|
You must register for this event
(Space is limited so register early to assure your place.)
Benny Smith Bio
Sarah of Cherokee Ridge has been aquatinted with Benny Smith for almost 25 years when he was Sarah's guidance councilor at Haskell Indian Junior College. Sarah attended Haskell as a student in the 70's. Her mother was a student at Haskell in the 50's. She is pleased to be able to share with those who attend the Sharing Native American Balance of Life and Understanding Event on September 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Mr. Smith's teachings on the Cherokee Medicine Wheel in addition to culture history.
Benny Smith is a full-blood Cherokee of the Ancient Keetoowahs. He is a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, and an expert on Native American culture, values, spirituality and incorporates his knowledge into his counseling and teaching style.
Employment- Benny Smith is retired from Haskell Indian Nations University, in Lawrence, Kansas. He was the Assistant Dean of Students with primary discipline as the director of counseling services. He has over 40 years of experience as an educator, 27 years with Haskell.
Education- Formal education began at the age of seven at Gore, Oklahoma. English is his second language, learned after starting school. Formal schooling went from Gore to Dwight Mission (a church Indian boarding school) for two years; back to Gore for seven years; to Vian High School for the final two years of high school and graduation; College experience began at Connors State Junior College at Warner, Oklahoma; two years at Connors and graduated with an AA; from Connors to Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Alva, Oklahoma for the next three years and graduated with a BS (teaching degree); after two summer sessions while at the first teaching assignment, earned a Masters from Northwestern.
Cultural Education- Knowledge and development of the awareness of Indian Medicine began during early childhood. Much of the learning about Indian Medicine/Doctoring came as a result of being doctored for illness, injury and fears/anxiety. Learning also came as a result of observing the doctoring/treating of others. Some learning came from being sent or help gathering roots, plants and various other things used for medicine. Learning also came as a result of following instructions and directions in the use of Indian Medicine. Recently learning of Indian Medicine is coming through elder of the immediate family, through language translation and interpretation, through learning and practicing rituals/connotations and ancient prayer-chants. During early childhood, during the development years, monthly medicine councils were held in the home. The council was made up of elders (medicine men of each clan); learning is also coming from reconstructing what can be remembered of their task, their legends, and their talks. The value of knowing the language and the experience of serving as an errand/water boy to these medicine workers is surfacing.
Mr. Smith serves as a consultant to the University of Kansas and Kansas State University. He is frequently asked to present and recently spoke at the Ninth Annual Wellness and Spirituality Conference in Tucson, Arizona. Bilingual, with Cherokee as his first Language, he enriches his presentations and discussions with students with terms from Native American language and stories.
Mr. Smith is also a "horse whisperer".
Back
|
