Indian Education for All

The Great Falls Public Schools Title VII Indian Education Program works in partnership with the Indian Education for All Instructional Coaches to implement the curricular and student achievement outcomes required by MCA 20-1-501 Indian Education for All. This law which is based in the Constitution of the State of Montana outlines seven essential understandings that all citizens of the State of Montana should have regarding Indians of Montana.

In 1999, the Montana Legislature passed into law HB 528, "Indian Education for All, MCA 20-1-501 "Recognition of American Indian cultural heritage -- legislative intent states:

(1) It is the constitutionally declared policy of this state to recognize the distinct and unique cultural heritage of American Indians and to be committed in its educational goals to the preservation of their cultural heritage. (2) It is the intent of the legislature that in accordance with Article X, section 1(2), of the Montana constitution: (a) Every Montanan, whether Indian or non-Indian, be encouraged to learn about the distinct and unique heritage of American Indians in a culturally responsive manner; and (b) Every educational agency and all educational personnel will work cooperatively with Montana tribes or those tribes that are in close proximity, when providing instruction or when implementing an educational goal or adopting a rule related to the education of each Montana citizen, to include information specific to the cultural heritage and contemporary contributions of American Indians, with particular emphasis on Montana Indian tribal groups and governments. (3) It is also the intent of this part, predicated on the belief that all school personnel should have an understanding and awareness of Indian tribes to help them relate effectively with Indian students and parents, that educational personnel provide means by which school personnel will gain an understanding of and appreciation for the American Indian people. History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 527, L. 1999

Essential Understandings Regarding Montana’s American Indians

Tribal histories and contemporary tribal members, governments and nations have shaped and are shaping the social and political face of Montana.  An educated and contemporary Montana citizen has basic knowledge of these histories and Montana tribes.

1. There is great diversity among the 12 tribal Nations of Montana in their languages, cultures, histories and governments. Each Nation has a distinct and unique cultural heritage that contributes to modern Montana.
2.  There is great diversity among individual American Indians as identity is developed, defined and redefined by many    entities, organizations and people. There is a continuum of Indian identity ranging from assimilated to traditional and is unique to each individual. There is no generic Indian.
3.  The ideologies of Native traditional beliefs and spirituality persist into modern day life as tribal cultures, traditions and languages are still practiced by many American Indian people and are incorporated into how tribes govern and manage their affairs.
4.  Additionally, each tribe has their own oral history beginning with their origin that is as valid as written histories. These histories pre-date the “discovery” or North America.
5.  Reservations are land that have been reserved by the tribes for their own use through treaties and was not “given” to them. The principle that land should be acquired from the Indians only through their consent with treaties involved three assumptions:
   1. That both parties to treaties were sovereign powers
   2. That Indian tribes had some form of transferable title to the land
   3. That acquisition of Indian lands was solely a government matter not to be left to individual colonists.
6.  There were many federal policies put into place throughout American history that have impacted Indian people and shape who they are today. Much of Indian history can be related through several major federal policy periods
7. History is a story and most often related through the subjective experience of the teller. Histories are being rediscovered and revised. History told from an Indian perspective conflicts with what most of mainstream history tell us.Under the American legal system, Indian tribes have sovereign powers separated and independent from the federal and state governments. However, the extent and breadth of tribal sovereignty is not the same for each tribe.

District-wide Indian Education for all Curriculum Services:

Instructional coaches working with teachers to develop Indian Education for All curriculum

• Support teachers as they implement these practices in the classroom with model lessons and coaching
• Interpret and communicate achievement data to teachers and administrators for the purpose of improvement
• Ensure that all school personnel have an understanding and awareness of American Indian tribes.
• Assist school personnel in relating effectively to Indian Students and Parents

Indian Education for All Instructional Coaches:

              Dulce Whitford                 grades 7-12                        268-7410

              Corri Smith                       grades K-6                         268-7402