is to share the workload in all things, so we will emphasize sharing, cooperation and being helpful.
5) Tyohtkon sken:nen enkenhake – To be at peace always. We will help our children become peaceful in all their relationships.
6) Niyohaha:’a – Follow the Path of the Creator. The Creator set out a path for us to explore while here on earth. That path provides experiences that help us understand how the world works and our place within the world. We will help our children walk on the path of their ancestors to discover their own meaning.
7) Tyonhehkwen – To respect of Life Supporters. We are to cultivate the plants provided by the Sky Woman and the Skyholder. The Three Sisters are provided to sustain the people. They have a spiritual essence that will help nourish the people. Planting, cultivating, harvesting and preparing crops will be hard work, but if the people use a Good Mind, they will see a great harvest and be able to feed their families.
8) Ohen:ton entewahwatsirata:tye enyethiyanonhtonnyonhwe’ - Consider the future generation. The people were warned that the lack of love will bring anxiety and sorrow to future generations. We will help our children have a positive outlook and be forward thinking, not caught in a troubled past.
9) Ken’taratatye’ - To Live within Family Clans. The clans are the way to create social harmony and lift each other’s minds in time of need. Our classrooms will be like family spaces in which we draw upon family relations to teach our children their responsibilities to the larger group.
10) Enyethi’nikonhrayentahten’ - Love Children. We are to raise the children to respect this way of life. We will tell them the stories of what has taken place. Children will be made to feel welcomed to this world and our place of learning.
11) Atatkahritatshera’ - Be Healthy. Our ceremonies are part of our health plan. We are to be respectful of the power of the medicine plants and use them properly. We will teach our children how to gather herbal medicines properly, with the expert guidance of knowledgeable practitioners.
With these values to guide us we will support our students and their caregivers to achieve increasingly higher levels of Kanyen’keha proficiency, and to pass this on to the coming generations.