A fry bread pizza? Native American youth group dreams of visiting Italy

By Alyssa Kelly

Native American youth group members Karissa Trahan and Justin Grandon are prepared to work hard in order to raise enough funding for their group's trip to Italy. (Alyssa Kelly photo)

RONAN — Graduating from high school is a monumental event for any senior. However, some Ronan High School students hope to make it a learning experience as well. Members of Salish Language instructor Gina Roullier's Native American youth group are raising funds to travel to Italy following graduation. "I really feel that it's important for the students to gain a world view on culture outside of our own little community," says Roullier.

The Native American youth group's members are all seniors and they are required to have a grade-point-average of 3.5-4.0 in order to participate. They must also be drug and alcohol free. Members include Marty Moore, Karissa Trahan, Justin Grandon, Katy Sorrell, Marissa Grant, and Ronee Smith.

Indian taco feeds are a popular fund raising method on the reservation. However, the Native American youth group broke even in their moneymaking investment. (Alyssa Kelly photo)

Originally, Roullier presented the idea for a group road trip to visit the Smithsonian museum in Washington D.C., which features exhibits particular to Native American heritage. "I think a lot of (Native American groups) have visited the Smithsonian," says Marty Moore. "We wanted to do something different. Something (others) haven't tried or been able to do."

Roullier came across a program called EF Educational Tours, which according to the company's pamphlet is "the world's largest educational student travel companies." For a lump sum, in this instance $20,000, EF Educational Tours will provide the group's flights, ground transportation, hotel accommodation, most meals, a full-time tour director, and local guides.

According to the company's website: "Educational Tours allows educators to enrich their classroom teaching through international travel. Student groups 'learn it by living it' when they experience firsthand the very best historic, cultural and natural sights in the world."

During the group's 12-day trip, they will be exposed to Italian monuments including Vatican City, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, Pompeii, Florence, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Riviera, and Paris. The Native American youth group will also have opportunity to create individual authentic Italian pizzas. "Maybe I'll make a fry bread pizza to share a piece of our home with theirs," says Justin Grandon. "Has that ever been done before?" The group began raising money on November 17 with a very successful yard sale. From there, they have been involved in Thanksgiving pie sales, and most recently an Indian Taco Feed. "Sometimes we've made money and other times we've come out even," says Moor. Although the group has only raised an estimated $800, they remain hopeful. "We're going to be selling beadwork, Christmas gift wrapping, babysitting for New Years, and raffles," says Karissa Trahan. "It's a big goal but we can do it if we stay positive. I see that a class from Hellgate High School (in Missoula) recently raised enough funding to travel to Japan. So it is possible."

To prepare for their trip, the Native American youth group has been researching the Italian culture and they hope to share an insight on the Native American heritage as well. "We're seeing if we can make arrangements to contract a class for the public (in Italy) where we could share our culture and language with them," says Trahan.

Should the members raise enough funds, it will be the first Native American youth group from Ronan High School to travel internationally. "We hope this trip will be ground-breaking for future (Native American groups) to learn about other cultures first-hand through traveling," says Trahan.

If you would like to make donations to the group's trip, contact Gina Roullier at Ronan High School. Her work phone number is 676-3390, extension 3544