Native American Games with Paul Ninham
Part of the supplemental events for the 2022 Fox Cities Reads!
For all ages, no registration required! Join us as we play Native American games with instructor Paul Ninham. Learn more about Indigenous culture through traditional games.
Paul implements culturally responsive physical activities as he teaches the games from a holistic perspective. He teaches the origin, history, and purpose of the games – as they have been taught to them. Through presentations, demonstrations, and game play, attendees are immersed in Indigenous culture as they participate in the six components of physical fitness: strength, speed, balance, power, coordination, and agility.
About the Instructor:
Paul is Wolf Clan and a proud member of the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin. He graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education in 1984; earned his Master of Tribal Administration and Governance from the University of Minnesota Duluth in May of 2018; and has enjoyed working in the Native Youth Development field ever since. Physical Education, Parks and Recreation Management and Native Traditional Games is his passion and has allowed him to live, work and play in Durango, CO, Santa Fe, NM, Albuquerque, NM, Tempe, AZ and at home on the Oneida Reservation. Paul also taught Physical Education and was the Recreation Director at the Indian Community School in Milwaukee, WI where he successfully implemented Native Traditional Games into both programs. In August of 2014 Paul completed his duties and responsibilities as an elected Tribal Councilman for the Oneida Nation, 12 years of serving his Community and Nation on the local, state, federal and international levels have been an invaluable experience for him.
This project is funded in part by a grant from Wisconsin Humanities, with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities and its A More Perfect Union initiative, and the State of Wisconsin, as well as the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. Our project, Fox Cities Reads 2022: Indigenous Voices, supports Wisconsin Humanities’ mission to strengthen the roots of community life through educational and cultural programs that inspire civic participation and individual imagination. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this project do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
