National Association for BilingualEducation
Special Interest Group | NABE

Indigenous Bilingual Education

Current Discussion

On-line Discussion: Go to http://www.nicenet.org. Give yourself a user name. You can join the on-line discussion groups for the following topics by logging in and choosing "Join" under "Classes" from the navigation on the left side of your screen. Class Name: IBENABE/ Class Key: E7Z576XZZ

Indigenous BilingualEducation Issues of interest in pastyears' discussions: Organize American Indian Institutes; LanguageRetention; Loss of Identity in Urban areas; Youth concerns; TeacherPreService; Tribal organizations and Public Schools; History of Tribes; Title VII- Title I, Title IX representatives; Urban issues of American Indians in Schools; Presentations for Future NABE, entertainment and Professional Presentations; Future schedulingfor Native concerns, workshops or issues, including entertainment; Input in NABE scheduling; PAC issues;Talking Circles; MAINTAIN A PRESENCE WITHIN NABE - A NATIVE VOICE

9 April 2005
Hello Everyone!

Berlinda, Christine and I had a wonderful time at the National Conference on Indian Education this past week. There was a lot of good information and some great contacts. The three of us, along with Jon Reyhner spread the word about the Pre-Conference, etc. We were able to get flyers out to as many individuals that we could. We've got some excellent people interested in presenting who are actively involved in Indigenous bilingual education. We have two confirmed keynote speakers so far and I am following up with another that we discussed at our planning meeting on Thursday at the conference. Roy, have you been able to put IBE's Call for Papers Announcement on the IBE web? Also, information on the need to VOTE for both the West and Central Regional Representatives. I note on the NABE website that Leon Rattler also put in his candidacy for the West position as well. That means that two IBE members are vying for the West position so I don't know how you all want to handle this, but regardless the members need to be encouraged to VOTE. Also the members need to be encouraged to submit proposal presentations early before the April 30th and May 27th deadline date so we will have a good turnout.

The keynote speakers that I have received confirmations from are:

Dr. Richard Littlebear (MT) (previous NABE Board member) and currently President of Chief Dull Knife College
Dr. David Beaulieu, (AZ) Director of Indian Education at Arizona State University and also President of NIEA (National Indian Education Association)

Jon Reyhner had recommended Dr. Beaulieu and I wrote and invited him to be a keynote speaker. In the meantime, I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Beaulieu at the conference last week and he stated that he would speak at our Pre-Conference. He had an excellent presentation on Culturally Based Instruction. I am also following up with some other individuals for keynote speakers. I would like to have four lined up - 3 for the Pre-Conference and 1 for the IBE SIG. At our meeting we discussed student entertainment and sponsorships. Berlinda, Christine and I are meeting with the NABE local planning committee in Phoenix on the 29th, again if you have any information or questions that you would like us to pose, please let us know.

Again, please post the announcement wherever you can. I am attending the American Education Research Association (AERA) Conference in Montreal all next week and will continue to promote the IBE Pre-Conference Institute and IBE SIG Institute by posting and handing out these flyers. I know that the New Mexico Association for Bilingual Education is this coming week I believe, if any of you are attending that conference or any other conference with interested individuals, please promote and spread the word.

Kwahwah, (thank you)

Dr. Gilbert

2003 Issues:

Indigenous Disabled People. Hello Dr Howard. We briefly spoke at the NABE conference in New Orleans and I just wanted to say that it was pleasure to meet you and other groups. I missed most of the meetings for the Indigenous Bilingual Education group meetings, but I was able to meet a few members and heard some of the concerns regarding lack of representation of Indigeneous groups. I appreciate the concerns expressed. I also realized that some other areas that were not addressed or poorly recognized at the conference was Indigenous Disabled People. I am a Navajo male who is pnysically and visually disabled have struggled a lot to get where I am through support from the outside my own reservation. I think reservations should start looking at the needs of indigenous disabled people especially around education, accommodation, assistive technology, and transportation. I currently live in San Diego and I am having a difficult time getting myself to move back because of the lack of support for the disabled community.

These are the thoughts I have and "food for thought" for other indigenous groups. I hope to hear from you and hope we continue the effort to improve services for the underserved population.

http://www.aidtac.org/
http://www.hanksville.org/NAresources/indices/NAhealth.html
http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/frc_natv.htm
http://diabetes.about.com/library/blNIHamindian.htm?iam=sherlock_abc

i'm not sure if you heard of the Native Voice newspaper (out of Rapid City, SD), its a national/regional newspaper. my brother and his wife own and run the newspaper, so i'm sure we can get some pretty good press and lower rate advertisements. if we want to place something in the next issue about nabe and our sig group let me know, or maybe we can put in our resolution, basic nabe information, conference highlightes etc.

in our search for request for papers / proposals and other information for the nabe and nabe 2004. we could utilize this group: NativeShare@yahoogroups.com

they send out regular information concerning natives, on educational, employment, and a variety of other topics.
Paula Antoine

The "Journeying Home" Language and Culture Preservation conference will be held at the Minneapolis Hilton and towers on march 3-6, 2003. This conference is sponsored by NISBA. To get a registration packet, call:
NISBA-Gwen Begay
505-248-7544

I believe we need to sit down with NISBA as well as the board on NIEA to further discuss how we can collaborate all the programs as well as the ideas/plans we have for language and culture preservation. Right now, each organization is doing its own little thing, but everyone is just re-inventing the wheel, which also become s major problem; result is there is no progress. We also need to stop wanting to take credit for programs and strategies we are doing, as well. We could request to meet with the executive board regarding this issue. On our end, Peter Thomas has made contact with the Division of Education in window Rock, AZ. asking them how they are willing to assist us in this process. We are supposed to present to a group of people at one of their curriculum conference the last week of February.

What do you think?

Plans for NABE 2004 in Albuquerque, New Mexico:

a. Native Student entertainment each day: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

b. Preconference Symposium: Wednesday Feb. 4. Select a theme and title. Recruit and commit presenters, plan activities including talking circles; invite all of Indian Country; notify NABE of meeting room needs.

c. Pow Wow. Friday February 6. Structured to be inviting and informative for all NABE members.

d. IBE Conference Institute. Friday, February 6 all day.

e. Native American Language Festival. Saturday, February 7. For Elementary and Secondary students and families.

3. Comments of each in attendance included concerns such as:

a. website & communications

b. the need to send presentation proposals to NABE

c. the need to organize a Pow Wow for NABE 2004

d. NABE should allow a vendor rate different from commercial exhibitor rate to allow native artesans to sell

e. we need a better way to insure continuity for IBE issues at NABE conferences

f. The NABE conference should feature native history and culture of the local region

g. topics that integrate culture and academics

h. resolutions can make a statement or a request for action3. Comments of each in attendance included concerns such as:

a. website & communications

b. the need to send presentation proposals to NABE

c. the need to organize a Pow Wow for NABE 2004

d. NABE should allow a vendor rate different from commercial exhibitor rate to allow native artesans to sell

e. we need a better way to insure continuity for IBE issues at NABE conferences

f. The NABE conference should feature native history and culture of the local region

g. topics that integrate culture and academics

h. resolutions can make a statement or a request for action

2001 Issues:

We need to get our members to submit the Call for Papers by 25 May 01.

We need our members to run for NABE Board. Start now campaigning for support from the state affiliates so you can be nominated in Philadelphia.

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. Contact your Eastern friends about NABE in Philadelphia, 2002.

Issues.

a. Recruitment of members repersenting all indigenous language groups.

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 our people do not have to choose between sessions of the same interest.

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.

The Chair will compose a letter to NABE to request that our Council be a part of the active planning of NABE 2001. Last year Cherie Williams was our Conference committee contact.

Members are encouraged to attend the Stabilizing Indigenous Languages Conference this summer at NAU and to submit links and announcements to our web page: rhoward@wnmu.org

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.

The NABE News column edited by Jon Reyner needs 8 columns per year. Please submit ideas to him at Jon.Reyhner@nau.edu.

Arizona Proposition 203 (the Attorney General of AZ has given the 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 does not 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.

2000 Discussion: Motion: that the IBE request NABE support for indigenous issuesin the Title VII reauthorization and expert Native input in theprocess.

Next issue: Navajo resolution against Arizona English-onlyhttp://education.nmsu.edu/nmabe/legislation/Navajo.html

Next issue: the Navajo tribe has passed a resolution against an English only initiative in Arizona. Motion: to submit a supporting resolution to the State of Arizona by the IBE Council

Motion: that the IBE send NABE a letter that speaks in supportof the native artesan exhibitors as outlined in their letter (seebelow).

Issues and concerns of Native American Arts and Crafts Exhibitors,2000 National NABE Conference

1. NABE needs more diversity including all ethnic groups intheir program and organization. They should not focus on anyone particular minority group.

2. Over the last five years individual Native American artistshave been invited to sell their work at the National NABE conferencein an exhibit area distinct from the main company/corporationtradeshow.

3. Native American artists are individual crafts people whoexhibit and sell handmade articles and pieces handed down throughgenerations. For generations they have used this as a livelihoodfor their individual families and are not companies or corporations. NABE should allow them to exhibit thses handmade arts and craftsin a seperate location and with lower booth fees such as before,at previous national conferences. The distinct and seperate locationand lower fees would encourage more participation from the NativeAmerican Community.

This was the situation at previous national conferencesin: Denver, CO, 1999; Dallas, TX, 1988; Albuquerque, NM, 1997;Orlando, FL, 1996; Phoenix, AZ, 1995. Why was this activity stopped? Why was it ceased?

4. The fact that the number of Native American exhibitorshas dropped drastically for over thirty to six exhibitors in oneyear should not have happened. The exhibitor's feel this wasdue to the uncoooperative nature and in some cases unwarranteddisrspect and rudeness from the national NABE office with an attemptat elimination of Native American exhibitor participation. Thisshows insensitivity from the NABE leadership.

The current exhibitors feel the reduction in the numberof exhibitors was also due to the increased booth fee from $100at previous conferences to $950 in San Antonio. American Indianarts exhibits are cultural events among Indian people and shouldbe set up seperate from the regular commercialized and non-culturaltrade show. Hand made arts and craafts are very different fromcommercialized and machine/manufactured jewelry sold in the mainNABE Trade Show.

5. NABE should not be an exclusive organization focusing onone minority group. It earnestly eeds to be cognizant and awareof all monority groups and promote the needs and issues of allmonority groups.

6. For the six current Native American exhibitors, a retroactive$100 booth fee should bee assessed and a refund given for the San Antonio NABE conference such as with previous conferences.

7. Finally, the unwelcome attitude by the NABE National officetoward American Indian exhibitors needs to cease.

Respectfully submitted,

Feburary 19, 2000 2000 NABE Native American Arts and CraftsExhibitors