National Association for Bilingual Education Special Interest Group Indigenous Bilingual Education Annual Business Meeting 21 January 2005 NABE San Antonio, Texas 2004-1005 Council: Thomas Brown, Roy Howard, Floyd Heavy Runner, Belinda, Berdina, Tina Deschenie, Leon Rattler, Donald Blackman, Lyn, Deb, Charlotte, Bryan Charging Cloud, Erwin Sharpfish, James St. Goddard, Clifford Tailfeathers, Eugene Ridgely, Jr. Conducting: Chair - Leon Rattler (MT). Vice Chair - Bryan Charging Cloud (SD), Secretary Berdina Tsosie 1. Prayer - Floyd Heavy Runner Introductions. 2. Report a. Indigenous Bilingual Education Cultural Presentations, Wednesday, 1 - 4 pm. We discussed our dreams and aspirations and concerns. We need more presentations on native language teaching methods We need to participate in more than one Special Interest Group We gave two presentations We organized a NABE Resolution We have a unique approach and need for indigenous bilingual education, so we might benefit from our own conference, rather than joining the hispanics We need to be aware and proactive with regard to language legislation We need to address the language and certification restrictions of NCLB We need to help the government and citizens understand how long we have been here, and remind them and each other that we have control and if we work together we can overcome the language and cultural restrictions of the law Reading First and other aspects of NCLB overemphasize test scores at the expense of real learning including language and culture Testing and data collection is being used against the economic progress and intellectual achievement of our people, as a measure of how assimilated we are We need to critically evaluate what we are exposed to, and be involved in the testmaking so it is not biased b. Indigenous Bilingual Education Institute, Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Eight presentations. c. Resolutions Committee, Friday, 4:30. The resolution was well received at the Committee meeting, and is expected to pass at the General Membership Meeting. d. Plan to Enhance Goals and Objectives 3. Announcements a. Call for Papers for NABE 2006, Phoenix, due by May 27. Send proposals to the SIG Chair by April 21. b. Web site and list serve for the SIG: http://www.wnmu.org/ibe/index.html c. Send articles on Indigenous Bilingual Education for NABE News to Jon Reyhner 4. Election of Officers a. Nominations: 1. Council - Deb Boyd, Kim Whitewolf, Charlotte Whipple, Lynn Means, Peter Thomas, Ed Tso, Rosalita Roach, Donald Blackman, Roy Howard, Cherie Williams, Jane Lockard, Berlinda Begay, Willard Gilbert, Brian Bryan Charging Cloud 2. Chair - Berlinda Begay 3. Vice-chair - Brian Charging Cloud 4. Secretary - Roy Howard b. Elected Officers were accepted by acclamation. c. Institute co-chairs for Phoenix Events: •Native Student Entertainment and Language Festival - Cecilia Silentman-Carr •Pow Wow - recruit performers, raise funds - •Pre-conference Indigenous Bilingual Education Institute, IBE SIG Institute - Committee: Willard Sakiestewa Gilbert, Christine Gilbert, Jon Reyhner, Louise Lockart, Jane Lockart, Peter Thomas, Gary Owens, Pat Peterson 5. Nominations for NABE Executive Board Regional Representatives - a. Nominations: Willard Gilbert, Jon Reyhner, Donald Blackman, Brian Charging Cloud b. Our candidates: West: Willard Gilbert. Central: Brian Charging Cloud. ____________________________ NABE Indigenous Bilingual Education Special Interest Group Resolution NABE 2005 San Antonio We would like to thank the NABE Board for listening to our suggestions, concerns and recommendations and addressing these issues in the past. It is our desire to continue to collaborate with NABE to include in a variety of ways the Indigenous people’s pursuit toward revitalizing, restoring, maintaining, and preserving the languages and cultures of their people. We strive to promote educational excellence and equity for people who represent hundreds of languages and if not promoted, will result in the loss of Indigenous languages; particularly of Indigenous peoples who represent smaller groups such as Native Bands and Reserves. We seek to do this by broadening and strengthening our representation and participation at the NABE Conferences by: A. Promoting the inclusion of Indigenous People on the following NABE committees and boards on an on-going basis: Executive Board (at-large and regional representatives), Proposal Review Boards, Local Planning Committee, Conference Committees, Research Journal, Editorial Board, Parent Groups, etc. B. Promote Indigenous presenters/topics, including an all day Indigenous Strand Pre-Conference Institute, and Friday Institute, in addition to regular Conference ceremonies, concurrent/featured sessions and non-Indigenous SIG presentations. 1. Provide pre-conference site visits/tours on various Native reservations/reserves, schools, and cultural activities/events. 2. Provide opportunities for Indigenous individuals to offer Opening Ceremonies and Plenary keynote addresses. 3. Include Indigenous topics that range from pre-K through the doctoral level. 4. Include Poster Sessions at the NABE Conference in order to allow more individuals to present and additional sessions to be made available. 5. Include an “Indigenous” Presentation Classification on the Presentation Proposal Form. Omitted on 2006 form. C. Promote the diversity of Indigenous languages. Within Indigenous people groups are many dialects. Provide opportunities for these languages to be revitalized and restored, otherwise these languages will be lost. Bilingualism increases the student’s abilities and enhances intelligence in and outside the classroom. NABE Indigenous Bilingual Education SIG 2005 Plan to Enhance Goals & Objectives 1. Communicate – establish a communication network both at the conference (flyers, announcements) and during the year (email and website). 2. Encourage and support Indigenous individuals who are seeking elected offices. 3. Step forward and become involved as a proposal reviewer, volunteer on committees, established parent groups, etc. 4. Seek Indigenous people from around the world to participate in this conference. Share information/technology. 5. Encourage teachers to present successful teaching strategies for Indigenous students. 6. Encourage presenters to submit proposals early so they will be included in the Conference program vs. the Conference Program Addendum (deadline May 21 to NABE). 7. Encourage Indigenous research presentations so that others will know what has been tested and what has proven to be successful. 8. Encourage more Indigenous parents/elders to attend NABE. 9. Indigenous languages are becoming extinct – revitalize, restore, maintain and preserve the languages.