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

by Babette Herrmann, Indian Country Today

The focus of the Talking Feather site is predominantly about the positive effects of education, specifically the education we receive from our cultures and the formal training we receive in schools.

This is a wonderful article about a 96 year-old woman who has acquired both types of education and who has shared her time, knowledge and love with other people.

Agnes Dill, a member of the Isleta Pueblo Indians, spent over 70 years working with American Indian tribes. She recently received an honorary degree from the University of New Mexico, on May 15, the day of graduation!

What is more amazing is the fact that although Agnes Dill has had her share of difficulties in her life, she has persevered, and has managed to find the time to empower others.

During her travels in the ’70s, she encouraged Native women to obtain degrees in professional areas such as law, business and medicine, which were usually reserved for men during that time. Agnes Dill stated,

“Anything a man was doing, I tried to get women to do.”

Today, she continues to be an advocate for Indian causes, especially in the areas concerning Native health and culture.

As for her honorary doctorate from UNM, Mrs. Dill stated,

“I received this honor, but I don’t believe I received it for myself, it’s for all North American Indian people.”

Agnes Dill is an inspiration to us all.

Read this article!

Tags: 96 years-old, Agnes Dill, degree, Education, graduation, honorary, Isleta Pueblo Indians, University of New Mexico

By Rob Capriccioso, Indian Country Today

Story Updated: Jan 12, 2010

WAHINGTON – If one area important to many Native Americans received less attention than it deserved in 2009, it was Indian education.

This is the opening statement of the article concerning the need to improve American Indian education in this country.

Attempts have been made in this direction, an example being the meeting of Tribal Leaders on Capitol Hill in November, for the 40- year anniversary of the Kennedy Report, whose focus was education.

John Echohawk, director of the Native American Rights Fund stated,

What Indian education really needs today is an individual like Robert or Ted Kennedy in Congress who truly understands and embraces full tribal sovereignty in education…

The National Indian Education Association notes that some funding for education was received by some tribes as a result of February’s stimulus legislation.

Indian educators  will make their concerns known to federal lawmakers this year.

This is an important  article that should be read by everyone.

Tags: Education, National Indian Education Association, Native American Rights Fund, Washington

By Dr. Dean Chavers, The Powerless Indian Educator, Indian Country Today

Dr. Chavers  is of Lumbee Indian descent, and  the founder of Catching the Dream, a scholarship program for American Indian Students.  He is the former President of Bacone College.  He’s received two M.A. degrees and his Ph. D. from Stanford University.  He has been a distinguished Consultant in Indian Education for 35 years. In addition, he was a navigator during the Vietnam war, and is a decorated war hero. He’s written over 20 books. These are only a few of the impressive things Dr. Chavers has accomplished, and continues to work at. He is a man of distinction.

Dr. Chavers begins by stating that he had written an article in Indian Country Today, 30 years ago, about how ineffective the Indian college professor was.

But that was 30 years ago! So, it was surprising to read this current article in which he describes the “powerlessness” of American Indian teachers in the education system today. In addition, Indian students are not receiving the proper education they deserve.

He states:

…For the past 25 years I have worked mostly with elementary schools and high schools in Indian country. I try to make sure the Indian students they are educating are fully ready for college. It is a highly frustrating job. I would guess that fewer than 2 percent of Indian high school grads are really ready. The schools, after all, are blue collar institutions. Most of the staff don’t think they are there to get Indian kids ready for college…

Sometimes we are forbidden to do certain things. A young Navajo woman was working in the Gallup schools 25 years ago as a tutor. She was concerned that her kids were not performing up to par, so she started visiting them at home after school to help them. When the principal found out he told her she had to stop; he called what she was doing “fraternizing,” and made it clear that it was against the school district rules…

Tags: American Indian Students, Dean Chavers, Education, Stanford University