GTB Mino Biimaadziwin Hoop Dance Society

The Grand Traverse Band (GTB) of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Tribal Youth project will be focused upon enhancing and expanding the MinoBiimaadziwin Hoop Dance Society, a prevention program that emphasizes the seven sacred teachings of the Anishnabe through traditional hoop dancing. Approximately 550 youth between the ages of 6-17 years of age will be served in the four year period. The goal of the GTB Tribal Youth Program (TYP) is to create a new vision for community youth and to instill an understanding and attachment to their culture. The primary goal of the TYP is to reduce the risk factors in the community associated with juvenile delinquency. Priority will be focused on each of the four domains-community, school, family, and individual/peer. One of the most important outcomes of the TYP is that 100% of the age-eligible youth that participate in any tribal program activity graduate from high school on time. The impact of this program will offer the following: expansion of the Hoop Dance Society into three additional sites in the GTB area; a reduced juvenile arrest rate by 15%; reduced juvenile recidivism rate by 10%; 70% of the the youth will show an improvement in school performance and attendance; 85% of youth will graduate from high school; and 75% will report less substance abuse and usage.
CA/NCF