Climate Change & Natives (environment)

The history of American Indians is varied and each tribe has its own customs, but one belief that binds us all is our deep respect for the Earth and the gifts it has given us. This belief has inspired the Salish and Kootenai people’s effort to protect our air, water and other natural resources for future generations. We now recognize that one environmental threat poses a challenge like no other: global climate change.  Full at: http://tinyurl.com/yjfskl3

Students Rise Above Expectations (education)

American Indian students rise above expectation: The American Indian Public Charter School in Oakland serves 200 students in grades six through eight, and its sister high school serves 100 students. Last year, 100 percent of our students were accepted to four-year colleges, including Stanford, MIT, Cornell and UC Berkeley. Our students' average SAT scores were 150 points above the national average. Oakland Unified School District's graduation rate is 51 percent.

On last year's state assessment, 100 percent of our eighth-grade students tested at or above grade level in language arts and Algebra I. By contrast, only 29 percent of eighth-grade students in Oakland schools tested at or above grade level in language arts, and just 24 percent tested proficient or advanced in Algebra I.

Our students learn the value of accountability and discipline. They are supported academically but learn to be self-reliant. They begin to understand the importance of sacrifice by prioritizing what they ought to do ahead of what they want to do.

The school's faculty and staff also are expected to work hard for their students. The school offers a starting teacher salary more than $6,000 higher than the Oakland Unified School District does and provides bonuses to teachers who improve student performance. When teachers or administrators perform poorly or fail to act in the best interest of their students, they are terminated. Salary and staffing decisions are made with student achievement in mind.

Most education "experts" merely point out the failings of the current educational system or peddle the public school equivalent of miracle weight-loss pills - no diet or exercise required. These pundits and snake oil salesmen do nothing to improve our schools. The American Indian model of education has developed an effective solution to the problem of urban education, and it is elegant in its simplicity. We require students to work hard to achieve academic success and to behave appropriately and respectfully.

Students spend a minimum of 90 minutes each day in both language arts and math class. They are assigned two to three hours of homework each night, even during vacations. They attend mandatory summer school. If they misbehave, they receive detentions and attend school on Saturdays. If they fail a course, they repeat the grade. There are no shortcuts.

Instead of excusing poor academic performance and bad behavior from students whose backgrounds often lead them to be labeled as victims, we ask all of our students to rise above the low expectations others have burdened them with. Ultimately, these kids will need to be competitive in a capitalistic society, where their skin color and family fortune will matter far less than their education, work ethic and perseverance. All is earned at American Indian, for better or for worse.

John P. Glover is the director of American Indian Model Schools in Oakland.

Indian Health Care Improvement Act (health)

Dear Tribal Leaders, Native Community Members and Native Health Providers,

 
It has been a long road to get to this point; we are on the cusp of reauthorizing the Indian Health Care Improvement Act for the first time since 1992. The IHCIA is part of the health care reform bill, which has seen its own roller-coaster ride through Congress. We are so close to realizing passage of the bill, the House is expected to vote in the coming days on the Senate passed bill, then both chambers will consider a "reconciliation bill." If the House passes the Senate health care bill, it will be ready to be signed into law.  The Indian Health Care Improvement Act would be a realization for Indian Country at that signing.

 Not only does the health care reform bill include the IHCIA, it includes many provisions that will protect the Indian Health Care system from the reforms instituted by the broader bill. These provisions will ensure the treaty obligations and trust responsibility is not diminished, but rather affirmed, through the passage of health care reform.  The current pending Senate version of IHCIA includes permanent reauthorization.

 The vote in the House is the major obstacle, if it does not pass, the effort will fall short. Now more than ever, your members of Congress need to hear from YOU. The stories and passion only you can provide about the need for this bill in your communities is what will help members see the need to pass the bill. I know everyone is busy with the day-to-day activities of their work, but just a few minutes to call members of Congress can mean the difference whether Indian Country can see its health care system brought into the 21st century. 

 We cannot count on the same members who voted for the bill the first time around to be an automatic "yes" for this bill; they need to hear from constituents, they need to be held accountable for their votes. Let them know Indian Country wants them to vote YES for health care reform, because it is health care for all Americans.

 I urge each of you to call our staff at the National Indian Health Board and let them assist you in contacting your members of congress immediately.

 National Indian Health Board Staff

Stacy A. Bohlen - Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa 
Executive Director, Media Contact, NIHB Board Liaison 
sbohlen@nihb.org  
Phone: 202-507-4070 

Jessica L. Burger, RN - Little River Band of Ottawa Indians 
Director of Government Relations 
jburger@nihb.org 
Phone: 202-507-4079 

Rick Haverkate, MPH - Saulte Ste. Marie Chippewa Indians 
Director of Public Health 
rhaverkate@nihb.org 
Phone: 202-507-4074

 Jennifer Cooper, JD, MPA - Seneca Nation of Indians 
Legislative Director 
jcooper@nihb.org 
Phone: 202-507-4076 

 Thank you for your attention, thank you for reaching out, I look forward to speaking with you all soon, when the IHCIA is law!

 Yours in health,

 Mr. Reno Keoni Franklin
Elected Tribal Health Delegate, Kashia Pomo Tribe
Chairman, California Rural Indian Health Board
Chairman, National Indian Health Board
4400 Auburn Blvd, 2nd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95841
(916) 929-9761
(707) 291-2737 cell 

Anne Ray Internship (opportunity)

Anne Ray Native Internships

 The School for Advanced Research, Indian Arts Research Center (IARC) offers two nine-month internships to Native individuals who are recent graduates, current graduate students, or junior museum professionals interested in furthering their collections management experience and enhancing their intellectual capacity for contributing to the expanding field and discourse of museum studies. The internships include a $2,200 monthly stipend, housing, book allowance, travel to one professional conference, and reimbursable travel to and from SAR.
 More info at :
S c h o o l f o r A d v a n c e d R e s e a r c h o n t h e H u m a n E x p e r i e n c e
Post Office Box 2188 · Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504-2188 · (505) 954-7205 · email: iarc @ sarsf.org (take out spaces) · www.sarweb.org
 

Shredding & Culture (community)

RYAN WASHINGTON, 21, said he can perform over 100 gravity-defying tricks on his skateboard, which has given him a place of honor at the local skate park. “There is no limit to what you can do on a piece of wood with plastic wheels, he said. “Whenever I master a trick, I feel like I am on top of the world.”

Mr. Washington, a member of the Lakota Sioux tribe, started skateboarding at age 14 and quickly fell in love with a sport that requires tenacity. Elaborate tricks can include dizzying midair flips and twists, and mastering them takes the discipline to get back on the board after falling. Full story at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/arts/artsspecial/18SKATE.html

Have Your CAIC (education/opportunity)

Welcome to the Coalition for American Indians in Computing (CAIC)
The Coalition is a cooperation among American Indian Tribal Communities and the Computing Science Department of Humboldt State University, with funding support from the National Science Foundation. Our goal is to increase the numbers of American Indian students who are prepared to undertake careers in fields related to Computer Science and Information Technology. Parents, teachers, advisors, students, Tribal Information technology workers, Tribal education directors, Tribal leadership, HSU faculty and HSU staff participate collaboratively to realize this goal. 

Any self-identified Native American or Alaskan Native high school sophomore or junior is eligible to apply for participation in CAIC's 2010 Summer College Seminar, July 12-24. The free camp combines the real-life experience of living in HSU's college residence halls with classes and projects in a variety of cultural, mathematical and real-life creative technical areas using computers, along with fun social activities and field trips to native and tourist sights in the local area. Successful completion of Algebra before the camp commences is required. GPAs of 2.5 are preferred, but not required. 
  • Download the pdf College Seminar application and reference forms. Print out the pages. Complete it and return!

    • Complete applications with transcripts and recommendations are due in our office (by mail, email, or fax)     April 2, 2010. Please contact us if you have any questions.

    Common Core Standards (education)

    I will be submitting Comments on the proposed Common Core Standards http://www.corestandards.org/

    If you have any comments or suggestions please send them to me as soon as possible so I can include them in my comments (they are due April 2).  I am attaching the standards and an introduction.  You can also find more information at the NIEA websitehttp://www.niea.org/issues/highschoolpolicy.php