Program hels students grow

Resslin' Around by Casey Ressler

Students from Wasilla High School recently went to Savoonga as part of the Rose Rural Urban Exchange. The program is a great one, because it aims to conquer the rural/urban divide that exists in Alaska.

Perhaps no other government in the world represents as diverse an area as Alaska. Those who have never been to the Bush before don't realize just how different it is from communities on the road system. The Savoonga students, for example, talked about how odd it was to see so many vehicles on the road. There are &#8220about three trucks” in the village of 800 - everyone uses snowmachines or four-wheelers to get around.

Transportation is the least of the differences, however. Of the five students Savoonga sent to Wasilla, four had been on whale hunts already, and all spoke Siberian Yupik.

Culturally, there couldn't be a bigger difference between rural and urban Alaska. The Wasilla and Savoonga students talked about those differences, and how much they appreciated the exposure to the arts and customs of their exchange counterparts. While things like the Internet seem to bridge some gaps, nothing can be substituted for real-world experiences.

The Rose Rural Urban Exchange helps dispel stereotypes on both ends of the cultural spectrum, which is important. If stereotypes and not facts are used to draw conclusions, that divide will never be conquered, it will only be furthered.

The program helps students get a better understanding for cultures that are perhaps outside of the student's comfort zone, and that's a good thing.

It's important for students to see those cultural differences up close and personal, because it will help them get a better understanding of what other youth in Alaska face as they mature to adulthood, when they will be making decisions that affect us all.

As village and Native culture threatens to slowly die away in urban Alaska, programs like the Rose Rural Urban Exchange keep it alive and well.

Students are the next generation of Alaskans, and by showing them how diverse the state really is, we ensure that the history of all Alaska will be preserved for years to come.

Casey Ressler (valleylife@frontiersman.com) is the Valley Life editor.