Utah State Bar Partners with Nebo Title VI Native American Indian Program

Submitted by lana.hiskey on
Nebo Title VI Native American Students
Nebo Title VI Native American Older Students Presenting
Nebo Title VI Native American with Utah State Bar

Utah State Bar and partners invited the Nebo Title VI Native American Indian Program to collaborate with them for Constitution Day at Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City, to share the story about how the United States Constitution was shaped and molded by the Great Law of Peace. 

Nebo shared the “Great Law of Peace” story from the Haudenosaunee, commonly known as the Iroquois Confederacy. 

The presentation emphasized the value and impact the Iroquois Confederacy had on the formation of the United States and Democracy. Nebo students performed a play explaining the Peacemaker story with eight actor’s and six narrator’s describing how the Iroquois Confederacy were practicing democracy when the pilgrims first arrived on the east coast. Nebo explained how each nation has its own identity with many cultural similarities. The six Native American Nations learned how to maintain a democratic society so that peace could prevail in order to govern their people.

Nebo Title VI students explained the importance of the Hiawatha Belt and how it symbolizes the unity of the original five Haudenosaunee Nations, the story of the Great Law of  Peace. This was acted out by younger students for judges, lawyers, and staff at the Matheson Courthouse. 

The older students explained with posters how the United States Constitution concepts were copied and are very similar to the Haudenosaunee Great Law of Peace. The poster boards explained the process of selection for office in the United States Government and the idea of federalism, separation of powers, accountability of elected officials, freedom of assembly, speech, and religion. 

The Tribal Nations’ grasp of democracy impressed the founding fathers such as Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams. They used these ideas to write the constitution for the United States of America. 

After the Nebo group explained the history behind the Haudenosaunee Confederacy’s contribution, they brought up every student in front of all the judges, court staff, and dignitaries and performed a round dance song called “Be Proud.” 

Earlier that day the group toured the Utah State Capitol, visited the House of Representatives, and the Senate Chambers, so that students could see where laws were made. 

Congratulations to our amazing Title VI Native American Indians and a big thank you to Shoshana Begay, Eileen Quintana, Natalie Billie, and Analysa Allison for working on the play and being part of such a special event in teaching our community.

Click on the link for highlights of the day.

#TheClimb #NeboHero #NeboSchoolDistrict #StudentSuccess #EmpowerStudents #EngageStudents #FocusOnStudents #LoveUTpublicSchools #UtPol #UtEd #ThankATeacher #LoveTeaching

Attributions
By Lana Hiskey