Native Pride marches up the Hillside to dispell myth of Columbus












Captions: Left to right are: Jon Perrin, Savannah Howes, Ronny Powell, Alesia Buffalo, and Courtney Cochran.


Jackie Fairbanks, a 6th grader at Woodland Middle School walked beside her father, John Fairbanks. She said, “We aren’t really celebrating the truth.” She thinks Native Americans are treated differently when the truth is not taught.




Last month on Columbus Day while the city hall, and downtown Post Office stood quiet because employees had this legal holiday off, a chant could be heard: “Say it loud! Say it proud! Native pride marching up the Hillside!” The chant was shouted by Native American youth.

It was Mon., Oct. 9. A group of teenagers named Native Youth Agenda led over 144 people on a one-mile march from the library on the corner of Fifth Avenue West and Superior Street to the Washington Center on North Lake Street and Third Street West.

Jackie Fairbanks, a 6th grader at Woodland Middle School walked beside her father, John Fairbanks. She held a sign that said, “Myths of Columbus: He found and discovered America; He is a national hero.” She said she was walking because it was good for native people to get together, “We aren’t really celebrating the truth,” she said of Columbus Day. “We are sort of living a lie.” She also said that when most of America celebrates Columbus Day, “They treat us differently.”

Jon Perrin, a 9th grader at Denfeld, High School said, “We just believe that Columbus did not actually find land. He traveled and discovered (America) and killed natives.

Dana Megenupch said she participated in the march “…to support my people.” She went on to say, “(They) tired to banish us. We need to make people realize that we were here first and to stop trying to demolish us. It will never be done.” As the crowd walked by the Washington Center on Fourth Street she called out to some teenage boys across the street telling them they ought to join their people.

Once inside the Washington Center a large crowd gathered to prepare for a meal. Duluth Mayor Herb Bergson spoke to the group. “This is the last time the City of Duluth will allow a day off for Columbus Day,” he said. Bergson said he was raised to celebrate Columbus Day, but while in college he learned the truth about Columbus. We raised our two sons to know the truth he said, “The man was a slave trader and a butcher, and we can not honor murderers.” He said the whites and black in the room were there to show their support.

After Bergson’s speech the crowd listened to the Lake Vermillion Singers. Bill Howes, a leader with Native Youth Agenda said it was an honor song for “Every single person who lost their life fighting for something they believed in.”
Before the meal, Virgil Sohm said a prayer in his native tongue. The youth served the elders before they themselves could eat.

Bill Howes was one of the adults working with the youth. His wife Edye Howes is the coordinator of Native Youth Agenda and they have a daughter, Savannah, age 13, in Native Youth Agenda. (They also have a daughter Che, age 5) He said the young people choose this issue a couple of years ago and the youth had set a goal of having 250 people show up. By time the event ended with a meal there were 250 people.

Howes said, “It is about the youth standing up and doing something that they thought was important.” He went on to say, “The goal is more than just the march. It is to keep spreading the message. Ultimately, it is important to learn the truth. There are all kinds of events we need to look at from multiple perspectives, not just one person who gets to write the textbook
Rachel Kincaid works with youth every day. She is the executive director of Lifehouse. She said it was good for the youth to learn how to lead an event like they did for the Myth of Columbus Day. “It allows them to know their own strength and power to change things,” she said.

Caption: Teens have fun at the Encounter

Teenagers and Skateboards are welcome at Encoutner in downtown Duluth

Five years ago Youth for Christ’s youth pastor’s network sat down, thought and dreamed about a youth center that could reach thousands of young people. For the first time since that meeting, the Encounter vision is complete! Every potential program and ministry we said we wanted to have to effectively reach teenagers is now in place at the Encounter. For these reasons and more, we are excited about the upcoming season here.

The Skate Park is open this fall five days a week. It’s the only indoor skate park in the area with a large variety of ramps, rails, stairs and boxes. Skaters from all backgrounds and abilities have the opportunity to improve their skills, learn new tricks, or try the sport for the very first time in a fun, safe and active environment.

Skate Church is a free night of skating, dinner, and a message aimed at the skateboarding youth. A new addition to the Encounter’s skate program is the traveling skate park. We have a complete portable skate park that we can move from location to location. The traveling skate park and indoor skate park create a year round skate ministry bringing truth and hope to this group of young people.

The Red Room as one of the last pieces of the Encounter’s ministry puzzle provides us with yet another tool to reach a completely different sub-culture of young people. The Red Room is unique in that it is one of our areas only music venues that caters to young people. We have many local bands that have begun to perform at the Red Room & love it. Open mic, a pool table and coffee bar are also available for some extra fun. The Red Room is quickly becoming the place to be for music lovers!

In addition, the Red Room will be home to our popular Girls Night. Thursday nights from 6-9 p.m., girls of all ages are invited to come and participate in activities just for girls. Such as - hanging out, long talks, baking, nature walks, movie nights, open mic nights, and of course-manicures!

One of the programs we are most excited about this year is the return of junior and senior high school open gym nights. On Friday and Saturday evenings youth are welcome to come and join in on a variety of gym sports. Basketball, volleyball, dodge ball, and floor hockey are just some of the activities. Sunday night in the gym will host a complementary program to our very popular skate church. “Half Time” will run every Sunday night from 4-8 p.m.. It will be a free night of sports, food and of course a great message for the participants.

Here are some additional ministries at the Encounter’s this year:

Drama Night- every Tuesday night those with or without dramatic experience are welcome to learn the skill of improvisation comedy.

Night Life - our college age program will meet on Thursday nights this year. Anyone 18 and over is encouraged to participate in this evening, complete with at least one themed athletic activity.

The pool hall and the coffee bar will also be open for the entirety of the evening. Most importantly, there will be a young adult Bible study time and discussion during the night each week.

Snowboard in the City- This is a new program that will start this winter at the Encounter. Snow-boarders of all ages will be able to snowboard at a variety of places in the city, including riding the hill right outside of the Encounter.

Youth Church – A once a month opportunity for youth to gather together to praise God together with others their own age. They will have experience a worship setting geared specifically to them. Also, there will be a message of hope that is sure to inspire.

Noon Ball- Noon basketball returns as a time for area guys to come and play some ball.
Quest- Two discipleship programs which originated at the Encounter Many youth from around the area are visiting the Encounter daily, because whatever the interest is, we definitely have a program to explore and grow that interest. Moreover, there are many welcoming staff members who are building lasting mentorships and friendships with our youth every day.

We are successful in part to the overwhelming support we receive from the community. Thank you for your continuing encouragement as we continue to uplift the next generation.