Oki. We have been busy preparing for the new school year. Presenting in education conferences, PIR days and helping facilitate collaborative gatherings at the local level. This will continue with Montana’s Tribal Nations into the fall. Our focus on relationships with those we serve bonds our work together for youth. One of our Elder Culture Wisdom Council (ECWC) members once said, “If you are not getting out of bed every day to work for our youth and their betterment then you should lay back down.” As we conduct consultations, we work to maintain youth as the center.
Dr. Earl Barlow, the first Indian Education Director for the state of Montana, spoke about Education and specifically Indian Education as creating a path to "equip the child to make decisions with their own best interest." We work to create appropriate opportunities for connection with the relevant resources and lifeways located in a student’s community.
We are preparing for our September ECWC gathering to shape our strategy on the internal OPI department access and guidance from them. We successfully received a grant to do this and will be working with various departments in OPI over the next fiscal year. The goal is to develop strategies and guidance from the ECWC as it pertains to education and self-identity as they are rarely consulted on their knowledge. Seeking solutions and options to the continual issues seen in education, trauma, and the mental health of our youth and how belief in self and the coaching of values and integrity can lead them to success in school and life.
September will also highlight the American Indian Heritage festivities and the final Class 7 Language conference held here in Helena. It is an exciting time and please reach out to us if you have questions or want to share ideas. Kaitama'tsin (See you when I see you).
Language and Culture
Amba wašte! This month we wanted to offer this space for a few statements regarding the use of Native American Languages in our places of learning from our advisors at MACIE:
Native American Language MACIE Introduction Letter:
As each tribal nation within Montana is working to protect and revitalize its own unique Indigenous language, it is our goal to proactively inform and educate those school district Boards of Trustees, Administrators, teachers and staff who serve Native American students, families and communities within the state about the legal language protections that exist for the Native American languages.
Protections for the usage of Native American Languages in Schools (Rosette Law):
At the intersection between Indian Law and School law many educators and school leaders find themselves uninformed and unprepared; whether this be in regards to the exercise of tribal sovereignty, culture, history, spirituality, regalia and graduations or other related issues. We see it best to address these issues in a preventative manner in order to mitigate any and all unwanted and unnecessary situations from happening, and from continuing to happen, in order to better prepare educators and school leaders.
The preservation of the Native American language generation to generation is critical to preserving the Native American culture and identity and cannot be underscored. However, too often tribes or their citizens find the use of their native language being prohibited or discriminated against in public schools. But the use of Native American languages on school grounds is protected speech under the United States Constitution, United States common law, and also under Federal and Montana-specific statutes.
Our team will be looking to develop sharable learning opportunities that can highlight these topics.
One suggestion for thinking about the prevalence of Native American Languages can be simply compiling a list with the names of places (States-Cities-Landmarks) that utilize indigenous languages. Indigenous languages are but a few of the many sources that American English has borrowed from and continue to make additions.
As our young ones return to our places of learning, we encourage you to help celebrate our Native American languages with integrity, compassion and respect!
Pinamaya!
The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.
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