Local historian connects past with our future

The sixth-grade Montana history classes at Havre Middle School got a crash course in archaeology from former history teacher Jima Magera.

From Monday to Wednesday, Magera had been bringing in his own personal collection of Native American artifacts and sharing them with the students of HMS.

Magera taught for 45 years and 31 of those years were in Havre, he said. He started in Box Elder and taught there for a few years. It took Magera some time before he became a history teacher for the Havre school district. He said he started of as a physical education teacher and basketball coach first as a way to get a job in the school.

"The coaching got me into the schools, but the teaching kept me there," he said.

Once a history teacher position opened up, Magera filled the role. Magera eventually retired from teaching, but still missed something about being a teacher.

"When I retired, I missed the kids," he said.

Now he is the Indian education consultant for Havre Public Schools and he said he is able to put his knowledge to use for the school. He brings in resources for teachers to use and answers any questions faculty may have regarding Native American history or culture.

This is the third year that Magera has come to the Havre schools and presented his artifacts to students.

The first two days were background information on the cultures of Native Americans and the artifacts themselves. Wednesday, it was the students' turn to step into the role of archaeologist.

Magera had three bins of artifacts he brought in. Some are things he collected from his own excavations and others were given to him from other Native Americans and some are replicas.

Some of the artifacts were arrowheads, beads, musket balls, an axe/peace pipe and a few rocks that had been fashioned into tools or weapons. Despite all the artifacts Magera said he doesn't have a favorite.

"Each one of them is special because of the people who gave them to me," he said. "What they represent, those types of things. This war club is one of the nicer ones."

Magera began each class the same: Some light repartee with the students and the numbers, 48 degrees, 33 minutes north 109 degrees 41 minutes west. Also known as, Havre, Montana.

Next, students were given a worksheet filled with general questions an archaeologist would ask. Students were asked to identify what materials were used to make the artifact, describe how it looks and feels, uses of the artifact, what the artifact said about the technology at the time and what the artifact says about the life and times people lived in.

On another table, rulers and scales were available to weigh the artifacts as well and the teacher, Kira Hansard was standing by ready to assist.

"Today, Mr. Magera is the expert," Hansard said to the class before they got started. "Any questions you have about your artifact, go up and ask Mr. Magera."

"Now for a four-letter word teenagers hate," Magera said. "Work."

In between groups of students coming up to ask questions on their artifacts, Magera talked about what he liked about being a teacher.

"I love working with students," he said. "I like to see that light come on."

After saying to a student that drawing musket balls from the top, bottom and side views was an easy task, Magera said why he thought events such as this were important for kids.

"I think we should study all cultures," Magera said. "We're not going to be able to be empathetic with people if we don't understand where they're coming from."

Hansard said she also believes there is a benefit to her sixth graders being able to be amateur archaeologists for the day.

"They love it. I mean nothing beats hands on learning right," Hansard said. "We can read about artifacts all day long, but until they actually get to touch them, feel them and analyze them, it's not really tangible to them."

Magera said he will continue to bring in artifacts whenever possible and help educate faculty and students on Native American culture. He may be retired, but his motivation is clear.

"I love working with kids. Children are very important to me," Magera said.

Magera's impact isn't just felt in the students present this week for his exhibit, but in his former students who are now teaching, like Hansard.

"I love that he comes in," Hansard said. "He's the expert. He's just been collecting these things and he just has such a passion for it. Every time he comes in I'm learning new things and I tell my kids that, 'I learn new things all the time and I'm excited about it'. So getting him to come in, the abstract things he knows about these artifacts and the time period and where he got them and the stories behind them. I think that's my favorite part."