National Association for BilingualEducation
Special Interest Group
Indigenous Bilingual Education

Conducting: Sharon Peregoy
Invocation: Kenneth Deputee
Introductions. Thomas Brown, Janie Valadez., Arlene Wheeler, Sharon Ballew, Judy Black, Arlene Wheeler, Lydia Whirlwind Soldier, Larry Zane, Arlene Grant, Terry Brocky, Ed Moore, Joyce Silverthorne,Dick LittleBear, Pat Tom, John Rehner, Manny Mocassin, Norma Wadsworth, Kenneth Deputee, Sharon Peregoy, Leon Rattler, Roy Howard, June Lockard.
1. History. History of the SIG since 1987. Roy Howard, Kenneth Deputee, Leon Rattler. Today's Institute included 6 presentations by 17 presenters from 8:30 - 5:00 and each session was filled with 40 to 60 in each session.
2. We need to get our members to submit the Call for Papers by25 May 01.
3. We need our members to run for NABE Board.
4. The opening ceremonies this year featured Native American issues,visibility. We need more tribes to be visible in all the activities,performances, and displays of each conference.
5. Sharon Peregoy conducts a discussion of issues.
a. Recruitment of members repersenting all indigenous languagegroups.
b. That local native children be invited to perform and exhibit
c. That SIG members be encouraged to submit to the Call for Papers,that the SIG sponsor presentations, and that the SIG conduct an Indian Institute.
d. That NABE 2001 schedule be based on a strand system so ourpeople do not have to choose between sessions of the same interest.
e. Work through local affiliates to generate resolutions in line with the Indigenous Special Interest Group concerns. Resolutions should also be solicited from local groups. These resolutions can be sponsored by the SIG to NABE.
f. Roy Howard will set up a web site, chat room, and list servefor the SIG. The first chat room meeting will be on March 31.Web address: http://www.wnmu.org/ibe/
g. The directory of SIG members from NABE will be posted on the web page and the Council members will contact them. Jan will assign the states.
h. The Chair will compose a letter to NABE to request that our Council be a part of the active planning of NABE 2001. Last yearCherie Williams was our Conference committee contact.
i. Members are encouraged to attend the Stabilizing IndigenousLanguages Conference this summer at NAU.
6. Election of Officers
a. Motion that the following serve as the SIG Council in addition to Sharon Peregoy (Chair): Thomas Brown, Mandy Mocassin, Jan Littlebear, Roy Howard, Lydia Whirlwind Soldier, Leon Rattler, Pat Carr (AZ), Sharon Ballew (OK), Jamie Valadez (WA), Leta MedicineEagle (SD), Kalio Akim (HI), Judy Black(OK). Passed.
b. Motion for vice-chair: Thomas Brown. Passed.
c. Motion for Secretary: Roy Howard. Passed.
d. The Council will organize the Indigenous Bilingual Education Institute for next year in Philadelphia chaired by Thomas Brown and Sharon Ballew and Tom Carr, Judy Black, and Sharon Peregoy.Submit to this committe by May 1. This committee will also recommend a panel and a keynote speaker to NABE.
e. The NABE News column edited by Jon Reyner needs 8 columns per year. Please submit ideas to him at Jon.Reyhner@nau.edu.

7. Resolutions
Discussions included :
Arizona Proposition 203 (the Attorney General of AZ has giventhe opinion that it does not apply to Native American languages).
Recognition of Native Americans as bilingual people with languages different from Spanish, that we should not be seen as orphans in NABE, because our goal is to rescue our heritage languages,not to introduce English to immigrants; so we should be on top of Reauthorization of ESEA so that the wording of Title VII doesnot exclude native languages, because that Title IX is only a small fund for revitalization. Joyce, Jon, Roy, Lynn, Pat Carr will prepare a resolution on Friday.


Resolution promoting support for Indigenous Bilingual Educationin the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

Whereas NABE has consistently supported indigenous language issues;and
Whereas historically, American Indian children like other langugeminority children have been underserved by the schools; and
Whereas the Federal Government has a special trust responsibilityfor the education of indigenous children and has played a direct,deliberate role in the loss of language in indigenous communities;and
Whereas the development of these languages is pedagogically, personally,and culturally advantageous to these children, their commuities,and our nation; and
Whereas the 1990 Native American Languages Act reaffirms the nationalgoal to restore and protect indigenous languages, but only verylimited funds have been appropriated for revitalization efforts;and
Whereas many indigenous children meet the criteria of Title VIIand are dependent upon Title VII programs for the needed languageprograms in the schools;
Now therefore be it resolved that NABE reaffirm to Congress theimportance of continuing to service children and communities throughTitle VII of the ESEA for indigenous languages so they will notbe left behind.

Approved by the NABE Special Interest Group for Indigenous BilingualEducation.

This was approved for presentation to the Executive Board bythe General Membership of NABE.


Motion by Joyce Silverthorne


Second by Thomas Brown