by Joshua D. Woosypitti

Every community has a place to turn to as a way to find needs and positive influence on racial groups. The Lawrence, Kansas tribal community can do the same at the Four Winds Native Center. The Four Winds Native Center formerly known as the Pelathe Center has various programs for community members. Dance classes for children, shawl making classes, moccasin making classes, Northern and Southern style singing is also available.

The dance classes for the local children is directed by the Four Winds Native Center and taught by the Haskell Intertribal Cultural Club of Haskell Indian Nations University. The Haskell Intertribal Cultural Club is a group of students with various backgrounds and tribal ancestry. They help instruct children
to find a specific style of dance and aid in teaching the valuable lessons, history and the focus for aiding in cultural revitalization.

The Haskell Intertribal Cultural Club is sponsored by Haskell Faculty member Rhonda LeValdo. The President of the organization is Shere Wright. The dance classes are taught weekly and help with teaching the children how to make their own regalia, which will be taught during the summer. Shawl making classes are taught weekly at the Four Winds Native Center by Joshua D. Woosypitti, senior in the Indigenous and American Indian Studies program at
Haskell.

Moccasin making classes are taught by Victoria Wilson a senior at Haskell Indian Nations University. As for the Northern and Southern style instruction they are taught by Ron Brave and Henry Collins. Both have served as head staff at various powwows within the area and help their community with various times where they were asked to sing.

The Four Winds Native Center also has a community garden where they
are planting various vegetables and are implementing the three sisters method: corn, squash and beans which are traditional to many tribal communities.

The community center does not have a large staff and use various community volunteers. Haskell Indian Nations University’s Social Work volunteers, Indigenous and American Indian Studies interns volunteer valuable time at this localcenter.

More information over the Four Winds Native Center is located at
1423 Haskell Avenue Lawrence, KS 66044. They can be reached at (785)8328111