|
Canku Ota |
|
(Many Paths) |
||
An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America |
||
March 8, 2003 - Issue 82 |
||
|
||
Teacher Certification
Program Will Strengthen Tribal Cultural |
||
by Washington State University
|
||
PULLMAN, Wash. -- Creation of a pilot program to certify state of Washington tribal language and culture teachers will strengthen the cultural heritage of tribes and add to the cultural resources of the state, said a Washington State University official. "The
Washington State Board of Education's decision last month represents a
significant turning point for reversing historical educational practices
and policies that severely and negatively impacted Native peoples, The
First Peoples' Language Committee of Washington State -- a grassroots
group of tribal elders, language educators, linguists and university representatives
-- proposed the new program, indicated Education Week, a On Jan. 17, during a meeting in Olympia, the board approved a three-year pilot program. In the program, each of the state's 28 federally-recognized tribes may appoint and certify Native language teachers who meet the tribe's criteria and submit their name with appropriate documentation to the State Board of Education. The state superintendent of public instruction will issue each teacher certified by a tribal government a Washington State First Peoples' Language/Culture Certificate. "No one in Washington state suggests that the new certification program in itself will ensure the recovery of tribal languages," the newspaper said. Larry Davis, the board's executive director, said the program "opens the door. It's up to the tribes to see if they can work out an arrangement with local school districts." While some district efforts may be starting new, there are some public schools on reservations in Washington state already have classes in tribal languages. Prior to the board's action, Aston attended an Olympia hearing, where tribal leaders said preserving Native languages and culture preserves a unique perspective and worldview that can't be expressed in English. The board received letters supporting the program's creation. They included those from WSU administrators Robert Bates, provost; Barbara Couture, College of Liberal Arts dean, and Judy Mitchell, College of Education dean. Over the years, WSU has been supportive of Native American language and culture preservation. Support includes WSU:
Aston
said, "I am pleased Washington State University has supported and
advocated for the approval of this pilot project and we look forward to
continuing to seek ways to be responsive to the needs of Native peoples
and
|
|
||
|
||
Canku Ota is a free Newsletter celebrating Native America, its traditions and accomplishments . We do not provide subscriber or visitor names to anyone. Some articles presented in Canku Ota may contain copyright material. We have received appropriate permissions for republishing any articles. Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monetary gain to those who have expressed an interest. This is in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107. | ||
Canku Ota is a copyright © 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 of Vicki Lockard and Paul Barry. |
||
The "Canku Ota - A Newsletter Celebrating Native America" web site and its design is the |
||
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 of Paul C. Barry. |
||
All Rights Reserved. |