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Poarch Creeks Address Indian Education Before U.S. Dept. Of Education
May 15, 2013
The U.S. Department of Education held a Tribal Consultation and Listening Session this week leading up to the United South and Eastern Tribes semi-annual meeting in Niagara Falls, NY.
Support for native language, cultural activities, and tribal history were the opening themes for educators who are taking the opportunity to speak during the consultation.
“In our schools we allow Spanish and other foreign languages to be taught and count as credit for foreign languages. But we need to show more effort to support the language that is spoken by our tribes,”said Poarch Band of Creek Indians Vice-Chair Stephanie Bryan. “Statistics show that when we have cultural activities, teach the language, and our history the dropout rate declines. Speaking of bricks and mortar, new buildings are nice things to have. But, it’s not what the building looks like; it’s what’s in the building.”
“The concept here is that our tribes need help with teaching the Native languages and cultural activity. It is shown that students show great signs of improvement when they learn about their culture, history, and know their language and improve their self esteem,” said Seneca Nation of Indians Director of Education for the Allegany Territory Chanda Grey.
Poarch Band of Creek Indian’s Megan Young said, “States don’t realize that American Indians make up only one percent of the United States population. In that perspective we are national treasure. States don’t see any value in bolstering our values and our educational systems. I want to propose an initiative to educate our state and state educators. We have to educate those who are educating our Indian students.”
Office of Indian Education Director Joyce Silverthorne said the Indian Education budget would not suffer from the federal sequestration for the current year (2013). However, if there are no changes to the current legislation regarding federal sequestration, Silverthorne says there will be a five percent reduction to the Indian Education 2014 budget.
Comments
11 Responses to “Poarch Creeks Address Indian Education Before U.S. Dept. Of Education”
I am really surprised at some of the comments on here. It is nothing but positive to offer to teach the native language. Even if one is not a Native American it could still be a positive thing. I think it should be offered to all parties interested in learning. I am a Poarch Creek decedent and still have family on the Reservation and fully support this. It’s a shame to see negative comments on here when it comes to preservation of history and increasing ones knowledge.
i think they should be able to offer a class in all our local schools as an elective course. i think it would be nice it would go a long ways to help keep their language alive. like it or not they are a big part of our local history and history should never be allowed to die
Cultural classes and native language was taught in my school by representatives from Poarch, but only to Native American students. There is absolutely NOTHING that we are allowed to teach ONLY white students.
Mr smith and ummm and uh huh I could not agree with you more. I would think they would want their own school out there on their own land and then they might stop crossing the state line to go to school. Because honestly if our school is preferred they can buy a home and pay all the tax’s and such . And if the BOE allows it then every other languages should be … and as far as what happened years ago stop using it as an excuse to get what you want. African Americans where treated unimaginable (waldo) The creek Indians should be thankful for what they have and by all means prosper and grow but remember humility and grace .
How about a “National Language” first.
If you do the research English is not specified by law as the official language of the United States. Perhaps we should define our national language and then encourage the schools to promote fluency in that language prior to placating all the special interest groups.
Culture is taught in the family and community not in school, that is why it takes a village!
it is this readers opinion that many have forgotten this.
Why don’t the Indians build their own school? They building everything else.
Hhhhmmmm…. Before I tried forcing the creek language in public schools why not give it a trial run.. Offer voluntary classes on the weekend and how much interest is showed by the kids that say they are so proud of there heritage and want to learn the creek language!! I wonder how much participation you would have?
They can teach their ” indian students” whatever they want to but in a public school setting it should only be a option. My child is not poarch creek indian but does have some cherokee heritage and I would not want her to be taught poarch’s native language. I think that they are getting their way alittle to much here lately.
Who is more American than the Native Indians , where is the ACLU on this one.
No one ever talks about the tribes that were eradicated by the influx of foreigner’s.
People came and just took their land, their lives and their culture. If anyone in this nation ever suffered from racial discrimnation it was and is the American Indian.
“Native Americans should be allowed to teach their culture, history and religion without interference from Big Brother.”
ALL groups should be able to. It’s part of the history of this country, whether anyone agrees with it or not!
Native Americans should be allowed to teach their culture, history and religion without interference from Big Brother.