Youpee Likes Teaching About Heritage

Poplar’s Dylan Youpee informed and entertained students at Southside Elementary School as part of Native American Week activities in the Wolf Point School District.

Youpee explained that he likes providing cultural stories of encouragement to the youngsters.

“Just seeing the faces of the children that they’re learning something new,” Youpee said of what he likes best about speaking. “This is our future.”

Youpee said that his first experience speaking in front of students came while he was visiting Canada about 20 years ago. Someone asked him to share his experiences and knowledge.

“It started there,” the Poplar native said.

Now, he makes a habit of talking to area students during Native American Week. His plan is to speak in Poplar this week.

“With kids, you have to use a lot of sound effects and hands to keep their attention,” Youpee said. “You have to let them participate.”

On Thursday, Sept 26, he told to the young students about the various noises they will hear during pow-wow and the history of those sounds.

In addition to Youpee speaking, Marty Reum talked with students at Northside Elementary School on Thursday morning.