Injun-vs-Indian

From the Blog of Debbie Reese:When the news broke last week that TOM SAWYER and HUCK FINN were being released as a single volume in which "nigger" was changed to "slave" and "Injun" to "Indian," all the coverage I saw focused on FINN. People argue (and argued) that FINN is an anti-slavery book, and that its message outweighs Twain's use of "nigger" and his condescending treatment of African American beliefs. Changing "nigger" to "slave," they felt, was wrong. I agree---it should not have been changed.

I have yet to see a discussion of "Injun" being changed to "Indian."  Over the last few days, I studied SAWYER, noting and then analyzing Twain's use of "Injun." Unlike the anti-slavery/anti-racism themes in FINN, Twain just lets the evil-Indian stuff stand as-is. There's no rebuttal of it. "Injun Joe" is a liar, thief, murderer, and he's racist and barbaric (he plans to slit the nostrils and notch the ears of the widow of a man who had him horsewhipped.) 

It doesn't make the book more accessible to change "Injun" to "Indian." In fact, it makes it worse. My review is here:
http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2011/01/american-indian-perspective-on-changing.html

CCAIE, conference, workshops, powwow (information)

save the dates....

NEW  LOCAL  Thurs., March  24th, 2011.  10 am - 4:30pm  Expanding Horizons: California American Indian Civil Rights in Education. This is a free pre conference workshop with the 34th Annual California Conference on American Indian Education (CCAIE).  LOCATION: Westin LAX Hotel, 5400 West Century Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90045  CONTACT:  (800) 937-8461

 

 

NEW  LOCAL  March  24 - 26, 2011.  The 34th Annual California Conference on American Indian Education (CCAIE), “Indian Education: Strengthening Our Future by Coming Together.”  The conference will showcase 34 years of success and growth of American Indian education in California and the impact the American Indian Education Centers have had in American Indian Communities.  LOCATION: Westin LAX Hotel, 5400 West Century Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90045  CONTACT:  Irma Amaro, (707) 464-3512, Irma@ncidc.org, Rachel McBride, Rachel.4winds@sbcglobal.net, (530) 895-4212, ext. 110. http://www.aisc.ucla.edu/admin/c_n_resources/CalltoConference2011.pdf  CCAIE Powwow will be held on Saturday the 26th. Powwow Info: Phill Hale, (714) 962-6673.

Western States Workshop for Educators (opportunity)

Dear Educators,

I work in National Outreach for Teacher Initiatives (NOTI) at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC, and would like to share information with you about one of our programs for educators.  Please share this information with educators who qualify, to apply for this program. 

A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, promote human dignity, and prevent genocide.  The Museum provides a powerful lesson in the fragility of freedom, the myth of progress, and the need for vigilance in preserving democratic values. With unique power and authenticity, the Museum teaches millions of people each year about the dangers of unchecked hatred and the need to prevent genocide.

 A cornerstone of our work is to ensure quality Holocaust education in American schools.  We encourage teachers to engage their students in learning about the Holocaust, to reflect on its meaning today, and to act responsibly as members of the global community.  It is important to us to reach out teachers, and their students, who represent the landscape of American citizens.  .  In an effort to extend our outreach to nurture new audiences, I invite you to share the following information with teachers who work in school districts with significant American Indian student populations. 

The Western States Workshop for Educators will bring up to twenty teachers from western states to the USHMM on March 3-5, 2011.  Social Studies and Language Arts teachers of grades 6-12 are encouraged to apply.  In addition, teachers of other disciplines such as journalism and library and media specialists should consider applying. 

 Educators from suburban and rural schools from these states are eligible:  Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming. 

Teachers will use the Museum’s Permanent Exhibition, the exhibit State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda, and the interactive installation From Memory to Action:  Meeting the Challenge of Genocide, as their primary classroom as they learn the history of this tragic event.  Museum staff and scholars will assist participants in exploring questions or rationale, content, and methodology in teaching the Holocaust.

Attendees will receive a generous stipend at the conclusion of the conference to assist with the costs of transportation.  The Museum will provide breakfast, lunch, and lodging for three nights.  Extensive free materials and lessons will also be distributed.  This workshop is for educators who have not previously attended a USHMM-sponsored teacher professional development program at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, such as the Belfer National Conference. 

To apply, please go to http://www.ushmm.org/education/foreducators/prodev/currentapplications/.  Please see the workshop offering titled “Teacher Workshop for Western States Educators.”  Applicants should also submit a letter of reference from a school supervisor.  This letter should describe your qualifications and verify your eligibility.  The deadline for applying is January 31, 2011.  Please submit this in any format to:

Christina E. Chavarría
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW
Washington, DC  20024
FAX:  202.314.7888
CChavarria@ushmm.org

Diversity & Learning (language)

http://www.cal.org/resources/digest/language-diversity-and-learning.html
by Sonia Nieto
Center for Applied Linguistics
Language is powerful. How a nation deals with language differences says a great deal about the status of people who speak particular languages in that society. E pluribus unum (out of many, one), the bedrock of U.S. society, is based on the belief that our nation should be simultaneously supportive of pluralism and dedicated to unity. Making this ideal a reality, however, has been tricky.

Tweet For Cash (opportunity)

National scholarship program turns to social media for its application process
High school seniors trawling the internet for college scholarship programs might want to bone up on their tweeting skills: Louisville, Ky.-based KFC is offering a $20,000 scholarship for a single tweet. With a character limit of 140, that’s $142 per character for the winner. Applicants must use their brief statement to say why they are deserving of the Colonel’s Scholars scholarship program. Tweets must include the hashtag “KFCScholar,” and only high school seniors may apply.

KFC Scholars Website http://www.kfc.com/about/newsroom/111610.asp

Kúmateech /Later
André Cramblit, Operations Director
Northern California Indian Development Council (NCIDC) 
(
http://www.ncidc.org
) 707.445.8451

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Indigenous Rights (news)

Canada accepts indigenous rights document

OTTAWA, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Canada has endorsed a U.N. declaration on the human rights of indigenous peoples, reversing its earlier opposition. 

The non-binding U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples recognizes rights including self-determination, language, equality and land. 

Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States voted against the declaration when it was adopted by the General Assembly in September 2007. Australia and New Zealand have since reversed course, and the Americans now say they will review their stance. 

Canada had expressed concerns about provisions on land and natural resources, saying they were overly broad and could reopen previously settled land claims, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported. 

In March, the government said it wanted to "take steps to endorse this inspirational document in a manner fully consistent with Canada's constitution and laws." 

But on Friday, the government released a statement saying: "After careful and thoughtful consideration, Canada has concluded that it is better to endorse the UNDRIP while explaining its concerns, rather than simply rejecting the overall document." 

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo praised the announcement.

Insights Into Native Students (arts)

MANCOS,CO -  Some of the best emerging writers of Native America are
finding their voices in writing classes at tribal colleges and
universities.  And now, a selection of their creative writing can be
read in a new eBook published by the Tribal College Journal.

Touching Home: Stories and Poems by Tribal College Students confirms
that Native American contemporary literature is as vital as ever,
providing an Indigenous perspective in imaginative and engaging ways.
Weaving culture and tradition into modern-day reservation realities,
students confront assumptions and challenge stereotypes.

In the introduction, renowned Native American author Joseph Marshall,
III writes, "The writers and poets...offer insights into coping with and
living in the contemporary world as who and what they are. They offer
glimpses into their experiences, and of their individual and cultural
connection to the past. They continue to define Native literature."

Touching Home is the first eBook published by Tribal College Journal.
"We see new technologies as yet another way to connect with a wider
audience -- a tool to bridge gaps, promote understanding, and increase
support of Native American education," says Rachael Marchbanks, Tribal
College Journal publisher.

Touching Home is available for purchase online at Amazon.com or by
visiting www.tribalcollegejournal.org. It can be accessed through a
computer or by using Kindle devices and Kindle apps for iPad, iPhone,
iPod touch, PC, Mac, Blackberry, and Android-based devices.

About Tribal College Journal:
Tribal College Journal is published by the American Indian Higher
Education Consortium, an organization of 37 tribally-controlled colleges
and universities.  A quarterly magazine based in Mancos, Colorado,
Tribal College Journal has covered the news, newsmakers, and issues in
the Native American higher education movement for more than 20 years.

# # #

Tribal College Journal
P.O. Box 720
Mancos, CO 81328
(970) 533-9170 -ph
(970) 533-9145 -fax
www.tribalcollegejournal.org