Sumu and Miskito - Nicaragua

Humanitarian Effort
A:shiwi Elementary School, New Mexico, U.S.A.

Students at A:shiwi Elementary School in Zuni, New Mexico, learned about the Sumu and Miskito Indian people in Nicaragua. They live along the Bocay River, and they have to travel all day by push-pole boats to get to a medical clinic when they are sick. They needed a motor for their boat so they could travel faster. We decided to raise money for a motor.

We made greeting cards in our classrooms to sell to our friends and family. We drew pictures on the cover of the cards showing scenes from Zuni or from Nicaragua. There was a message about the money raising project printed on the back of the cards. We sold hundreds of cards.

Some people gave donations of money. Friends from all over the United States sent money. The adults at A:shiwi Elementary School held an aerobic marathon in Zuni to raise more money. Altogether, we raised almost $3,000 for the Sumu and Miskito tribes. Our student council collected school supplies to send to Nicaragua. They collected pencils, crayons, markers, paper, scissors, and books in Spanish. The Hopi Day School in Arizona also contributed school supplies and some medical supplies.

A:shiwi teacher Jeanne Pahls took the money to Managua, Nicaragua, in July. She bought a large Suzuki boat motor there. Then she traveled in a truck to San Jose de Bocay. From there she went in a small boat up the Bocay River to the Sumu and Miskito villages where she left the motor and school supplies. The Sumu and Miskito people told Jeanne that they were amazed that the Zuni people in the United State were thinking about them.

Humanitarian Effort Choctaw Tribal Schools, Mississippi, U.S.A. Choctaw students decided to spread their resources around and this year help native (south) Americans, the Sumus & Miskito people of Nicaragua, who were in need of help for their basic survival needs. The students used funds they acquired from a traditional Choctaw calendar they produced and sold locally. Being able to help others less fortunate in the world Choctaw students learn to become productive members of the global society.