Dukepoo Organizes Native American Honor Society

By STEVE RYAN Sun Staff Reporter Northern Arizona University administrator Frank Dukepoo is organizing the first National Native American Honor Society meeting, and he says it's no accident that the event falls on the 500th anniversary of Columbus Day.		"I've never met a man who has done more to care and to share," Cannon said of Dukepoo. "We walked into a situation at the Holbrook Indian School and there were activities on the basketball court. Within a short time, you could hear a pin drop. He was talking to them about how you do something with your life; how you maneuver in two worlds."
"We'll be saying, 'Look, America - you saw how the first 500 years were. This is how we'll start the next 500 years - recognizing some of the greatest minds in the country.'" Dukepoo plans to stage the first national meeting of the new honor society Oct. 12, 1992 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Albuquerque may not be Philadelphia, but it is "the heart of Indian country," he said. Columbus Day, which most history books used to herald as the holiday commemorating discovery of America, basically marked Columbus' discovery of American Indians, Dukepoo said. "The truth is, Native Americans arc discovering themselves now," Dukepoo said. A little recognition can go a long way toward helping people discover their potential, Dukepoo said.	The Four Corners chapter of the new National American Honor Society inducted about 130 members at a meeting Friday at Northern Arizona University. All of the high school and college inductees have earned straight As during at least one semester in school, Dukepoo said. Local inductees include 64 NAU students; two Coconino High students, including Melanie Calvin and Ivana Begay; and six Flagstaff High students, including Barbie Martin, Lance Clark, Victor Toehe, Danny Bizot, Deanna Dugi and Raenalda Ray. Dukepoo's efforts to bring recognition to the kids is important, said Lee Cannon, press secretary for the White Mountain Apache Tribe and former vice president of W. Clement Stone PMA Communications Corp. "This is a red letter day for all Native Americans," said Stone, who spoke at the meeting. "Too frequently when the media does stories about Native Americans, it is about some drunk rolling in the gutter in Gallup. Frank is looking for achievers and he is putting the spotlight on them. I think history will treat him kindly." Dukepoo, a geneticist who is the first Hopi to have earned a doctoral degree, deserves a lot of credit for motivating youth, Cannon said.	Native Americans can face many obstacles to achievement, said the 48-year-old Dukepoo, who works as special assistant to NAU President Eugene Hughes and a faculty member. Challenges often include low self esteem, domestic problems, poor academic preparation and the need to make cultural and social adjustments, he said. "We're doing something to get them motivated to succeed and set high goals," Dukepoo said. "We see a need for this to help Indians prepare for the 21st century." "The first 500 years was a learning experience. You might look at it as a time filled with problems for both Indians and non-Indians getting to learn about each other. I can sum up the next 500 years by saying there are no problems - only challenges and opportunities."

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