Wendy Grab Shares Her Passion as Adviser for WC's Indigenous Student Assn.
Wendy Grab offered insight into indigenous peoples within the campus community even before she joined the faculty. Known as a local expert on Native American cultures, she assisted the College in programming for Native American Heritage Month.
Since she became an assistant professor of social work in 2018, Grab has continued to share her passion for indigenous cultures with all who possess an interest — and with a goal of getting others interested.
PICTURED: (ABOVE) Wendy Grab is pictured as part of a drumming circle (BELOW) Grab is attired in Native American attire (ALSO BELOW) Hanna Anderson, president of the Indigenous Student Association is pictured with alumnus Barrett Farmer, who was the head male dancer at the pow-wow attended by the WC group.
"There's a beautiful variety of Native American groups and beliefs," she said. "I've realized there's always more to learn, explain and understand."
Grab has no direct bloodline to indigenous peoples — as far as she is aware — but became fascinated with Native American cultures so she delved into their past and present, made their struggles hers and gladly shares the amazing things she learned.
"I was always drawn to their connection to the earth and how to live in harmony with nature," she said, also noting the role of drumming in Native cultures is a longstanding fascination for which she is now a practitioner as a member of a drum ensemble. "It's become part of my daily life."
Years ago, Grab started attending Native American learning circles and pow-wows, eagerly absorbing unique elements of indigenous cultures. Her passion became evident and a Shawnee family adopted her — not in the typical sense as in adopting a child, but in their viewing her as a "sister" within their culture.
She advises the Indigenous Student Association (ISA), a campus organization of students interested in Native cultures by virtue of their ancestry or simply because it's a "great, mysterious exotic thing." Grab noted. "Some have a bloodline to indigenous people but don't know what that means — I want to help them find out."
Grab wishes to educate the campus on all things Native American, from dispelling the stereotype that all indigenous persons look like the "TV image" of Native Americans to connections with present-day issues. Indeed, she partnered with Edmonton University last fall by presenting a program for Orange Shirt Day. It's a commemoration of the plight involving residential schools in Canada that took children from their homes — often thousands of miles away — to indoctrinate them into the prevailing religious and nationalistic dogma. Many children were abused. Pope Francis formally apologized for the Catholic Church's role in this tragedy while visiting Canada earlier this year.
"I'm interested in getting students involved with current issues and needs," Grab said, noting that COVID squelched a planned summer 2020 service trip by students to the Seneca Nation in upstate New York. She hopes such an opportunity will be available this coming summer.
Grab also has tied together her academic discipline in social work with issues facing many Native Americans. She is conducting research on The Fireside Circle Gathering, which is a combination of Native American and Alcoholics Anonymous traditions that provide support and encouragement for those on a journey of sobriety.
"I am exploring the different elements that participants of the Gathering find important to maintaining their sobriety and inspire them to drive up to several hundred miles to attend this event on the Cherokee Reservation."
Over Labor Day Weekend, Grab took students to the "Spirit of the People Gathering Pow Wow," an annual event featuring drumming, dancing, singing, vendors, and educational demonstration. They also visited the ancient Serpent Mound.
"We were involved in so many wonderful aspects of the gathering including getting to dance in the arena to help honor our veterans, which is very important to Native people; interacting with many intertribal folks who shared their stories, crafts, and history with us; the chance to try fry bread and other Native fare; a visit to the Serpent Mound Museum and a walk around the effigy earthwork itself," she said.
Interestingly, the group made a "special connection" with a WC alumnus who has been part of native traditions for much of his life. Richard "Barrett" Farmer was an agronomy major and worked on his family farm for many years. He recently purchased 5.5 acres and plans to build a teaching/healing center with sustainable agricultural practices which are inspired by traditional native teachings and WC's Quaker values.
Also, a project of ISA was for the College to officially issue a "Land Acknowledgement" stating that the location of its campus is on the traditional, unceded land of the Adena, Hopewell, Myaamia, Osage and Shawnee peoples.
Grab noted that upcoming events include this year's Orange Shirt Day/National Day for Truth and Reconciliation observance on Sept. 30, which will feature a talk by Kimberly Murray, the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites. In November, Native American Heritage Month, the College will host a drummer and flutist while sponsoring a drum-making project.
"I was always drawn to their connection to the earth and how to live in harmony with nature," she said, also noting the role of drumming in Native cultures is a longstanding fascination for which she is now a practitioner as a member of a drum ensemble. "It's become part of my daily life."
Years ago, Grab started attending Native American learning circles and pow-wows, eagerly absorbing unique elements of indigenous cultures. Her passion became evident and a Shawnee family adopted her — not in the typical sense as in adopting a child, but in their viewing her as a "sister" within their culture.
She advises the Indigenous Student Association (ISA), a campus organization of students interested in Native cultures by virtue of their ancestry or simply because it's a "great, mysterious exotic thing." Grab noted. "Some have a bloodline to indigenous people but don't know what that means — I want to help them find out."
Grab wishes to educate the campus on all things Native American, from dispelling the stereotype that all indigenous persons look like the "TV image" of Native Americans to connections with present-day issues. Indeed, she partnered with Edmonton University last fall by presenting a program for Orange Shirt Day. It's a commemoration of the plight involving residential schools in Canada that took children from their homes — often thousands of miles away — to indoctrinate them into the prevailing religious and nationalistic dogma. Many children were abused. Pope Francis formally apologized for the Catholic Church's role in this tragedy while visiting Canada earlier this year.
"I'm interested in getting students involved with current issues and needs," Grab said, noting that COVID squelched a planned summer 2020 service trip by students to the Seneca Nation in upstate New York. She hopes such an opportunity will be available this coming summer.
Grab also has tied together her academic discipline in social work with issues facing many Native Americans. She is conducting research on The Fireside Circle Gathering, which is a combination of Native American and Alcoholics Anonymous traditions that provide support and encouragement for those on a journey of sobriety.
"I am exploring the different elements that participants of the Gathering find important to maintaining their sobriety and inspire them to drive up to several hundred miles to attend this event on the Cherokee Reservation."
Over Labor Day Weekend, Grab took students to the "Spirit of the People Gathering Pow Wow," an annual event featuring drumming, dancing, singing, vendors, and educational demonstration. They also visited the ancient Serpent Mound.
"We were involved in so many wonderful aspects of the gathering including getting to dance in the arena to help honor our veterans, which is very important to Native people; interacting with many intertribal folks who shared their stories, crafts, and history with us; the chance to try fry bread and other Native fare; a visit to the Serpent Mound Museum and a walk around the effigy earthwork itself," she said.
Interestingly, the group made a "special connection" with a WC alumnus who has been part of native traditions for much of his life. Richard "Barrett" Farmer was an agronomy major and worked on his family farm for many years. He recently purchased 5.5 acres and plans to build a teaching/healing center with sustainable agricultural practices which are inspired by traditional native teachings and WC's Quaker values.
Also, a project of ISA was for the College to officially issue a "Land Acknowledgement" stating that the location of its campus is on the traditional, unceded land of the Adena, Hopewell, Myaamia, Osage and Shawnee peoples.
Grab noted that upcoming events include this year's Orange Shirt Day/National Day for Truth and Reconciliation observance on Sept. 30, which will feature a talk by Kimberly Murray, the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites. In November, Native American Heritage Month, the College will host a drummer and flutist while sponsoring a drum-making project.