Spring Break 2002 Ethnic Studies/Sociology Field Course
During spring break 2002 (March 24 -28th) twenty-three Oregon State University students took a non-traditional action research approach to learning about cross-cultural issues in Native America. The students spent five days living in Burns Oregon and interacted with the Paiute Native population and related community stakeholders. By carefully listening to and interacting with different stakeholders including: cattle ranchers, school officials, human health and service providers, casino and gaming officials, extension services personnel, and tribal leaders. Students were able by the end of the course to develop a better understanding of the complex cross-cultural issues that face Native American populations in Oregon today. The following is a record of the students learning experience and web links to other important sites related to Native American issues.
Kurt Peters, Department of Ethnic Studies
(541) 737-0709; KPeters@orst.edu
Dwaine Plaza, Department of Sociology
(541) 737-5369; DPlaza@orst.edu
Course Teaching Team Dwaine Plaza, Kurt Peters & Danette
Gillespie
A view of the Butte from where we lived on the Extension Services compound.
It took us about 45 minutes each day to drive to Burns from our accomodations
in the Butte. This was our view to the main road.
The main industry in Burns is cattle ranching. Along our daily drive
into town we saw many four legged friends checking us out.
The van rides into town each day to meet stakeholders were memorable
and fun.
Students returned each night to the Butte to process information, cook
and develop questions for the next day.
Students also worked together in the afternoons at the Eastern Oregon
Extension Services Office to process the information they were hearing
about each day.
Entrance sign at the Eastern Oregon Extension Services Office
Marty Vavra (Superintendent Extension Services Burns) being interviewed.
Rev. Eugene Luttman, Linda-- Melissa and Carmen at the Church of the
Living Waters.
Bob Zybach presented the social history of cattle ranching in Harney
County.
Michael Serrien (Social Services Consultant) being interviewed
by Juanita and Rosa.
Art Tasse (School Principal & Tribe Education Planner) being interviewed
by Katie and Jason.
Fred Otley (President of the Cattle Ranchers Association) being interviewed
by Lindsay and Melinda.
Students doing small group processing at Riley
Tukwahone direction sign on the Paiute reservation
Tribal Adminstration Center where we met stakeholders
Collecting community history data at the Burns Cemetary are Aaron and
Kelly.
We visited the Burns Paiute Casino and spoke with the manager Brian
Tate.
Nick and Ryan are collecting information about the Paiute Tribe at
the Harney County Musuem.
Students with invited stakeholders at the final dinner hosted by the
Pow Wow Club.
Student accomodation at Riley on our final departure
Kurt and Dwaine returned to Burns on April 29, 2002 for a follow up
project visit.
They visited the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge where the snow geese
had begun to arrive on their flight north.Unfortunately the students
missed this sight.
A Link to Student Web Pages 2002 Spring Break Class
Link to the 2001 Education Spring Break Class
Link to the 2000 Education Spring Break Class