Staff, Indian Country Today

The high-speed internet provider Hughes Network Systems, will install a satellite uplink enabling distance learning in the Havasupai Elementary School,  located in the Grand Canyon.

Larry EchoHawk, assistant secretary of Indian Affairs for the U.S. Department of the Interior commented,

“Education is a key component of successfully building nation-to-nation relationships and promoting safe communities in Indian country…”

Tony Bardo, assistant vice president for government solutions at Hughes, stated,

“Hughes is honored to work with the NIPTC [National Indian Programs Training Center] to enable distance learning for Indian nations and the federal agencies that support Indian programs…”

Interesting topic, great article.

Tags: Distance Learning, Education, Havasupai Elementary School, Hughes Network Systems, National Indian Programs Training Center

Dana Attocknie, Native American Times

Alonzo Moss Sr. age 72, is an amazing man. He’s a linguist and an accomplished musician. His favorite singer is Johnny Cash. Alonzo was born on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Fort Washakie, Wyo. He then married, made a family, worked several different labor jobs, including a tree feller. In 1970 Alonzo completed his G.E.D., and took a job as teacher’s assistant for Wyoming Indian Schools. Later he began teaching Arapaho language At Wyoming Indian High School.

After teaching there for 20 years, Alonzo Moss Sr. taught the language at at Central Wyoming College, Wind River Tribal College, the University of Colorado – Boulder and the University of Wyoming. 
Because of his hard work, and dedication to teaching, Alonzo Moss Sr. will be honored as the 2010 Indian of the Year for the 79th American Indian Exposition during a reception at the First United Methodist Church of Anadarko.

L. Wabaunasee, the American Indian Exposition president stated,

“He’s really comical. He really impresses people, the way he talks … he just kind of fits in with the crowd. He wasn’t standing high… (and) He likes Johnny Cash.

Moss told the crowd,

“their native language is their identity, it’s who they are..a person’s identity is not defined by having a tribal car tag or anything of the like.
The only thing that’s going to make me Arapaho is if I speak Arapaho,”

A wonderful story about an unusual man. Every one should read it and share their opinion.

Tags: 2010 79th American Indian Exposition Award, Alonzo Moss Sr., Arapaho language, linguist, musician

Jacob Muselmann, The Daily Times

It was an exciting experience for the 30 students attending the NASA event which took place at Shiprock High School, located in  Shiprock, New Mexico.

The event was led by engineers from the  Glenn Research Center.  Students from first through the eighth grade spent the day doing hands-on activities involving engineering concepts. They also constructed theoretical landing modules and habitats for Mars.

This all came about thanks to Raquel Redhouse, a resident of Shiprock, and one of the engineers involved in the function for the students. According to Redhouse,

“Many of the students at the camp were referred by a Launch to Learn camp held previously, which was funded in part by a grant from President Barack Obama’s Educate to Innovate initiative to bolster interest in technical fields among underrepresented populations…”

Great article.

Tags: Engineers, Glenn Research Center, NASA, Shiprock