Indian Reservation

The view from the office window

Yesterday I taught on Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation in Northern California. The high school includes students from all over the area, not just kids that live on the reservation. Some kids have to commute for an hour each way. If you visit the school and don't know the location it seems like every other high school I visit. Some kids are very nice and some are a little noisy. There isn't the diversity of races as much as other schools, but there is a little diversity. Some kids are blonde, some are dark skinned, some are tall or short or heavy or thin. As I walk around the school there is a lot of signs about pride and heritage and some signs talk about the "tribal council" versus city council. The staff tells me most of the kids come from a very low socio economic class. When I work with the kids I enjoy it. Many kids are very smart. even the kids that cause problems, like that blonde girl that sat in the middle of the room that couldn't stay on task, are respectful and follow directions. I wish I could go to that school more often, and I really wish it wasn't a seven hour drive. I make it a point to give them the best presentation I can so they get the most out of it.

Hoopa Valley High nestled into the mountains