International Cultural Exchange

International Cultural Exchange Group Forges Path to Morocco
by Dr. Dan McNeil

Morocco, in North Africa, was the destination April 11 – 15, 2005 for three NAS members, two students, and three American Indian Leaders and artists in a unique international exchange. The Native American International Cultural Exchange (NAICE) was created to serve as an educational vehicle to promote peace and understanding through "First Peoples" cultures. Working with colleagues and students from Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (AUI), Morocco, a WVU faculty/student team developed a program of scholarly talks, artistic demonstrations, and inter-cultural dialogues that were presented at AUI over the course of five days.

Situated in Ifrane, AUI is located in a mountainous region not unlike many parts of West Virginia. Based on a North American model of teaching, and with the language of instruction being English, AUI is an ideal partner for WVU in the NAICE initiative.

The Berber people, or Amizagh as some prefer to be known, are the Native peoples of Morocco. The NAICE team observed many cultural similarities with American Indians, including patterns of weaving and drumming, as well as social issues such as retention of language.

Led by former NAS Coordinator Ellesa Clay High, the NAICE contingent consisted of Eberly Professor of Public Service and Professor of Psychology, Dan McNeil; Hala Nassar, former Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture; Chief Jake Swamp of the Mowhawk Nation, and Founder of the Peace Tree Society, as elder-in-residence; Chief Robert Talltree and Terri Lynn Talltree of the Saginaw Chippewa Nation, as artists-in-residence.

This initiative grew out of an existing student exchange program between WVU and AUI. In fact, one of the students previously involved in this exchange, Jacque Brown, who is a WVU Regents BA student, served a critical role in helping to formulate plans for the NAICE trip. An “Indians Rock” DJ show was created, produced, and conducted by Jacque Brown, once for undergraduate and graduate students at AUI and again at the Ifrane School, which is a K – 12 school affiliated with AUI. Local high school student Clay Johnson, the son of Dr. High, also was a part of the NAICE team and provided storytelling and demonstrations of Native American stickball games.

One of the highlights of the visit was a joint presentation by Chief Swamp and the Imam of the Islamic Mosque at AUI, in which spirituality was discussed from Mohawk and other Native American perspectives, and Islamic perspectives. Chief Swamp opened his talk with a Mohawk prayer, and then spoke in English, which was then translated into Arabic. The Imam spoke on Islamic spirituality in Arabic, with translation into English. Chief Robert Talltree and Terri Lynn Talltree made a number of musical performances across various AUI campus activities, including one with the AUI Japanese club and meeting with the Japanese ambassador to Morocco.

While at AUI, the NAICE team was received with warm welcomes, and honoring gifts were exchanged on both sides. NAICE faculty provided lectures at AUI, including a talk on Native American Oral Traditions and Stories by Dr. High, a presentation on Islamic Art and Architecture by Dr. Hala Nassar, and a lecture by Professor Dan McNeil on Masks of American Indian Tribes: Psychological Function and Meaning, among other scholarly presentations by this group of faculty.

Significant funding for the NAICE exchange was provided by the WVU Office of International Programs (OIP), as well as the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, Native American Studies, and the WVU Faculty Development Program. Additional funding was provided by various WVU units and local organizations, as well as Native-owned and other businesses.

Plans are underway to continue this initial NAICE exchange, to expand the relationship between WVU and AUI. External funds are being sought to fund future artistic and scholarly exchanges between WVU and AUI, and to allow the planting of a Tree of Peace at AUI, along with the development of Peace Gardens, both at AUI and WVU.