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PRESCOTT COLLEGE STUDENT TO PERFORM
FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON
Kaylee Handshy, a Prescott College student, will perform for President Bill
Clinton on Monday during his visit to Shiprock, New Mexico to learn more
about Native American issues.
Handshy, who is studying counseling and Native American studies in the Prescott
College Adult Degree Program in Arizona, is part of a seven-member Navajo "sing
team," who will perform for the President during the opening ceremony
of his visit. Handshy is of Cherokee and Creek ancestry. The group is performing
with the theme of protecting children and passing on cultural heritage.
 After the sing team performs a song titled "Shanaashal," which
means living in the direction from east to west and north to south, Handshy
will give a speech about protecting the Native American cultural way of life
and guiding Native American youth.
After reading a poem, Handshy will introduce the group's second song, "Ochil," which
means teaching children through the generations.
"The song is about the creator and ancestor spirits being taken into
the elders and parents and then passing it on through the children by way
of generational spirits," said Handshy.
Handsy, along with her nine-year-old daughter, will perform the emotions
of the song through sign language. Having her daughter on stage symbolizes
to the President the passing on of her messages from the elders and holy
ones to her daughter, she said.
"Through these songs we are showing President Clinton the importance
of our Native American youth," said Handshy. "We are presenting
him with our way of life. He is another person we live with on this Earth
and we want to explain to him the way of life of the many Native American
people he represents."
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