I Like Our Chances

By Patrick White

I was recently invited to talk with 90 8th graders from DuBois Middle School about the Town's initiatives with the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans.

What a great group of kids on the cusp of their teenage years. I showed them the friendship blanket presented to the Town. We discussed our new Wa'thatinik signs and how this was the word for the Berkshires for thousands of years in what was then the local language. We talked about the original Stockbridge Select Board and how it included Mohican residents, the same board I now sit on. I was asked what teenagers are like who live on the reservation in Wisconsin. To answer that I dialed in our Tribal Liaison, Sherry White, who replied they are pretty much the same as teenagers everywhere.

Depending upon one's perspective, the emotions I've seen in adults these last ten days range from jubilant to terrified. Perhaps it's a good time to focus energy on local volunteerism and government. For me personally, I have no idea about the long-term prospects for the Republic. Having had the honor of spending a morning with 90 middle school students, all I know is I like our chances.

Select Board member Patrick White discussing Town initiatives with 8th grade students at DuBois Middle School.