ROANOKE RAPIDS — The sound of Native American chants filled the music trailer at Manning Elementary School Wednesday afternoon as music teacher Don West watched third graders perform the Native American Round Dance together. “This is a dance of friendship, the Round Dance,” he told them.

Roger Bell | The Daily Herald Bethany Lassiter, a third grader at Manning Elementary, practiced a Native American dance while music teacher Don West helped her with the drum beat. Advertisement

The dance is only part of what West and members of the area Native American community are teaching the youngsters as part of American Indian Heritage Month observances at Manning. The students are also getting demonstrations in music and carving as well as weaponry this week. West believes such lessons serve a valuable purpose.

“I think it’s important for students to learn about all cultures,” West said. “Students need to be multi-cultural.”

West also teaches students to dance to drums played by their classmates, all to showcase the music and history of the Native Americans. “I hope students get an understanding of Native Americans,” West stated. “And an understanding of the way the life of an Indian really was as opposed to the way Hollywood has portrayed it.”

Arnold Richardson also helps with the musical aspect of the lessons. And he has first-hand experience with Hollywood, having played flute for the movies “Pocohantas” and “A Man Called Horse.”

“When Richard Harris was sitting there playing the flute that wasn’t him — that was me,” Richardson states.

Richardson demonstrated various wind instruments to the children, including tiny ocarina and the large didgeridoo. He also played “the courting flute,” an instrument used by young Native American men to woo young women in the past.

“Mr. West came to the Indian Arts Cooperative,” Richardson said explaining his involvement at Manning. “He talked to my wife and asked if she could coordinate with some of the artists.”

Richardson hopes such demonstrations lead the students to “more extensive knowledge of the American Indian they don’t get in the history books,” he insisted. “And so they’ll have a better understanding Native American music isn’t just drumming and dancing.”

Henry Lynch, a local Native American woodworker, feels just as purposeful as Richardson while teaching the children the techniques of his trade. “I would like for them to know the history of the Native American people,” he said. “Most people, when you say Native American think of teepees, headdresses, and face paint. That was the 1800s; this is the 21st century.”

Some of the students have been learning these lessons not just for increased understanding and knowledge, but to illustrate it themselves. Those wishing to see what those students learned are encouraged to attend the showcase meeting at Manning Elementary on Monday, Nov. 23 starting at 7 p.m.