The Jump Start school supplies and backpack night is a great success. Each year this is a great challenge to make happen. Each year the American Indian community looks forward to the distribution of the 100 backpacks and needed school supplies. Everyone looked forward to the sociability of the evening with anticipation.

What a great turn out is this September 3, 2008 event. Funded in large part by the Southern California American Indian Resource Center, Inc. (SCAIR) and the San Diego Indian Center the event was put over the top by a substantial contribution from the TONKAWA elders club and a personal donation by Robin Wilson and friend from UCSD. We thank all of them for this financial support to our Indian youth and students. We also thank the AIH clinic for the bike helmets and those members of the American Indian community and the AIWA veterans' members who came early and helped to set up the room for the evening. Aho.

The pot luck meal was very tasty and welcome: meat and cheesy enchiladas, rice, beans, potatoes and macaroni salad, fried chicken, tossed salad, punch, coffee, cookies, donuts, and a wonderful birthday chocolate cake. We thank the added potluck contributions of the AIWA veterans group that attended and they held their monthly meeting in conjunction with the back to school night.

Appropriate to the specific interests of the students of the Soaring Eagle classes is an announcement by Sheila Dasher, 619-947-2225, of the San Diego Native Youth Conference on Sunday, September 28, 08 at the Handelry Hotel. Most of the student committee is also Soaring Eagles Dance class participants and they are taking wing. Soon they will be soaring high and far. We all take pride in their accomplishments. After all they are our future and they will carry on our Indian culture. Our culture, custom and tradition are what define us as Indian people.

The parents voted to keep the Wednesday night for the Soaring Eagles Dance Class. The program has been refunded from September 10, to November 19, 2008 by the Southern California American Indian Resource Center, Inc. (SCAIR) and the San Diego Indian Center.

Until then ride those bikes safely and we will look for you all on Wednesday night 6 to 8:30 pm from September 10, to November 19, 2008 at the Soaring Eagles Dance Class, Normal Heights Community Center, 4649 Hawley Blvd. San Diego, CA.