By Dr. Theresa Billiot, LPTC Vice-President of Teaching and Learning and Dr. Kweku Ocran, LPTC Associate Professor
2024-2027 Ihduwiyayapi: Advancing Indigenous Early Childhood Education Program
On a Wednesday last November, I stepped into a world of wonder at Little Priest Tribal College (LPTC), where imagination danced off the pages and into the hearts of over fifty Educare Winnebago kids from Winnebago, Nebraska. Our early childhood education students had the privilege of observing these 3- to 6-year-olds kids experience “Bookworms” – a vibrant, multi-sensory play blending storytelling, movement, and puppetry. The library buzzed with energy as the storyteller welcomed us, only for mischievous bookworms to whisk us beyond the bookshelves into a realm where stories twisted and turned in unexpected ways.
Watching those little faces light up, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of this moment for our college students. Misti Gomez, an early childhood education student, said, “When I first arrived, the library basement was full of little children singing ‘head, shoulders, knees, and toes’ and doing movements to the song. It was really cute to see them all doing it.”
Storytelling isn’t just entertainment here; rather, it’s a thread woven deep into Native American tradition. For centuries, our elders have passed down wisdom, history, and identity through oral tales. As the Educare Winnebago kids laughed and reacted with excitement, engaging with the stories, I saw them connecting to their cultural legacy. It’s more than a play; it’s a foundation for success – building listening skills, sparking creativity, and rooting them in a cultural strength that’s uniquely ours.
For LPTC students, the experience was a masterclass in early childhood education. Watching the Kerfuffle Theatre Company captivate such young minds revealed the power of multi-sensory learning. The puppets, the movement, and the unexpected twists were a lesson in capturing attention and sparking curiosity. Our early childhood education students scribbled notes furiously, envisioning how they might adapt these techniques in their future classrooms. “The ‘Bookworm’ actors invited the children to place stickers on the books,” Gomez explained. “This hands-on activity let the children design their own bookrooms. Then, the actors handed out crayons, encouraging the kids to color on a large sheet of paper so they can create their own little play in the process.”
Our college students felt their roots deepen as they listened and observed. Native storytelling isn’t static; it’s alive, evolving with each telling. Watching these children embracing it reminded me why our college students chose this career path: to nurture that spark, to help them grow into confident, connected professionals. “Bookworms” wasn’t just a 45-minute play, it was a mirror reflecting our Native past and a window into our futures.
These Educare kids weren’t just audience members; they were co-creators, shouting ideas to fix the tales. That’s the magic of oral tradition; it invites you in. For them, it’s a head start in literacy and problem-solving. For our early childhood education students, it’s a roadmap to becoming an educator who honors culture while igniting young minds. We watched them lean forward, eyes wide, and we knew: this is how learning begins, with a story that pulls you in and won’t let go.
Little Priest Tribal College Library.
Little Priest Tribal College Library located in the Buffalo Clan Building.
