EDMOND — BY PATTY MILLER

THE EDMOND SUN



Brent and Kennetha Greenwood, Edmond residents for the past 14 years, recently were honored as Indian Parents of the Year by the National Indian Education Association.

The NIEA is the oldest and largest Indian organization representing American Indian, Alaska native and Native Hawaiian educators and students.

Kennetha is Otoe Missouria, and Brent is a descendent of both Ponca and Chickasaw tribes and is an enrolled member of the Chickasaw tribe.

The Greenwoods have learned cultural and tribal traditions through their family and tribal elders, and they are active supporters of the Indian Education program in the Edmond school district.

“Brent and Kennetha work as a team when it comes to our Indian Education program,” said Sydna Yellowfish, Edmond Public Schools Title VII educator. “Both have volunteered and assisted with our Indian youth activities with their various talents and skills, and both have given valuable time and effort on behalf of not just their own children, who participate in our program, but for Indian Education students in Edmond and around the state.”

The Greenwoods teach and enhance tribal culture through presentations and classes for students of the school district and the district’s Indian Education students, Yellowfish said, and they involve their children in educational and cultural activities whenever possible and ensure their children learn about their heritage and its importance to their family.

Sessions directed by the Greenwoods include art and art technique, cultural heritage, powwow style singing and Indian handgames. Other talents they share include helping Indian students choreograph their dance performances.

“Brent has also volunteered time to encourage and instruct young boys on singing around the powwow drum,” Yellowfish said. “Kennetha has published a Native American coloring book and has narrated an Oklahoma History Center DVD related to her family’s contribution of the originals of historically significant documents presented to one of her ancestors by Lewis and Clark. She has also written and illustrated a coloring book on Lewis and Clark that was shared with our Edmond teachers.”

The Greenwoods are avid supporters of their own children in academics, culture, language and extracurricular activities, Yellowfish said. “As a family they can be seen at school functions, powwows, art shows, handgames and cultural events of their respective tribes throughout the state.”

The children participate in powwow dancing, hand drumming, singing, sculpting, painting and handgame competition, where they are consistently near the top in their events.

Me-Way-Seh plays in the school orchestra and is learning to create his own music on the viola.

“He has learned to play the Native Indian flute creatively and beautifully on his own at a very young age,” said Grace Wiley Smith, Edmond Indian educator.

“Reina is in her own creative world of powwow dancing as well as classical dancing.”

Both parents are artists and both belong to OklaDADA (a group of Oklahoma Native Artists), Northside Native American Methodist Church and Oklahoma City University Native American Ministry, where they provide meals and interact with the Indian students once a month.

Kennetha is a former Otoe tribal princess and has been headlady dancer in the past and Brent is a powwow singer and artist and has been head singer at various powwows. He is a graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) and Oklahoma City University.

Each year the Greenwoods participate in the Johnson O’Malley Summer program offered by the Edmond School District. They also have involved their children in the Oklahoma Native American Youth Language Fair and are teaching their children the Otoe language.

“They are involved in keeping their heritage alive through their children as well as for themselves,” Smith said.

“Brent and Kennetha benefit from a strong support system within their extended family, have great respect for their family and tribes and possess exemplary character traits as individuals,” Yellowfish said. “They are committed to preserving their heritage through their children, their work and their community involvement.”