United Tribes Technical College opens new wellness center

BISMARCK, N.D. ñ The late Lewis Goodhouse once sold his cattle so that another person could receive an education.

Goodhouse, Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe and one of the original signers of the charter that started the United Tribes Education Technical Center, now has his name not just on a charter, but on a building.

The newest addition to the United Tribes Technical College campus, as it is now known, is a wellness center designed to improve the physical and spiritual well-being of the some 1,100 students.

ìI am glad he is being honored. His name means a comfortable good house, or tipi waste,î said Kenny Yankton, Goodhouseís nephew.

Goodhouseís Lakota name is Wiyaka Maza, Iron Feather. He was chairman of the Devils Lake Sioux Tribe, as it was known at the time, from 1957 to 1972. He died in 1982.

He was credited with protecting the integrity and sovereignty of the tribe by leading the charge to reject Public Law 280 that would have given jurisdiction over to the state of North Dakota.

ìAs I recall, he did that in a respectful and quiet way. He preserved the tribal interests,î said UTTC President David Gipp. ìHe served at a time when tribes had little or no power of funding to help advance their development.î

During Goodhouseís leadership the tribal land base grew, and he guided his community through the development of infrastructure and tribal programs.

ìThis wellness center is for you to take control of your personal wellness, physical and spiritual, and it is aptly named,î said Dennis Renville, UTTC wellness director.

The Lewis Goodhouse Wellness Center includes fitness and weight rooms, conference rooms, a sauna and Jacuzzi room, and a spiritual room. The circular spiritual room lets in the sun from above and, as UTTC staff member Russell Gillette said, it allows prayers from all different methods of praying to rise.

ìThis is a room for traditional and contemporary practices of religious and healing ceremonies from different tribes. There is not one religion or spiritual belief,î Gillette said.

UTTC is made up of students from many different tribes. They bring their families to the campus and their children attend school there also. Many young students bring dysfunctions with them as well, and the wellness center is designed to break any bad habits and restore health to a nation.

American Indian health was delivered a blow with the introduction of smallpox to the region by the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804.

ìSmall pox was just one of the many threats to Native health,î said U.S. Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D.

ìThis college has an economic impact on the community and all of it against a challenge. The budget is zeroed out, yet it gets federal funding. The issue is addressed because of the continuity Dr. Gipp provides,î Pomeroy said.

UTTC contributed $47 million to the economy of the Bismarck area in 2004, according to a recent study.

Each year the Bush administration excludes the UTTC from its budget requests. Congressional leaders from North and South Dakota arrange to keep the funding in the final budgets.

The budget for the new wellness center is $2.7 million. The funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Mainstream and holistic wellness practices will be offered by a staff member in the areas of student health, counseling, chemical health and dormitory wellness, and for the collegeís athletic and fitness programs.

BISMARCK, N.D. ñ The late Lewis Goodhouse once sold his cattle so that another person could receive an education.Goodhouse, Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe and one of the original signers of the charter that started the United Tribes Education Technical Center, now has his name not just on a charter, but on a building.The newest addition to the United Tribes Technical College campus, as it is now known, is a wellness center designed to improve the physical and spiritual well-being of the some 1,100 students.ìI am glad he is being honored. His name means a comfortable good house, or tipi waste,î said Kenny Yankton, Goodhouseís nephew.Goodhouseís Lakota name is Wiyaka Maza, Iron Feather. He was chairman of the Devils Lake Sioux Tribe, as it was known at the time, from 1957 to 1972. He died in 1982.He was credited with protecting the integrity and sovereignty of the tribe by leading the charge to reject Public Law 280 that would have given jurisdiction over to the state of North Dakota.ìAs I recall, he did that in a respectful and quiet way. He preserved the tribal interests,î said UTTC President David Gipp. ìHe served at a time when tribes had little or no power of funding to help advance their development.îDuring Goodhouseís leadership the tribal land base grew, and he guided his community through the development of infrastructure and tribal programs.ìThis wellness center is for you to take control of your personal wellness, physical and spiritual, and it is aptly named,î said Dennis Renville, UTTC wellness director.The Lewis Goodhouse Wellness Center includes fitness and weight rooms, conference rooms, a sauna and Jacuzzi room, and a spiritual room. The circular spiritual room lets in the sun from above and, as UTTC staff member Russell Gillette said, it allows prayers from all different methods of praying to rise.ìThis is a room for traditional and contemporary practices of religious and healing ceremonies from different tribes. There is not one religion or spiritual belief,î Gillette said.UTTC is made up of students from many different tribes. They bring their families to the campus and their children attend school there also. Many young students bring dysfunctions with them as well, and the wellness center is designed to break any bad habits and restore health to a nation.American Indian health was delivered a blow with the introduction of smallpox to the region by the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804. ìSmall pox was just one of the many threats to Native health,î said U.S. Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D.ìThis college has an economic impact on the community and all of it against a challenge. The budget is zeroed out, yet it gets federal funding. The issue is addressed because of the continuity Dr. Gipp provides,î Pomeroy said.UTTC contributed $47 million to the economy of the Bismarck area in 2004, according to a recent study.Each year the Bush administration excludes the UTTC from its budget requests. Congressional leaders from North and South Dakota arrange to keep the funding in the final budgets.The budget for the new wellness center is $2.7 million. The funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.Mainstream and holistic wellness practices will be offered by a staff member in the areas of student health, counseling, chemical health and dormitory wellness, and for the collegeís athletic and fitness programs.