Chief Red Cloud of the Lakota American Indian tribe may be long dead, but his legacy recently was brought back to life by Kentridge High School sophomore Blake Allen.<\/p>\n
Allen, 16, was one of 11 Kentridge students to make it to the state level of the annual National History Day contest this year, competing April 26 at University of Washington. The contest requires students to develop a historical research paper, documentary, display, original performance or a Web site based on a theme and present it to a panel of judges.<\/p>\n
Allen\u2019s historical display, entitled \u201cRed Cloud: Warrior and Statesman,\u201d earned him second-place at the state competition and a chance to compete at the national competition at the University of Maryland in June. This year\u2019s contest theme was \u201cConflict and Compromise,\u201d and Allen said Chief Red Cloud was the perfect subject.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I think about conflict and compromise, the Indian wars and the U.S. westward expansion really defined conflict and compromise,\u201d Allen said.<\/p>\n
The leader of the Lakota people, native to present-day South Dakota, was both a fierce warrior and a diplomat during his years as chief. Allen said Red Cloud was the only American Indian chief to ever win a war against the U.S., in a battle lasting from 1866-1868.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was willing to stand up for himself and for his people and say no to the United States,\u201d Allen said. \u201cAnd then he later made the wise decision to become a statesman and negotiate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Allen\u2019s project thesis argued that Red Cloud\u2019s initial defiance and later compromise played a large part in preserving the Lakota people and their land. They now have a reservation in South Dakota called Pine Ridge.<\/p>\n
Allen has been working on his project since September, he said, doing a wide variety of research, including personally interviewing the current Lakota leader, Chief Alfred Red Cloud. He also spent months designing his display in the shape of a large tepee.<\/p>\n
The hard work has paid off, though, he said. He first entered the National History Day contest last year, placing fifth in state and becoming the first Kentridge student to do so well.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt kind of set a spark in me, and I felt like if I came back again this year I could maybe make it to nationals,\u201d Allen said. \u201cAnd I did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kentridge history teacher Mike Papritz said he and several other teachers at the school make entering a project in the contest a class requirement, but Allen isn\u2019t taking history this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a kid who no longer has a history class this year,\u201d the teacher said. \u201cThis is something he just wanted to do in his spare time, so that\u2019s pretty neat.\u201d<\/p>\n
Papritz, who has been taking students to the contest for 10 years, said National History Day is important, and he has pushed to get more students involved in the contest over the years.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an excellent way to get some more rigor out of our students, and we\u2019re not telling them the information,\u201d the teacher said. \u201cThey\u2019re looking at primary source materials and writing their story of a piece of history.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said knowing history isn\u2019t essential to everyday life, but it\u2019s vital in the long run.<\/p>\n
\u201cHistory gives students a better understanding of life\u2019s larger values,\u201d Papritz said. \u201cWe could go through life without knowing much history, but we\u2019d be doomed to repeat it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Allen shares the same passion for history, and his main goal in entering the contest was to educate people.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are so many stereotypes,\u201d he said. \u201cBy being able to teach people the significance of people like Chief Red Cloud, I felt I could set the record straight.\u201d<\/p>\n
He wants to continue teaching people about history in the future by fulfilling his longtime desire to become an elementary-school teacher. He wants to teach sixth-grade students and give them an opportunity to enter a National History Day contest, too.<\/p>\n
Allen wasn\u2019t the only Kentridge student to place at the contest. Four students placed this year, the school\u2019s best-ever showing at the contest.<\/p>\n
Kentridge student Bishal Upadhyaya placed third at the contest for his Web site on the atomic bomb, also winning a special award for the best use of primary sources. Max Churaisin placed fifth for his paper on the Yalta Conference, and Christian Ie placed sixth for his documentary on Iwo Jima.<\/p>\n
More information about Washington State History Day can be found at www.washingtonhistory.org\/wshm\/education\/history-day\/index.htm. Information on National History Day can be found at www.nationalhistoryday.org\/about.htm.<\/p>\n
Contact Daniel Mooney at 253-437-6012 or dmooney@reporternewspapers.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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