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'God Made Me to Dance'

August 15, 2008

By Sarah Welliver | Text by Tirrell Thomas

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D.—Rosebud Sioux hoop dancer Dallas Chief Eagle taught cultural appreciation—along with some hoop dancing moves—to refugee children in the Multi-Cultural Center's summer C.A.R.E. day camp here.

Approximately 100 students participated in four summer programs intended to teach equality and harmony. Chief Eagle's classes are among the most popular in the program.

"Sioux Falls hosts over 95 different countries," education director Janice Antrim said, referring to the homelands of refugees who have been resettled in the South Dakota city. "So it's really interesting to see how the kids relate to us and how they relate to each other."

C.A.R.E. stands for cultural appreciation, respect and education.

"I never get afraid when I dance because God made me to dance," said Rose Sindjeu, 9, a native of Cameroon.

[EDITORS' NOTE: This story was written as a class assignment at the American Indian Journalism Institute and originally published on AIJI: Freedom Forum Diversity Institute. It is used with permission.]

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