The ideas laid out in the pages of Helping Kids Succeed – Alaskan Style were chosen from over 4,000 examples offered by people from 114 communities throughout Alaska. They came from workshops, retreats and interviews from regions all across the state. We intentionally asked for and incorporated examples from Alaska Native communities. Additionally, we sought out the wisdom of Elders and rural village residents to better understand how each asset might be defined, traditionally. As a result, 10 of the assets were slightly modified, from the Search Institute definition.
Asset #5. Caring school climate: School provides a caring, encouraging environment.
Traditional Ways definition: “School provides a caring, encouraging environment that respects the community’s culture.”
Asset Category: Support
Asset #6. Parent involvement in school: Parents are actively involved in helping child succeed in school.
Traditional Ways definition: “Parents and community members are actively involved in helping child succeed in school.”
Asset Category: Support
Asset #11. Family boundaries: Family has clear rules and consequences and monitors youth’s whereabouts.
Traditional Ways definition: “Family has clear rules, roles, and consequences, and monitors youth’s whereabouts.”
Asset Category: Boundaries and Expectations
Asset #13. Neighborhood boundaries: Neighbors take responsibility for monitoring youth’s whereabouts.
Traditional Ways definition: “Community shares the responsibility for the safety and well-being of the children.”
Asset Category: Boundaries and Expectations
Asset #16. High expectations: Parents and teachers encourage youth to do well.
Traditional Ways definition: “Parents, community members and teachers encourage youth to do well.”
Asset Category: Boundaries and Expectations
Asset #20. Time at home: Youth is out with friends “with nothing special to do” two or fewer nights per week.
Traditional Ways definition: “Child chooses to spend quality time at home.”
Asset Category: Constructive Use of Time
Asset #27. Equality and social justice: Youth places high value on promoting equality and reducing hunger and poverty.
Traditional Ways definition: “Youth respects self and others; places high value on sharing and cooperation.”
Asset Category: Positive Values
Asset #28. Integrity: Youth acts on convictions and stands up for beliefs.
Traditional Ways definition: “Youth stands firm and acts on his or her beliefs, as well as respects others beliefs.”
Asset Category: Positive Values
Asset #34. Cultural competence: Youth knows and is comfortable with people of different cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds.
Traditional Ways definition: “Youth has knowledge of own and other cultures, and feels comfortable with people from other backgrounds.”
Asset Category: Social Skills
Asset #38. Self-esteem: Youth reports having high self-esteem.
Traditional Ways definition: “Youth feels a connection to family and culture and has knowledge and pride of customs and traditional ways.”
Asset Category: Positive Identity
Traditional Ways to Build Assets
As we looked at the asset building ideas we saw that many of them fit equally well for urban and rural areas, Native and non-Native alike. As a result, they are grouped together for parents and extended family, schools, faith communities, and other community members, regardless of where the idea came from. However, some of the ideas, that came from the Elders and rural Native communities, seemed to fit most meaningfully under a grouping called “Traditional Ways”. Many of these ideas came from stories told by Elders and other residents of rural villages in cultural retreats.
Examples of Traditional Way ideas:
Asset #5. Caring school climate:
Traditional Ways definition: “School provides a caring, encouraging environment that respects the community’s culture.”
Examples of Traditional Ways
• Invite Elders or local residents into school to teach the cultural history.
• Have elders perform traditional ceremonies in the school
Asset # 6. Community Values Youth
Definition: Youth believes that community adults value young people.
Examples of Traditional Ways
• Celebrate each youth’s first successful hunt.
• Teach children traditional songs and dance.
Asset #39. Sense of Purpose
Definition: Youth reports that my life has a purpose
Example of Traditional Ways
• The naming ceremony. Caring on the names and the best traits of the person who died. This gives the child who has received the name a sense of identity because life goes on and the name is carried on.