Thank You to the Osage Nation Education Department

The Osage Nation Education Department staff has gone out of their way to help me through college-related tasks for many years. I have not just gotten by I have been well taken care of by my people. This blessing has enabled me to concentrate and produce excellent grades and accomplish projects. These academic projects have contributed to change in our Osage and non-native community. 

The aforementioned staff includes Jennifer Holding, Cherise Lookout, Avis Ballard and Mary Wildcat. It was very unfortunate and startling to go from working with ladies who know the names of my children to strangers who do not even know my hair color. These ladies are invested in my education and family. They have been sensitive to my personality type and personal struggles. I am graduating in December with a BA in Corporate Communications because of support from my family, friends, classmates, professors, advisors, community and the Education Department.   

I am writing to thank you. I want to thank each of these ladies who have helped me persevere. 

As an intern, I have been exposed to new and inspirational concepts. In our community the Arts have not been readily available to our people. Dance and sports have always been important, but the Arts such as ballet have not been an opportunity for our children to learn about or experience. During this internship I have literally heard children say that they feel very important now that they have ballet. It is inspiring to see Osage children learning to make ballet their own. Ballet has also brought natives and non-natives together. It has been beautiful to see. 

It is my hope that more Osage students yearning to learn can serve as interns here for the Dance Maker Performing Arts Academy. I am 36 years old and I have learned a great deal about humanity during this internship. I am a communication major and I don’t have the words to describe how emotional my experience has been. All I can say is that I am thankful to the Osage Nation for giving so much support to this ballet school. The children are our greatest assets and they’ve been receiving the blessings. 

Dena Cosby-Rackliff

Pawhuska, Okla.