LAKE COUNTY - Students from school districts across the Flathead Indian Reservation will participate in Native American Awareness activities this week, and some events are also free and open to the public.

The People's Center in Pablo has invited schools to participate in Salish and Kootenai language presentations, dry meat and fry bread tasting, traditional hide tanning demonstrating, native games, crafts, history presentations and museum tours.

Polson's Cherry Valley Elementary School is holding story time in a traditional teepee, with Native American themed stories on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Students were encouraged to bring their traditional Native American outfits to school on Wednesday to share with their classmates and learn about the intent and deep symbolism behind each design. Then, on Friday, the school will host a powwow with local drummers and dancers beginning at 2 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

Linderman students heard a presentation from Tim Ryan on Tuesday. Ryan spoke to the fourth grade about traditional materials and how the tribes developed ways to use the things nature provided to survive. Tony Grant will visit Linderman today for a story telling session and individual teachers planned additional activities for their classrooms throughout the week.

"It's extremely important for students to be exposed to the history and culture of where they live," Heather Jones, principal at Linderman Elementary, said. "We're very fortunate that we can have people come in and do presentations for our classes and that students have the opportunity to go to places like the People's Center to learn history first hand."

Fifth graders at Polson Middle School learned the basic rules, history and some strategic stick game tips from visitor Barney Finley on Monday. Students created their own sets of sticks and bones, which they will use during a week-long tournament, and crown a champion team on Friday.

On Monday, Sept. 27, renown Native American storyteller Jack Gladstone will visit Arlee schools for a complete day of performances and presentations. The day will open with a general assembly for kindergarten through grade 12, then he will visit with English, poetry and American history classes, as well as the junior high and high school bands. This "Day in Residence" will give students an opportunity to learn from Gladstone in a more personalized environment with presentations reflecting upon each individual subject matter.

Gladstone will return in the evening for an Arlee community concert starting at 6:30 p.m. in the high school gym to honor the family of Charles Louis Charlo. This event is free and open to the public.

"We had him come 20-some years ago when I first started here at this school," Arlee's American Indian studies curriculum coordinator, American Indian history and Salish language teacher Willie Wright said. "It's been a lot putting this all together. We've been trying to make connections for the past several years, but as far as making contact this time, it happened very rapidly."