It is a Thursday morning and Christina Thomas' classroom at Reed High School is busy willowing pine nuts.
"After the cones are collected and the seeds are taken out...you crack the shells slightly and gently bounce them in loosely woven baskets," she tells the class. And then she lets them try it themselves.
They also practice Paiute phrases, songs and dances.
"I just wanted to learn more about the culture and the language," says Louis Henry, who's taking the class.
"I'm not Pauite, I'm a quarter Dakota-Sioux," says Holly Miley. "But I really wanted to learn more about how the Native Americans here lived. Plus, learning the language is great!"
"It is so important to speak this language," Thomas says. "There is so much history that isn't written down because it is an aural language. But kids can take this language instead of Spanish to fill their language requirements. And if we don't push this, this language and the culture will die."
Thomas grew up on the Paiute Reservation in Wadsworth. She says back then, being form the reservation was difficult. But now she embraces the culture. In fact, because of all she does to keep it alive, she has been nominated as the United States' first contestant in the Miss Humanity International contact in Barbados in mid-October.
"I'm so excited to be representing the United States. And they chose an indigenous person so I will be representing all of Indian Country!"
She still needs help financing that trip. You can contact her at Nativesongbird@clearwire.net. You can call her at (775) 240-3260.
You can check out the competition and even vote for her for the People's Choice Award at www.Misshumanityinternational.com
Written by Erin Breen
