Healing the Land Culture: Schools

Culture: Schools

Our children are our future, and it is imperative that we ignite their imaginations, passions, and values through culture, mentoring and education.

Deborah, Courtney and Ashlea Laidig dance a Women's Traditional dance for a homeschool group in Camp Hill, PA.

Through cultural presentations, Healing the Land captures the interest and imagination of our future leaders by presenting essential ideals in ways that are unlike their normal kind
of learning.

Education has a major impact on our children’s identity by shaping their beliefs and understanding of the world around them. As Healing the Land introduces the children and their parents to the ideals of Native culture through presentation, demonstration, teaching, storytelling, music and dance, they supplement and compliment (and in some cases correct) what the students are already being taught in the classroom.

Courtney Laidig dances the Jingle Dress dance, a healing dance, for a group of Special Needs teenagers in Virginia.

Spyder Webb presents mule deer antlers
to a group of Special Needs teenagers
in Virginia.

They encourage and challenge the students to consider other solutions to problems and to listen and observe in order to understand the world in which they live.
Through this program for schools, clubs, and organizations, Healing the Land is:

• Affirming the children for who they are and who they can be.

• Stressing care for the environment.

• Encouraging respect for Elders.

• Teaching about honor and protocol, and doing things in a good way.

• Presenting the importance of balance by using the Medicine Wheel as a guide.

• Sharing other important lessons through the power of story.

Deborah Laidig leads a group of girls in a Women's Traditional dance while Clear Water Drum plays during a presentation for homeschoolers at a library in Charlottesville, VA

Ashlea Laidig demonstrates the
Fancy Shawl dance for a group of
4th graders at a school near
Charlottesville, VA

Tekakwitha Webb addresses students on the role of women in the Cherokee culture at a recent presentation in Charlotteville, VA. Native instruments, artifacts and animal furs located on the table behind the children were later discussed as well.