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Impact Report

For plan Youth Development (Crownpoint Tribal Extension)
Date October 21, 2010, 10:09 pm
For Objective Short-term Show short-term objectives
Impact Report Blue Mush- Food and Nutrition Education In the past the Navajo’s grew their own foods as in many cultures; blue mush is a scared Navajo dish that is made with juniper leaf ashes. When a family is struggling mentally or physically mothers’ would prepare this dish with weaving tools and good thoughts to help overcome sickness. The youth will be taught the meaning and cultural significance of growing blue corn, preparing both the ground corn and juniper ashes. Then learn how to cook Blue Mush along with elders as a Navajo traditional teaching aide. The Agent provided quality educational experiences to the Hanaadli 4-H Club. Fifteen youth and adults gained knowledge related to Blue Mush Cooking. Students learned tree identification by identifying Juniper trees to use and burn the leaves to add to the Navajo traditional blue mush dish and nutritional value. Students also learned the Navajo history of blue mush and Juniper Trees and prepared the dish for themselves and community elders. Students’ identified juniper trees to be used, students were taught to make an offering with corn pollen to use Juniper leaves in Blue Mush dish (Navajo Tradition). After leaves were picked students built a fire in a grill, on top of the grill the leaves were burned, after the ashes cooled students’ then sifted the ashes to a finer ash. While a group of students prepared the ashes, the other group prepared hot water and roasted blue corn. Students’ first put the ashes into the hot water, then added blue corn once the dish was finished. Play Hard, Eat Smart Diabetes prevention and wellness education are equally a strong community effort. Increasingly adults and children are either diagnosed with diabetes or are at risk of diabetes. Students’ and community members’ need to be educated at an early age or before diabetes becomes a concern. The youth will be taught the nutrition value of each food group, the importance of healthy snacking and healthy decisions. The Agent and Nutrition Educator’s provided quality education and experiences to Crownpoint Office of Youth Development. 30 student’s and adult’s gained knowledge related to the five basic food groups, proper amount of servings to be eaten each day and preparing healthy snacks. The youth gained a wealth of knowledge from the Play Hard, Eat Smart activities. One OYD Staff member explained, “We took the kids on a field trip, they told us what food fell into what food groups and how much we should have of it, Play Hard, Eat Smart is a good program.” Cooking with Kids Parents’ and children are less involved in family activities due to economic times and changes. The times the families do spend together are a success. The youth and parents will be taught nutritional value of each food group, the importance of food tasting, cooking techniques, healthy cooking, healthy choices and most importantly family time. The Agent, Home Economist and Nutrition Educator have provided quality education to Crownpoint Office of Youth Development. 30 student’s and adults gained knowledge related to food tasting, cooking techniques and healthy cooking. Navajo Traditional Horse Education Agriculture is a major component in the Navajo culture. Cattle, Sheep and Horses are all considered sacred to the Navajo, each having a cultural significance. Rodeo is becoming a major sport across the Navajo Nation, although it is easy to purchase a horse. Proper care is overlooked by many as well as cultural significance. The youth will be taught the cultural significance of the horse as well as basic proper care. The Agent and Agriculture Agent provided quality education to Crownpoint Office of Youth Development. 35 students’ and adults’ gained knowledge related to the cultural significance of a horse and proper care for horses. One student explained the four sacred horses in each cardinal direction as well as the proper vaccination a horse needs. NEFE Money Management Crownpoint High School students drop out rates are slowly increasing annually. Students have no interest in school; others are forced to drop because of current economic situation to assist with family income. Students that are still in school do not have the basic knowledge of managing money correctly as well as adults involved in American Reinvestment Recovery Act (A.R.R.A) program. The youth will be taught how to manage money correctly, learn how to fill out a basic credit card and bank application and estimate monthly expenses. 30 youth and adults gained knowledge related to the NEFE workbook; distinguished between actual, fixed and variable expenses. Students also compiled a list of their monthly expenses and decided which expenses were necessary and unnecessary. Grant Writing The Navajo Nation has experienced budget cuts in vital programs particularly the Department of Emergency Management (DEM). DEM assist tribal members during natural disasters, manmade disasters and provide shelter or materials needed to survive current economic situations. Students will be taught how to write a grant, where to look for a grant and proper way to complete a grant. Nine adults gained knowledge related to grant writing. Students learned key components of writing a grant and the difference between goals and objectives. Emergency Services Coordinator explained, “This workshop was much needed, we didn’t know the steps in writing a grant now we all have a better idea. We know have a great source, NMSU is doing a great job.”