TRADITSIONAL PARTING

FOR 80 YEARS, 4-H MEMBERS AT SUMMER CAMP IN WEST VIRGINIA HAVE SPLIT OFF INTO TRIBES AND FOLLOWED RITUALS PATTERNED AFTER AMERICAN INDIAN CUSTOMS, FROM COPYING RAIN DANCES TO WEARING HEAD-DRESSES TO CREATING SELF-STYLED TRIBAL YELLS.

NOW THE PRACTISE, A LARGE PART OF THE SUMMER CAMPS THEMSELVES IS BEING ELIMINATED DUE TO A FORMAL COMPLAINT THAT IT IS OFFENSIVE TO AMERICAN INDIANS.

"AS DIFFICULT AND EMOTIONAL AS THIS ISSUE IS FOR MANY PEOPLE, WE BELIEVE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO," SAID LARRY COTE DIRECTOR OF THE WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERVICE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 4-H IN WEST VIRGINIA.

"WE HAD NO IDEA THAT OUR PROGRAM WAS AS HURTFUL TO NATIVE AMERICANS AS IT WAS," COTE SAID FRIDAY.

"IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T TEACH CHILDREN PRACTIICES THAT IN ANY WAY DEMEAN A RACE, PERPETUATE STEREOTYPES OR TRIVIALIZE SACRED CUSTOMS."

WEST VIRGINIA HAS MORE THAN 10,000 FULL OR MIXED-BLOOD AMERICAN INDIANS; ACCORDING TO THE 2000 CENSUS.

THE CHANGE ALSO WAS RECOMMENDED BY A GROUP OF NATIONAL 4-H LEADERS WHO RECENTLY REVIEWED WEST VIRGINIA'S PROGRAM COTE SAID.

AT LEAST THREE OTHER STATES; DELAWARE, MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA HAVE SIMILAR 4-H CAMPS, COTE SAID.

REPRESENTATIVES OF THOSE STATE'S EXTENSION AGENCIES DIDN'T RETURN CALLS FOR COMMENT FRIDAY OR YESTERDAY.

IN WEST VIRGINIA, A STATEWIDE GROUP OF EXTENSION AGENTS, VOLUNTEER 4-H LEADERS AND MEMBERS IS NOW CONSIDERING HOW TO RESTRUCTURE THIS YEARS SUMMER CAMPING SEASON, WHICH BEGINS IN JUNE.

"THE CHANGE IS REALLY GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE CAMPERS AND LEADERS THINK WE DO IT OUT OF RESPECT.

AT NO POINT DO WE THINK WE ARE MAKING FUN," SAID KATE BURBANK, AN EXTENSION AGENT FOR 32 YEARS IN ROANE COUNTY.

FUNDING FOR 4-H IS PROVIDED THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S CO-OPERATIVE; STATE RESEARCH EDUCATION AND EXTENSION SERVICE, THE STATE EXTENSION SERVICE AND COUNTY COMMISSIONS.

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