Independent news from the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance

Laurier Culture Camp immerses students in Aboriginal traditions

The North Dakota Native Tourism Alliance will be hosting its second annual Native American Heritage Month Celebration at the state capital in Bismarck from Nov. 15-16. (Photo courtesy of the North Dakota Native Tourism Alliance)

Aug 31/12

Waterloo – Students in Wilfrid Laurier University’s Master of Social Work: Aboriginal Field of Study program are about to embark on a five-day land-based culture camp, where they will learn experientially about traditional Aboriginal worldviews. The camp, taking place from Sept. 9-14, provides a foundation for the teachings and worldviews that will occur in the classroom over the following months of the program.

LaurierÂ’s culture camp is a full-credit course that has been offered since 2006. Students are exposed to Aboriginal values, philosophy, teachings, ceremonies, songs and dances from elders and Laurier professors. Some of the weekÂ’s many activities include building a sweat lodge, learning about traditional medicines, completing an overnight fast on the land and building a hand drum, which students will use during their education and in their wholistic healing practice as social workers.
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Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear is the founder and director of the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance, a 501-C-3 nonprofit organization with offices in Bismarck, N.D. and the Fort Berthold Reservation. Jodi spent 15 years reporting for the mainstream press. She's been awarded prestigious Nieman and John S. Knight journalism fellowships at Harvard and Stanford, respectively. She also an MIT Knight Science Journalism Project fellow. Her writing is featured in "The Authentic Voice: The Best Reporting on Race and Ethnicity," published by Columbia University Press. Jodi currently serves as a Society of Professional Journalists at-large board member, an SPJ Foundation board member, and she chairs the SPJ Freedom of Information Committee. Jodi has won top journalism awards from mainstream and Native press organizations. She earned her journalism degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder.